The curriculum of the Department of Animal Science consists of 54 required and 24 elective courses. From the electives, the students of the Department are allowed to choose a maximum of 14 courses, in order to complete the necessary ECTS for obtaining the degree. The course categories of the curriculum of the Department of Animal Science are:

Ι. General Knowledge Courses

There are 8 General Knowledge courses including English. The English language course is taught two (2) hours per week in a progressive series of four semesters corresponding to grades I, II, III, IV. English I and III levels are offered in the winter semester while levels II and IV in the spring semester

ΙΙ. General Background Courses

There are 11 Background courses in the Department of Animal Science, of which 9 are compulsory and 2 elective

ΙΙΙ. Field of Science Courses

There are 47 Field of Science courses, of which 14 relate to basic agricultural knowledge and the remaining 33 to animal science. Of the 47 Field of Science courses, 34 are required and 13 are elective.

IV. Skills Development Courses

There are 12 Skills Development courses, of which 5 are compulsory and the remaining 7 are elective.

V. Diploma Dissertation

The diploma dissertation can be carried out in one of the 4 laboratories of the Department of Animal Science or another Department of the Agricultural University of Athens, in a subject area related to the study program the student attends

Educational trips, organized by the Department, are part of the training process and are, thus, obligatory. The trips are approved by the Senate, following the proposals of the Department, and take place typically after the end of ‘spring’ semester teaching classes and prior to the June examination period. In exceptional circumstances, educational trips can also be scheduled on particular dates to meet special educational purposes. The cost of the student trip is covered in part by the University.

Three examination periods: January – February, June and September. Exams are conducted after the end of each semester in all taught courses. To take the exams, students should have previously filled-in an ‘exam entry form’ (either electronically or through the Secretariat office). Students must indicate the n + 3 exams they intend to participate (n is the number of current semester courses and 3 the courses from previous semesters).

In the September exam period, students may participate in all course exams (theory and laboratory classes) of the last two semesters and, furthermore, up to six theory course exams and six laboratory class exams, from previous semesters. According to the number of successfully concluded theory and laboratory exams, students can take exams for up to twelve theory courses and twelve laboratory classes from previous semesters.

Provisions only for 10th semester and ‘on degree’ students:

• ‘January – February’ examination period: students can participate in all theory course exams and lab class exams of the ‘winter’ semester and additionally in 12 courses (theory and lab class) of the ‘spring’ semester.
• ‘June’ examination period: students can participate in all theory course exams and lab class exams of the ‘spring’ semester and additionally in 12 classes (theory and lab class) of the ‘winter’ semesters.
• ‘September’ examination period: students can sit for exams of all courses (theory and lab class) of the ‘spring’ and the ‘winter’ semester. The theory courses exams and the corresponding lab class exams and tutorials are independently treated and the student’s performance is evaluated separately. The final grade indicates the average performance in theory and in laboratory or tutorial exams. The grade range falls within 0-10, with ‘five’ (5) as the passing mark.

The diploma (‘ptichion’) final grade, after having successfully completed the five-year undergraduate curriculum, results as the average of two grades: four fifths (4/5) of all course grades and one fifth (1/5) of the final year ‘Diploma Dissertation’. The student’s performance is regarded as one of ‘Distinction’ (grades 9 and 10), ‘Very Good’ (grades 7 and 8) and ‘Pass’ (grades 5 and 6)

A public ceremony of Oath Taking and Degree Awarding is held for those students having fulfilled all their obligations of the curriculum followed (i.e. course examinations, practical training and diploma dissertation). The ceremony takes place in the Hall of Ceremonies of the University. Oath taking is followed by degree awarding by the University Rector and the Chairman of the Department.

Upon successful completion of the study program students will acquire a range of knowledge, skills and abilities. The learning outcomes are measurable. In detail, the graduates of the Department will be able to:

• Know the fields that concern the whole range of animal science (reproduction, nutrition, hygiene, production systems, processing, distribution of products)

• Understand the challenges and current trends, as well as the complexity and interdisciplinarity of issues related to animal science

• Assess specialized knowledge and scientific methodology so as to develop know-how on the production, processing and distribution of products of animal origin

• Apply the acquired knowledge and skills in the development of innovative products and services in the field of animal science

• Analyze information, ideas, problems and solutions in a way that meets the ever-increasing demands of the industry, taking into account the current challenges of the livestock industry such as climate change, environmental protection, etc.

• Combine knowledge, critical thinking and skills, in order to be able to adapt to the continuously evolving needs of the market

• Interpret research results, in order to continue their studies in an autonomous way at postgraduate and doctoral level