Veterinary Degrees Online

Turn a love of animals into a lifetime career with our Veterinary Technology degree. In our associate’s and bachelor’s programs, students work hand-in-hand with doctors and veterinary technicians by performing lab tests, drawing blood, assisting in surgery, and caring for animals. With experience in working with domestic, exotic and farm animals of every shape and size, students are well-prepared for careers in veterinary hospitals and clinics.

Our associate in science degree in Veterinary Technology is one of seven programs in New York. This is a rigorous academic program with a strong emphasis on practical application. The program includes professional, liberal arts, and preceptorship (internship) requirements, as recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Classes are designed around the responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician, with core courses in Laboratory Animal Science, Small Animal Diseases and Nutrition, Farm Animal Restraint, and Veterinary Practice Management. Students also have the option to continue at Medaille for a Bachelor of Science degree in either Biology or Liberal Studies.

In 2001, Medaille College’s accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association was reconfirmed. This accreditation is recognized throughout the United States. Upon completion of the degree, students take a licensing exam to become certified as a Veterinary Technician. This exam is recognized in New York State and nationally. In the last 10 years, Medaille graduates have had a greater than 90% passing rate. Medaille graduates have experienced 100% job placement rates

Veterinary assistants are becoming more important as valued members of the veterinary health care team in today’s modern practices. This one-year program prepares you to support veterinary technicians and veterinarians in a veterinary practice. Duties performed by veterinary assistants include animal restraint, preparing animals for surgery, care of surgical instruments and other equipment, care and feeding of in-patients, processing radiographs and front office procedures. Veterinary assistants are not trained to give injections, take blood samples, perform laboratory procedures, administer anesthetics, monitor patients during anesthesia and assist in surgery.

Program Description:
This one-year, two-semester program is designed to prepare students with the knowledge and skills required to assist Registered Veterinary Technicians/Technologists and Veterinarians in the practice of veterinary science, as well as, work within other applied animal sciences such as grooming establishments, pet shops and shelters. Students learn a variety of basic laboratory techniques to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of domestic animals, as well as, clerical and supporting skills required in an animal facility. Time is also spent at a local OSPCA for hands-on experience, and two field placements are also provided.

Durham College strives to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication/on this website. Please note that the academic curriculum is continually reviewed and revised to ensure program quality and relevancy. As such, the college reserves the right to modify or cancel any course, program, fee, procedure, timetable or campus location at any time.

Entrance Requirements: OSSD, GED, ACE (BTSD) or Mature Student Status (MSS)

Plus senior level (Grade 11 or higher) subject credits:
General (G), Advanced (A), OAC, College Preparation (C), University/College Preparation (M), University Preparation (U) or Postsecondary (college or university)
» Grade 12 English
»Three additional senior level credits

This two-year diploma program is designed to prepare veterinary technicians with the knowledge and skills necessary to work in an ethical, competent and professional manner, in a veterinary practice, as well as, other animal related industries.

A Veterinary Technician is a graduate of a two-year, AVMA-accredited program in Veterinary Technology who has knowledge of applied science and specialized training in animal health, care and management. Graduates of the program are qualified to perform a wide range of technical medical skills and may be employed in veterinary practices, research and academic institutions, biological laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, public health organizations and zoos. The demand for veterinary technicians continues to exceed the supply of graduates.

An integral part of the program is the Lenfest Animal Health Center. This on-campus veterinary clinic treats over 1,000 animals annually and allows students to gain valuable hands-on clinical experience as part of the curriculum. In addition to the veterinary clinic on campus, field trips to shelters and large animal facilities add to the clinical experience of the students. These out-reach programs give the students experiences with a wide range of animal species. Additionally, supplementing the didactic course work is an externship in which the student receives hands-on training in an approved research facility, private veterinary practice or veterinary teaching facility.

The curriculum is fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities.

The Veterinary Science Technology program focuses on clinical assisting procedures, performance of laboratory testing techniques, and an understanding and appreciation of the concepts and practices employed in veterinary practice and biomedical research settings. The humane care and treatment of animal patients are stressed, as are the importance of compassion, veterinary medical ethics, effective interpersonal relations, and the psychology of dealing with patients and clients.

Lecture and laboratory instruction is presented by veterinarians and veterinary technicians who bring a broad range of experiences and expertise to the program. The laboratories are staffed to allow you to receive individual attention and maximum exposure to different veterinary practice philosophies. Traditional classroom sequences are supplemented with additional learning experiences which include assignments in the College’s animal facilities, guest lectures, computer-assisted learning projects, laboratory instruction, and field trips.

An active student chapter of the New York State Association of Veterinary Technicians (NYSAVT)/North American Veterinary Technicians Association (NAVTA) provides students with additional educational and social opportunities both on and off the Delhi campus.

The primary educational and career objective of the SUNY Delhi Bachelor of Business Administration in Veterinary Technology Management program is to graduate technicians who possess business management capabilities. The semester-by-semester curriculum layout indicates how this goal has been integrated to provide the technician with the knowledge and skills necessary to compete successfully as a technician-manager in the exciting, evolving world of veterinary and laboratory animal medicine.

The Field

During the past two decades, with the advent of board certification of specialties in veterinary medicine, the nature and character of veterinary practice have changed. There has been a proliferation of multiple-veterinarian private practices, often encompassing a variety of specialties. These large group practices have provided a rich, challenging environment for well-trained-and-educated veterinary technicians. Also, these practices have created a demand for technicians who are not only knowledgeable about veterinary medicine, but also capable of managing the business aspects and lay personnel of a practice. With increasing economic pressure, even smaller, more routine veterinary practices have come to recognize the benefits of having a competent veterinary technician who also has management capabilities on staff. Such technicians free their employers from the day-to-day management of the practice, enabling the employers to function more fully as practicing veterinarians.

Industrial veterinary medicine, consisting of the commercial pharmaceutical industry, private and academic biomedical research institutions, and purely academic facilities, also has great demand for well-trained veterinary technicians and for technicians who can also function as animal resource managers. On-the-job training is not providing enough adequately trained managers to meet the needs of this aspect of veterinary medicine. Laboratory animal resource managers face many challenges, including rapidly changing technology, regulations, and institutional policies. Managers that can effectively address these challenges are in tremendous demand.

The Instructional Program

The primary educational and career objective of the SUNY Delhi Bachelor of Business Administration in Veterinary Technology Management program is to graduate technicians who possess business management capabilities. The semester-by-semester curriculum layout below indicates how this goal has been integrated to provide the technician with the knowledge and skills necessary to compete successfully as a technician-manager in the exciting, evolving world of veterinary and laboratory animal medicine.
The Field

During the past two decades, with the advent of board certification of specialties in veterinary medicine, the nature and character of veterinary practice have changed. There has been a proliferation of multiple-veterinarian private practices, often encompassing a variety of specialties. These large group practices have provided a rich, challenging environment for well-trained-and-educated veterinary technicians. Also, these practices have created a demand for technicians who are not only knowledgeable about veterinary medicine, but also capable of managing the business aspects and lay personnel of a practice. With increasing economic pressure, even smaller, more routine veterinary practices have come to recognize the benefits of having a competent veterinary technician who also has management capabilities on staff. Such technicians free their employers from the day-to-day management of the practice, enabling the employers to function more fully as practicing veterinarians.

Industrial veterinary medicine, consisting of the commercial pharmaceutical industry, private and academic biomedical research institutions, and purely academic facilities, also has great demand for well-trained veterinary technicians and for technicians who can also function as animal resource managers. On-the-job training is not providing enough adequately trained managers to meet the needs of this aspect of veterinary medicine. Laboratory animal resource managers face many challenges, including rapidly changing technology, regulations, and institutional policies. Managers that can effectively address these challenges are in tremendous demand.

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.

Students are taught the skills and procedures to effectively contribute to the health and well being of veterinary patients. Veterinary technicians, while always working under the supervision of a veterinarian, provide many services. Routine duties include restraint of animals, sample collection, nursing care (IV catheter placement, bandage application, medication administration, etc.), feeding of animals, record keeping, office procedures, and client education and communication. Other skills include administration of anesthesia, surgical nursing, radiographic procedures, dental prophylaxis, clinical pathology procedures and medication preparation. This job requires the physical strength to lift and carry 50 pounds. Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) administered by the Veterinary Examining Board of the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing. Receiving a passing score on the VTNE permits the use of the title of Certified Veterinary Technician. This program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities. A completed packet consists of the completed application form, $30 application fee (if not previously paid), high school transcripts, GED/HSED test scores, college transcript(s) and COMPASS test scores. An incomplete packet will be returned without being considered for admissions. If the transcripts were previously submitted, a new copy(s) needs to be included with the admissions packet.