Veterinary Degrees Online

Colleges of Veterinary Medicine expect incoming students to have a broad background in the biological and physical sciences with students completing at least three courses in biology including general biology, genetics, microbiology as the most requested, two semesters of both general chemistry and organic chemistry, as well as at least one semester of biochemistry, and two semesters of general physics. A course in animal nutrition is required by nearly half of the schools. Bethany College courses that satisfy the usual requirements are: Biology 100, 180, 290, and 343; Chemistry 111 -11 2, 221-222, and 351-352; Physics 201-202; and General Science 473 and 474.

Other typical course requirements include at least one math class and two
semesters of English composition and literature. Another major requirement
is documented experience with animals and work with veterinarians. Some
large animal experience may be obtained by enrolling in General Science
293. Students can gain valuable experience working with area veterinarians.
Students who can claim West Virginia residency status may obtain a position as a
contract student at one of three schools: Ohio State University; University of Georgia;
and Tuskegee Institute. There are at present 13 contract seats among the three schools.

Eligible students must complete the application for the West Virginia Contract Seat, which can be obtained from the Division of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at West Virginia University when starting the application process for Veterinary School. All students interested in attending veterinary school should review the admission requirements of any veterinary college they may likely attend as requirements among the colleges vary widely.

The Veterinary Science Department provides advising services for students in the pre-veterinary medicine curriculum and offers courses in the biomedical sciences for undergraduate and graduate majors in related sciences. The department also offers several graduate research assistantship positions in microbiology, virology, and molecular biology for students majoring in other departments. Graduate training is supported by active research programs in diseases of food-producing animals.

South Dakota does not have a professional College of Veterinary Medicine. A pre-veterinary medicine curriculum is offered which allows students to obtain prerequisites for application to Colleges of Veterinary Medicine in other states. Students may meet requirements in two or three years of pre-veterinary study. Many students complete a major for the Bachelor of Science Degree before entering the professional curriculum of Veterinary Medicine. Many degree options are available to students in the pre-veterinary medicine curriculum, but popular choices include Animal Science, Biology, Microbiology, Dairy Science, or others. Students typically select a BS option late in their freshman year or during their sophomore year.

Entrance into the professional curriculum in a College of Veterinary Medicine rests with the individual applicant, and is based upon many factors including their academic record and experience. The applicant should be aware of the difficulties involved in being accepted to a College of Veterinary Medicine. Keen competition should be anticipated.

Integrated within the Department of Veterinary Science is the South Dakota Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (ADRDL). The ADRDL is one of 36 full-service veterinary diagnostic laboratories in the U.S. that is accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians. The ADRDL is a reference lab that investigates naturally occurring animal health problems. The lab receives over 20,000 submissions and conducts over 400,000 test procedures annually. The lab is the official test center for the SD Animal Industry Board and promotes animal agriculture commerce by performing required export testing. The lab is also integral to national disease eradication programs and serves public health by tracking zoonotic diseases.

Veterinary technicians work with a veterinarian to provide professional healthcare. This requires extensive knowledge and training in the care and handling of animals, their normal and abnormal life processes, medical and surgical nursing, anesthesiology, diagnostic imaging, and clinical laboratory procedures-precisely the kind of knowledge and training you’ll receive at LMU.

LMU’s veterinary technology program (LMUVTP) offers several degree options that allow you to complete the pre-veterinary medicine requirements at LMU and be prepared to apply to AVMA-accredited colleges of veterinary medicine.

Degrees Offered

Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology (AAS)
Associate of Science in Veterinary Animal Science (AS)
Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology (BS)

Concentrations

Animal Science
Veterinary Practice

Special Features

LMUVTP’s affiliation with the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, the Harrogate Hospital for Animals, and Harrogate Genetics International enables you to gain cutting-edge knowledge and experience.

The AAS and BS degrees are accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

The BS degree offers concentration areas in veterinary animal science and veterinary practice management. These concentrations are excellent choices for transfer students.

All of LMU’s veterinary degrees emphasize hands-on experience with animals, preventative medicine, and service to the community.

The AAS and BS degrees qualify students to take the national veterinary technician licensing examination and to become a licensed veterinary technician (for those earning the AAS) or veterinary technologist (for those earning the BS).

LMU’s veterinary technology students are a diverse group, coming from places like the Virgin Islands and from states as far away as California, North Dakota, and New York.

The Pre-Veterinary medicine is one of four “pre-professional” programs available at NMSU. It provides the background training required for enrollment at schools of veterinary medicine.

Acceptance rates of NMSU students have been excellent in recent years and many have graduated at the top of their veterinary medicine school class.

All Pre-Vet majors receive training in the biological sciences, physics, chemistry, mathematics and liberal arts. A B.S. degree in Animal Science (Science Option) fulfills the prerequisites for admission into veterinary schools. Supporting courses in many areas allow the student to develop a program of study which satisfy both requirements and individual interests.
A considerable number of students enter NMSU with an interest in the field of veterinary medicine. Most of these individuals are advised by animal science faculty and take considerable course work in the Department of Animal and Range Sciences. The Pre-Vet program is very strong at NMSU and the rate of acceptance of NMSU students to Colleges of Veterinary Medicine has been quite high in recent years.

Pre-Vet Advisor, Department of Animal and Range Sciences, NMSU.
Programs of Study in Animal Science

Undergraduate programs in the Department of Animal & Range Sciences are designed to offer a wide array of courses aimed at providing experience, both technical and practical, in the many facets of animal production, management, and marketing. The curriculum is career oriented and seeks to train individuals for meaningful employment in the types of positions mentioned previously.

Support courses are offered to provide specific knowledge in basic sciences and humanities. Animal science courses then relate this basic experience to the field of animal production. Business and management offerings allow the student to make more effective decisions associated with the livestock industry.

The major areas of study and courses offered or required are outlined below or go the NMSU Undergraduate Catalog.
Advising & Learning Environment

Pre-Veterinary students are advised by faculty in the Department of Animal and Range Sciences.

On-campus facilities include four animal units; beef cattle, horses, swine and sheep. Fully equipped laboratories in Knox Hall and Neale Hall offer experience in physiology, endocrinology, nutrition, genetics, meats, wool, and micro-computer applications.

In addition, the department operates a ranch consisting of 64,000 acres just north of Las Cruces and a 28,000 acre ranch near Corona, New Mexico. Feedlot experiments are conducted at the Clayton Livestock Research Center, Clayton, New Mexico and on the NMSU campus.
Student Organizations

Students are encouraged to participate in various student organizations at the departmental, college and university level.
Pre-Vet Club – hosts numerous activities and field trips.
Equitation Club – supports the Equestrian Teams (Western and English) Recent IHSA Regional Champions – 2006.
Block and Bridle Club – meet new friends, participate in academic and community projects.
Rodeo Club – NMSU as a member of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association sponsors both male and female teams. The Club produces 2 rodeos yearly.
Range Club – range management activities, Range Plant Identification team and URME team which compete in national contests.

Judging teams (compete in several contests each year):
Livestock
Horse
Range Plant
Wool

Membership in one or several of these groups is encouraged since it provides students with a unique opportunity to implement and integrate many experiences learned in the classroom.
Curriculum

Pre-Veterinary Requirements:
Biology (4 credits)
Chemistry (15-18 credits)
Math (3 credits)
English (4 credits)
Speech (3 credits)
Physics (4-8 credits)
Statistics (3 credits)
Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences (12 credits)

General Education Electives
See Undergraduate Catalog for undergratute reqirements
Campus wide events

Special events programs sponsored by NMSU include numerous well-known entertainers and sports activities (football, basketball, volleyball, golf, baseball, track, tennis, swimming and rodeo). Opportunities to participate in intramural athletics are also available.