Veterinary Degrees Online

The Preveterinary program at the University of Rhode Island is a Bachelor of Science program in the Department of Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences in the College of the Environment and Life Science designed to prepare students for admission to schools of veterinary medicine. Animal health is an integral part of of animal science and the veterinarian is the key professional in the field. Admission to a DVM program requires superior academic achievement, completion of challenging undergraduate coursework, and knowledge and experience in the field of veterinary medicine. Extracurricular activities and personal qualities are also taken into consideration. Admission to veterinary school is highly competitive and students are encouraged to explore secondary career objectives.

Courses in our preveterinary program are designed to meet the requirements of virtually all the schools of veterinary medicine in the United States. Since veterinary school admission requirements are subject to change and are not uniform it is essential that students recognize their responsibility to keep abreast of requirements for specific institutions they wish to apply to. Strong faculty advising, the URI Health Professions Advisory Commitee and the Animal and Veterinary Science Club all work together to help he student. The courses that are part of the basic science requirements include: General Zoology, General Botany, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, General Physics, Calculus, Statistics and Microbiology. Some examples of concentration and supporting courses are Introductory Animal Science, Animal Nutrition, Physiology of Reproduction, Genetics, Companion Animal Management, Anatomy and Physiology, Endocrinology, Pathology, Animal Behavior and Animal Diseases. The remainder of the program is made up of the University general education requirement and free electives. A total of 130 credits are required for graduation.

Careers in veterinary medicine are numerous. Private practice, either in small or large animal medicine, federal, state and local assignments dealing with disease control and public health, teaching and research; food and drug companies hire veterinarians for product development and testing. Other opportunities include zoos, wildlife preserves, aquariums, racetracks, laboratory animal facilities etc. There are also specializations in non-practice areas such as pathology, medical computing science and scientific administration.

Special opportunities and facilities include the Peckham Animal Center, internships and special projects. At the Peckham Animal Center students have the opportunity to work with sheep, dairy goats, poultry, horses and on a limited basis dairy cattle. Most of these opportunities are done in conjunction with course work; our goal is to provide students with hands on work early in their program with students then expanding on this experience through a variety of internships. Recent internships completed by students include the Farm and Equine Internship at the Willam H. Miner Institute , the Mystic Marinelife Aquarium and the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI. Recent special projects have included research in control of reproduction in sheep, animal well-being, and Lyme disease.

A started in the 2007/08 are activated two distinct lines:
Guidance Veterinary Assistant
Hygiene and health guidance for food of animal origin

The study plan of the first year is common to the two guidelines.
Students will choose their orientation at the time of the second year.
The guidelines of the previous academic year are exhausted, the years turned up to the subscribers of outdoor 2006/07 are the 2nd and 3rd.
FEATURES AND PURPOSE ‘OF COURSE

The course of study is directed towards the acquisition of knowledge of basic biological and applied regarding the anatomy and physiology of animal species, and then move on to the study of microbiology, general pathology, infectious and parasitic diseases, sufficient to describe the main diseases of animals and breeding condition. As for the orientation “Veterinary Assistant”, such knowledge is complemented by concepts of veterinary legislation, pharmacology and toxicology, diet and food hygiene, veterinary nursing techniques and surgical clinics, reproduction, ethology, breeding and feeding the dog and cat, cytology and histopathology. Training is supplemented by laboratory courses to acquire skills in the conduct of specific diagnostic tests. With regard to the guidance “Health and hygiene of food of animal origin” such knowledge is complemented by concepts of legislation on animal products, pharmacology and toxicology, veterinary pathological anatomy, inspection, processing and quality control of products of animal origin . Training in this approach also provides laboratory courses to acquire skills in specific tests for food quality control.
With this end, the course prepares graduates with:
basic knowledge in the scientific disciplines relevant to the vocational training
knowledge of the principles of anatomy, physiology, general pathology, microbiology, epidemiology of infectious and parasitic diseases of domestic animals
knowledge of plans for prevention, as well as national health legislation and community
skills in the management of hygiene and health of farm animals
skills of veterinary hygiene and health and quality of animal products
skills of veterinary hygiene and health and quality of food for animals
application skills of pathology of the reproduction of artificial insemination
knowledge of the basic principles of nutrition, feeding and breeding of animals for disease;
knowledge of the issues of the environmental impact of livestock farming and processing industries
control of all aspects of the quality of productive animals
knowledge of diagnostic procedures in general pathology and immunology, pathological anatomy (with histopathology and citopatologia) and in the diagnosis of infectious and parasitic diseases
GUIDANCE “VETERINARY ASSISTANT”

The degree course aims to prepare graduates who are capable of operating in the technical management of stock and hygienic condition of the animals and also to carry out activities within the diagnostic laboratories and analysis of veterinary interest.
PROFESSIONAL MARKETS

The graduate is able to carry out:
breeding animals of illness, with particular reference to technical management, hygiene, genetic improvement, nutrition, legislation, welfare, education behavioral
kennels, shelters and protective associations, acting as technical management of toilet facilities and the Environment, in collaboration with the veterinary surgeon, as part of its powers
veterinary medical support to the activities of nursing
laboratory, its inherent powers
ORIENTATION: HEALTH AND HYGIENE ‘FOOD ANIMAL ”

The degree course aims to prepare graduates who will perform professional activities in the areas of sanitation management and quality of products in enterprises of production, processing and marketing of animal products for health and welfare of animals reared of veterinary public health, veterinary laboratory techniques, activity planning, supervision and verification of safety and sanitary quality of animal products. It can also work in laboratories where it is found the quality of animal products.
PROFESSIONAL MARKETS

The graduate is able to carry out:
sanitation control of animal products, in compliance with quality standards for the implementation of the certification of livestock products in enterprises
support and cooperation in the veterinary surgeon and the NHS
self-dealing in plant foods of animal origin;
perform auxiliary functions of the veterinary surgeon to ensure the tasks of verification of the ‘self’, the audit, the ante-and post-mortem.
laboratory, its inherent powers

Entry requirements
Entry requirements 120 points

One subject, preferable Biology but other sciences will be considered, at A-level / Vocational A-level.

BTEC National Award at Distinction (equivalent to 120 points).

Applicants with relevant prior learning or work experience not leading to a formal qualification are welcomed and will be considered on an individual basis.

Reasons to choose this course
Brand new animal unit on campus to support the course
Our estate houses 54 species, over 300 animals in total
Vocational approach with strong industry links for excellent placement and work experience opportunities.

About the course
The course is vocational in nature, with strong industry links applied during work experience and career planning. Lectures cover the major principles of anatomy and physiology, behaviour, ecology and nutrition. However, the FdSc involves a slightly slower pace of learning combined with a greater emphasis on applied aspects. The course combines the study of wild animal populations with that of captive animals, both domestic and exotic.

Special features
The flexibility of the animal provision at the University will enable you to develop expertise in a variety of animals ranging from companion and production animals to wildlife and exotic breeds. The Brackenhurst campus has a number of specialist units for animal, equine and farm studies, including an animal unit housing over 300 animals, representing 54 different species. The campus also includes a range of semi-natural and constructed habitats which provide a valuable resource for students.

After successful completion of the FdSc Animal Studies course you can progress onto to the final year of the BSc (Hons) Animal Biology course via a gateway module. This module comprises of a ten-week summer school which provides additional underpinning for level three studies.

The Animal Unit
The brand-new animal unit at Brackenhurst campus provides the ideal environment for the study of animals.

It houses cats, dogs, reptiles, rabbits, birds, fish and rodents. Outside there is accommodation for larger animals such as goats, sheep, donkeys and poultry. Students therefore experience the day-to-day challenges involved in running an animal enterprise and are able to draw on the strong ties which have been established with industry. Students also benefit greatly from guest lectures and visits.

Opportunities
Progression onto the final year of the BSc (Hons) Animal Biology degree is possible for graduates of the foundation degree on successful completion of a qualifying summer school.

Assessment
Students’ work is assessed using a variety of methods, including coursework such as assignments, reports, projects, presentations and case studies. There are also examinations and tests that assess your knowledge and understanding, and individual project work to encourage independent thinking.

Your future career
Animal Studies graduates are well-placed for entry into a variety of careers within the animal industry. Potential areas for employment include work in wildlife parks, zoological collections, welfare organisations and governmental departments, alongside work as behaviour consultants or animal trainers. Alternatively you may decide to use your degree as a progression route to further study.