Veterinary Degrees Online

Veterinary Science Technology is a growing field that offers a variety of careers to individuals interested in working with animals either as technicians or as members of a scientific community. For many people, the study of veterinary technology serves as a starting point for entry into various animal and health-related careers.

A veterinary technician is described by the American Veterinary Medical Association as “a person knowledgeable in the care and handling of animals, in the basic principles of normal and abnormal life processes, and in routine laboratory and clinical procedures. He or she is primarily an assistant to veterinarians, biological research workers and other scientists.”

The demand for personnel trained in the area of animal care and management is strong. The large pet animal population requires technical support personnel to assist veterinarians in the clinical practices. The growth of biomedical research and the concern for the humane care of animals used in research require qualified assistants. The expansion of the biotechnology industry has increased the need for qualified technical support.

The Veterinary Science Technology program has been designed to graduate well-trained and competent technicians for the veterinary and biomedical research fields. Practical experience with live animals and field experience under typical working conditions form an integral part of the program. The practical experience is achieved by internships with affiliated veterinary animal clinics, biomedical research centers and the college’s animal facilities.

The Veterinary Science Technology program is fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Upon completion of the program, the student is eligible to take the New York State Education Department licensure examination for certification as a veterinary technician.

An articulation agreement exists between Suffolk County Community College and Cornell University. Students have the opprotunity to be accepted into the Collge of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University after completing their A.A.S. degree at Suffolk County Community College.
Animal Use
Animal use in the Veterinary Science Technology program falls under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the New York State Department of Health. Although animal alternatives to animal use are employed, a minimum of hands-on animal training is required to meet the standards set forth by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Committee on Veterinary Technician Activities.
Typical Employment Opportunities

Job opportunities exist as laboratory animal technicians or veterinary technicians in the following areas:

Small animal hospitals and clinics
City, state and federal government agencies

Research laboratories
Universities

Pharmaceutical companies
Medical and dental schools

Pet Industry / Sales
Zoological gardens

Public health agencies
Laboratory animal products / sales

Admission Procedures and Requirements
All applicants must have successfully completed Mathematics B, high school biology and chemistry (both with laboratories), or their equivalents (at Suffolk County Community College, MAT007, BIO101 and CHE100). Those applying directly from high school must also have a high school math and science average of 75 or higher. Transfer students or SCCC students requesting a change of emphasis must have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 or higher in the prerequisite courses. Although work experience with animals is not required, it is highly recommended. It is recommended that students apply by January 1 in the year of anticipated entry.

Admission to the full-time day program occurs every fall; evening students are accepted in the fall of even-numbered years. However, many students take general education (non-VST) courses that would apply to the curriculum before being accepted into the program.

The Veterinary Science Technology curriculum is a restricted program and highly competitive. Meeting minimum criteria does not guarantee acceptance to the program. The college reserves the right to make final decisions based upon the applicant pool each year.
Minimum Grade Requirements and Program Completion

Students admitted into the program must achieve a minimum passing grade of C in all VST courses. Only one repeat of a VST course is permitted. For optimal student performance, students will take courses in the sequences indicated below.

SUGGESTED DAY SEQUENCEFIRST SEMESTER: 18-19 credits Credits
ENG101: Standard Freshman Composition 3
Mathematics Elective 3-4
BIO141: Zoology 3
CHE120: Introduction to General, Organic and Biochemistry 4
* VST101: Introduction to Animal Technology 2
VST103: Comparative Anatomy of Domesticated Animals 3

SECOND SEMESTER: 18 credits
ENG102: Introduction to Literature 3
Social Science Elective 3
BIO142: Animal Parasitology 3
VST114: Veterinary Practice Management 2
* VST111: Farm Animal Nursing 3
VST112: Comparative Physiology of Domesticated Animals 4

THIRD SEMESTER: 16 credits
VST201: Laboratory Animal Technology 3
VST205: Pharmacy and Pharmacology 3
* VST203: Animal Clinic Internship I 3
VST202: Clinical Laboratory Techniques I 3
VST206: Veterinary Cardiology and Radiology 4

FOURTH SEMESTER: 19 credits
Social Science Elective 3
BIO244: General Microbiology 4
VST216: Surgical Nursing and Anesthesiology 4
VST212: Clinical Laboratory Techniques II 3
* VST213: Animal Clinic Internship II 3
Physical Education 2
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 71-72

SUGGESTED EVENING SEQUENCE (four years including Summers)
SUMMER SEMESTER I: 6-7 credits Credits
ENG101: Standard Freshman Composition 3
Mathematics Elective 3-4
FIRST SEMESTER: 5 credits
* VST101: Introduction to Animal Technology 2
BIO141: Zoology 3
SECOND SEMESTER: 6 credits

VST103: Comparative Anatomy of Domesticated Animals 3
* VST111: Farm Animal Nursing 3
SUMMER SEMESTER II: 7 credits
CHE120: Introduction to General, Organic and Biochemistry 4
ENG102: Introduction to Literature 3
THIRD SEMESTER: 7 credits

VST112: Comparative Physiology of Domesticated Animals 4
BIO142: Animal Parasitology 3
FOURTH SEMESTER: 9 credits

VST205: Pharmacy and Pharmacology 3
VST114: Veterinary Practice Management 2
BIO244: General Microbiology 4
SUMMER SEMESTER III: 6 credits
Social Science Elective 3

Social Science Elective 3
FIFTH SEMESTER: 7 credits
VST202: Clinical Laboratory Techniques I 3
VST206: Veterinary Cardiology and Radiology 4
SIXTH SEMESTER: 3 credits
VST212: Clinical Laboratory Techniques II 3
SUMMER SEMESTER IV: 3 credits
* VST203: Animal Clinic Internship I 3
SEVENTH SEMESTER : 7 credits
VST201: Laboratory Animal Technology 3
VST216: Surgical Nursing and Anesthesiology 4
EIGHTH SEMESTER : 3 credits
* VST213: Animal Clinical Internship II 3
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 69-70

* Students are required to provide their own transportation to off-campus field experiences.
These courses constitute the major courses in this curriculum in order to graduate.

REQUIRED CREDIT DISTRIBUTION
Veterinary Science Technology 40 credits
English 6 credits
Social Science 6 credits
Mathematics 3-4 credits
Science 14 credits
Physical Education
(full-time students only) 2 credits

Veterinary technicians are professionals knowledgeable in the care and handling of animals, basic principles of normal and abnormal life processes, routine laboratory and clinical procedures, and in veterinary medical and surgical nursing. Certified veterinary technicians are employed in veterinary clinics serving large, small, and exotic species. In addition, graduates are employed as veterinary assistants in pharmaceutical settings, research laboratories, animal feed companies, wildlife and zoo centers, and animal shelters. The job market for formally trained veterinary technicians has been growing, and this trend is expected to continue.

Lehigh Carbon Community College, working jointly with Northampton Community College, has developed a two-year associate of applied science degree program in this field.

Coursework will provide students with a foundation in the basic principles of animal medicine and disease, anatomy and physiology, diagnostic laboratory work, surgical assisting, anesthesia, diagnostic radiology, pharmacology, veterinary medical nursing, laboratory and exotic animal medicine, and veterinary practice management. Students will be given the opportunity to develop technical skills through multiple clinical experiences with live animals.

Graduates of this program are prepared to sit for the veterinary technician national board examination. Students that pass the exam may obtain certification. This program has received full accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be able to:
completely perform and engage in office and hospital procedures, client relations, and communication.
work proficiently in the pharmacy and understand and utilize pharmacologic concepts.
safely and competently engage in medical nursing.
safely and competently engage in surgical nursing.
safely and competently engage in anesthetic nursing.
competently perform laboratory procedures.
safely and competently perform diagnostic imaging.
competently perform laboratory animal and exotic patient husbandry and nursing.

First Semester Credits
VET 101 Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology 4
VET 110 Introduction to Veterinary Technology 2
ENG 105 College English I 3
CIS 105 Introduction to Computers and Applications 3.5
CHE 106 Physiological Chemistry 4

16.5

Second Semester Credits
VET 115 Animal Management and Nutrition 2
VET 120 Veterinary Parasitology 2
VET 125 Veterinary Clinical Laboratory Techniques 4
BIO 220 Microbiology 4
ENG 106 College English II
or ENG 107 Technical Writing
or ENG 108 Advanced Composition 3

15

Summer Session
Credits
VET 210 Large Animal Clinical Procedure 3

3

Third Semester
Credits
VET 215 Animal Disease 3
VET 218 Veterinary Pharmacology and Anesthesia 3
VET 220 Small Animal Clinical Procedure 3
MAT 105* Intermediate Algebra 3
Elective Social Science/Humanities 3

15

Fourth Semester
Credits
VET 225 Veterinary Radiology and Surgical Nursing 4
VET 228 Lab Animal Science and Exotics 4
Elective Social Science/Humanities 3
Elective** General Education 3

14

Summer Session
Credits
VET 230 Veterinary Technician Externship 4

4

Credit Total 67.5

*Or MAT 130, 150, 155, 160, 165, 170, or 190.

**Biology 105 is strongly recommended.

Please note that admission to this program is competitive and requires a special application. Interested students should notify Enrollment Services of their desire to be considered with the applicant pool (for Feb. 1 deadline). Not all students will be offered a seat in the program.

All students in the Veterinary Technician program must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 during the course of their program.

In addition, any student who does not successfully complete (with a grade of at least a“C”) two veterinary core courses (either two different courses or the same course twice) will be withdrawn from the program. Readmission to the program will require re-application and re-acceptance through the admissions office.

Skillful veterinary technicians may perform many of the same duties for a verterinarian that a nurse would do for a physician, including routine laboratory and clinical procedures. This program provides training in veterinary health and the handling of a variety of animals from the domestic to the exotic, as well as laboratory animals encountered in a veterinary practice or biomedical research setting. While veterinary technicians serve as important paraprofessional members of the veterinary medical team, veterinary technicians do not diagnose animal illnesses, prescribe treatment or perform surgery.

The program’s curriculum includes such topics as anatomy and physiology, radiology, parasitology, surgical nursing and assisting and other related scientific areas of veterinary health or related skills areas. The curriculum is not intended to provide admission to a college of veterinary medicine.

A critical component of the program is student participation in clinical internships.

To enter the program, students must meet the following admission requirements:

Completion of a high school diploma or GED.
Achievement of indicated assessment scores or completion of preparatory coursework.
Completion of ENG 131 – Technical Writing or ENG 121 – English Composition I with a grade of “C” or better.
Completion of BIO 111 – General College Biology with a grade of “C” or better (no more than 7 years old).
Completion of HPR 178 – Medical Terminology, with a grade of “C” or better.
Complete an Intent to Enroll (application) form available at the Larimer Campus.

Admission to the program is limited to the first 24 students (each fall and spring) who have submitted the appropriate admission materials. It is strongly recommended students complete the required general education courses prior to beginning the program.

Veterinary technicians and technologists are compassionate, highly motivated professionals dedicated to animal health care. Licensed veterinary technicians are integral members of the veterinary health care team that have been educated in the care and handling of animals, the basic principles of normal and abnormal life processes, and in routine laboratory and clinical procedures. Veterinary technicians work under the supervision of a veterinarian and are able to perform a wide variety of procedures, however they are not able to diagnose, perform surgery or prescribe.

Veterinary technicians and technologists enjoy the diverse medical responsibilities that are entrusted to them.

Veterinary technicians and technologists have a wide array of employment opportunities upon graduation. The may go into private practice, teaching, research, regulatory medicine, public health, zoo medicine, humane society work and many other veterinary and animal related positions.

Salaries for veterinary technicians and technologists vary depending on the degree earned, experience, responsibility, geographic location, and employment type. However the average salaries reported by MSU Veterinary Technology graduates range from $12 to $18 per hour.