Careers in Food, Crop, and Animal Agriculture offer opportunities in a variety of environments including laboratories, farms, production facilities, and more. Careers include a variety of sub-industries such as livestock production, animal management, education, animal food production, agriculture marketing/sales, and crop/seed management. Skills used in this area include, but are not limited to: critical thinking skills, written and verbal communication, and technical skills needed in the industry. We invite you to explore this cluster to determine if it is a good fit for you and leverage our resources to launch your job, internship, or graduate school search.
Make an Appointment with a Career Coach
Step One: Log into your Handshake account
Step Two: Click on Career Center in the top right, Appointments, and then Schedule a New Appointment
Step Three: Choose one of the following Appointment Categories: Resume/CV Review, Industry Research/Finding Experience, Graduation Professional School, Job Search
Step Four: Choose one of the following industries: Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
Step Five: Choose the appointment time and date that work for you!
Example Career Paths and Job Titles
Agriculture Marketing Specialist
Biostatistician
Education Technician
Extension Agent/Specialist
Farm Owner/Manager
Farmer Instructor
Loan Manager
Research Scientist/Assistant
Sales Representative
Flavor Technologist
Food Safety Inspector/Quality Assurance Manager
Food Technologist
Livestock Feed Production and Development
Microbiologist
Nutritionist
Packaging Engineer
Product or Ingredient Development
Sensory Scientist
Slaughter Processor
Agronomist
Crop Advisor
Florist
Soil Scientist
Horticulturist
Seed Production Technician
Plant Biologist
Plant Scientist
Entomologist
Animal Behavior Specialist
Animal Geneticist
Farm Manager
Feedmill Operator
Feedlot Manager
Herd Nutritionist
Lab Animal Technician
Product Development and Nutrition Scientist
Shelter Supervisor
Sire Analyst
Career Resources
Below are a few platforms you can use to explore and learn more about Food, Crop, and Animal Agriculture:
- Ag Careers Career Profiles
- Agriculture Future of America (AFA)
- American Society of Animal Science: What is Animal Science?
- Careers in Food: Exploring the Food & Beverage Industry
- Crop Science Society of America: Careers in Crop Science
- Entomologist Overview
- Institute of Food Technologists (IFT): Careers in Food Science
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Agricultural and Food Scientist
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Animal Care and Service Workers
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
- O*Net: Soil and Plant Scientists
Please consider viewing other industry clusters pages besides Food, Crop, and Animal Agriculture as there can be overlap, especially if you are interested in the business aspects or science/research aspects of Food, Crop, and Animal Agriculture.
Student Organizations
You can view a list of student organizations related to agriculture on VolLink or by going to the Student Organization website for the Herbert College of Agriculture. Below are a few examples of some student organizations:
- Block and Bridle Club
- Collegiate 4-H and FFA
- Crop, Soil, & Environmental Science Club
- Dairy Club
- Food Science Club
- Pre-Vet Association
Research
Research is another experience that can be helpful in exploring careers and gaining relevant experience. If you are considering a Masters or PhD, gaining research experience is very important (possibly even critical) for graduate school admissions. Explore the following resources for ideas on how and where to get started.
- UT’s Office of Undergraduate Research
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences Undergraduate Research
- Department of Geography Research
- Herbert College of Agriculture Undergraduate Research
For specific research opportunities, students are encouraged to reach out to faculty directly by browsing the department websites to learn about research areas and sending a direct email to the faculty member. Students should make sure their email is professional and may want to consider attaching a resume.
Professional Organizations can be helpful in exploring more about certain sub-industries within Food, Crop, and Animal Agriculture, finding job opportunities, and connecting with professionals in your area of interest. Many have their own job search boards along with a way to sign up for job alerts. You can view a list of Professional Organizations associated with your area/major on What Can I Do With This Major. Below are a few examples of some professional organizations:
- American Dairy Science Association
- American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI)
- American Meat Science Association
- American Society of Animal Science
- American Society of Horticultural Science
- American Society of Plant Biologists
- American Veterinary Medical Association
- Association for Communication Excellence in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Life, and Human Sciences
- Crop Science Society of America
- Entomological Society of America
- Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA)
- Institute of Food Technologists
- The American Phytopathological Society
- Weed Science Society of America
Below are a few platforms you can use to research specific job opportunities within Food, Crop, and Animal Agriculture:
- Ag Careers Job Search
- American Veterinary Medical Association Veterinary Career Center
- BlueSky Search
- Careersinfood.com
- Entomological Society of America Job Board
- Farm and Ranch Jobs
- Jobs in Extension, Outreach, Research, & Higher Education
- Jobs in Horticulture
- Science Careers
- Science Societies Career Center
- Usajobs.gov
Please note that many large research organizations (Merck Animal Health, Mars Petcare, etc.) and production companies (JBS, Perdue, Tyson, etc.) have their own job search platform.
Graduate School Application Resources
Many graduate school resources can be found on our Prepare for Graduate School website, including deciding on graduate school, resumes, letters of recommendation, and admissions essays/personal statements. Graduate School Applications take time and will require roughly 6-9 months of preparation.
The key to applying to a graduate program within Food, Crop, and Animal Agriculture will be exploring each school and program’s process for obtaining a faculty mentor. You will likely need to research faculty associated with the program of interests and contact them to inquire about research opportunities and faculty mentorship. Below are some links you may find helpful:
Veterinary School Application Resources
Veterinary school applications are generally due around September and require 6 months-12 months of preparation. Programs are highly competitive and will review your academics, veterinary/animal experience, graduate admissions exams (if applicable to the school), and your desire to become a veterinarian. The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges provides several resources on their website regarding career path options, application process, needs, and timeline. They even provide an applicant guide and sample application for each application cycle. Below are some links that may be useful:
- American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges: A Career in Veterinary Medicine
- American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges: Becoming a Veterinarian
- American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges: What to Know Before Applying
- Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS)
If you are interested in other areas of Healthcare such as medical school, dental school, etc., please visit the Healthcare & Wellness Industry cluster on our website.