Animal Science 211/411 is just another required class for animal science majors.

This class is hardly typical, though.

Instead of a formal lecture, students in Animal Science 211 listen to topics presented by the students in Animal Science 411.

The 211 students then grade the presentations, although the final grade is determined by the 411 instructor.

The 211 students start off the semester by getting “an introduction and understanding of animal ethics issues facing the world today,” said Douglas Kenealy, professor of animal science who teaches the 211 course.

“There are guest lecturers that come in to talk about the big issues in the industry now, like the size of farms and environmental impacts that these farms have,” he said.

In 411, the students discuss issues that are important to animal scientists. The students select a topic that interests them and research it extensively.

Brad Skaar, associate professor of animal science, teaches the 411 class.

“[The students] must define the issue, figure out who the stakeholders are or who this affects and what a possible solution is,” he said.

After a few weeks have passed, allowing the 411 class enough time to prepare, the second half of the course begins. During the second half of the course, the 411 students are required to present their topics to the 211 students.

This is to “challenge our senior students to take a position and present an issue and persuade an audience,” Skaar said.

Some students say they are enjoying the format of the combined course.

“It was pretty open. We picked our own topics; we were given pretty much free reign,” said Joe Chizek, senior in animal science.

DeNae Koble, senior in animal science, is a transfer student who did not have to take 211 before registering for 411.

“[I] really enjoyed the class a lot — enjoyed the challenge [of 411],” she said.

The class has grown substantially in size since it began a few semesters ago, Kenealy said.

The majority of students who take the class are animal and dairy science majors, but Kenealy said he hopes that will change in the future.

“Maybe as the reputation grows, we’ll get more students from different colleges,” he said.