Dairy Industries Minor

Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus

The purpose of this science-based minor is to help students from other disciplines gain a basic understanding of the terminology and practices used within the two segments of the dairy industry. Two specialization areas are available within the Dairy Industries minor: Dairy Husbandry and Dairy Foods.  Students may choose to pursue either specialization. After completion of the minor, students should have a basic understanding of cattle, dairy nutrition, milk production and management or dairy food processing, food quality, and regulatory control.  Prospective students should understand that completion of a basic level of introductory biology, chemistry, and statistics is assumed for this minor.  In addition, some upper-division courses may also require microbiology, organic/biochemistry, and/or anatomy and physiology. Not open to Dairy Science Majors. 

Program Learning Objectives

1. Demonstrate basic technical competency within the disciplines of dairy science (Dairy Husbandry and Dairy Products Technology).
2. Describe current and emerging issues faced by the dairy industries.
3. Demonstrate effective communication and critical thinking skills.
4. Relate ethical, social, and professional responsibilities as dairy scientists to addressing challenges in the rapidly changing environment.

Minor Requirements and Curriculum

• At least half of the units must be from upper-division courses (3000-4000 level).
• At least half of the units must be taken at Cal Poly (in residence).
• No more than one-third of the units will be taken with credit-no credit grading (CR/NC), not counting courses with mandatory CR/NC. Departments may further limit CR/NC grading if desired.
• A minimum 2.0 GPA is required in all units counted for completion of the minor.