Learn about the new undergraduate programme for companion animal science (AKA the ‘pet major’).
China Agricultural University’s (CAU) College of Animal Science and Technology, Beijing, is providing its first undergraduate specialism in ‘companion animal science’ and will soon be welcoming its first group of students. It classifies companion animals as “those that live closely with people and provide emotional support and companionship, such as dogs, cats and horses.” 1
It is a 4-year curriculum where graduates will receive a Bachelor of Agronomy degree. They will learn about important aspects of companion animal science and care, such as: animal nutrition; pet breeding and reproduction; pet behaviour studies; feed safety and quality control; horse culture and horse racing basics. While the programme is new, there have been options to learn about companion animal science at the university before as a undergraduate through a micro-major and on post-graduate masters courses.
CAU believes this new tailored course will see a shift in what kind of fields graduates enter, explaining, “Graduates of the standard animal science major typically enter fields such as animal breeding, feed production or intelligent livestock farming. But graduates of the companion animal program are more likely to work in pet-related companies, veterinary services or equestrian organizations.” 1
The course is in recognition of the growing pet industry in China. In fact, its pet economy was worth over $41.8 billion in 2024 with a ‘compound annual growth rate of 11.9% in the past decade’ and there are more than 500,000 pet-related businesses registered in China. This boom has caused an increase in demand for professionals with a background in companion animal science and for pet-related programmes of study. 1
Learn more about the companion animal science major.
