Prior completion of general chemistry improves success in animal nutrition

• Published in: Journal of animal science 2018-12, Vol.96, p.492-492
• Main Authors: Suagee-Bedore, J, Janini, T, Flad, J, Bennett-Wimbush, K, Amstutz, M, Osborne, J, Linden, D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal nutrition; Carbohydrates; Chemistry; Exposure; Lipids; Metabolism; Nutrition; Organic chemistry; Proteins; Students; Teachers; Zoology
• ISSN: 0021-8812; 1525-3163

Animal Nutrition (AN) is a 3000-level course with a sole prerequisite of Introductory Animal Science. The 2012 quarter to semester conversion process resulted in fewer opportunities for students to complete chemistry prior to enrolling in AN, particularly if those students required remedial math courses. Anecdotal observations of the instructors suggested that students seemed less prepared for AN than in years when chemistry was a required prerequisite. In order to accommodate this, lecture content was restructured to reduce the reliance on chemistry knowledge. This was completed through removing three lectures (carbohydrate, protein, and lipid chemistry), and shortening lectures on digestion and metabolism to remove chemistry details. The objective of this research was to examine final course grades in AN over 7 semesters of offering (n=275 students), in order to determine the effect of prior enrollment in chemistry and altered course structure on final grades. Students that previously completed chemistry (n=53) had higher (P < 0.001) final grades (80 ± 1.7%) compared to those that did not (71.8 ± 1.0%). This finding is possibly due to students being better prepared for AN through exposure to chemistry concepts. However, it is also possible that students who were able to take chemistry prior to AN did not require remedial coursework, and were naturally stronger students. Students that took AN after it was restructured (n=67 students) had a tendency (P = 0.06) for lower grades (74 ± 1.6%) than those completing the course prior to restructuring (78 ± 1.1%). These results support the notion that exposure to chemistry concepts enables animal science students to more fully understand the content taught in AN. Requiring chemistry as a prerequisite will likely improve the chances of success for students completing a course in AN.