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Guide to College Majors in Veterinary Science

What is Veterinary Science?

Individuals seeking to obtain a degree in Veterinary Science will find many exciting opportunities allowing them to work with animals and the general public in a variety of ways. If you are a patient and caring person who loves animals and feels comfortable around them, you may want to explore the educational and career options within the field of veterinary science.

Professionals working in the field of veterinary science play a vital role in the maintenance and healthcare of pets, zoo animals, and livestock. In addition to meeting the healthcare and maintenance needs of animals, some individuals working in veterinary science use their skills to research diseases that also affect humans. For example, veterinarian related research was key in conquering diseases such as yellow fever and malaria. Veterinarian research has also played a role in understanding human heart disease, organ transplant procedures, and a variety of drug therapies. No matter what aspect of veterinary science one pursues, individuals seeking careers in the field of animal maintenance and healthcare have the opportunity to broaden the scope of health care knowledge for the larger medical community.

Perhaps the most important thing to take in to consideration when thinking about the field of veterinary science is how you feel about animals. Though the field of veterinary science is exciting and rewarding, working with animals requires patience, compassion, and flexibility. Appreciating and loving animals is not enough. One must be genuinely invested in and intrigued by animals' behaviors, physical systems, and habits. Those working in the field of veterinary science must not only promote the health and maintenance of the animals under their care, but they must also be willing to lift, hold, and restrain animals while at times risking exposure to sick or angry animals.

Veterinary science is a field with many aspects. Therefore, one may choose from a variety of specialized careers, each with a unique focus. Individuals working in the field of veterinary science are veterinarians, animal care and service workers, and veterinary technologists or technicians. In the following section, we will examine each of these educational and career options in-depth, in order to explore which dimension of veterinary science may be most appropriate for you.

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Veterinary Science Degree Programs: Options and Expectations

Degree programs in Veterinary Science are designed to provide students with a solid knowledge base concerning animal anatomy, combined with a specialized focus of the individual's choice. Students wishing to become accredited veterinarians must physically attend a veterinarian college; however, students wishing to specialize in other aspects of animal care and maintenance may choose to enroll in an online or distance learning college degree program in Veterinary Science. In the following section the various career and educational options in veterinary science are discussed in detail.

Universities Offering Online Veterinary Science Degree Programs:

Penn Foster College - Veterinary Technician Online Associate Degree

What can you do with a degree in Veterinary Science?

Career Specializations within Veterinary Science

Veterinarian

Educational Requirements
In order to become a veterinarian one must meet the following educational guidelines:

• Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry, Biology, Animal Biology, or Zoology
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M. or V.M.D.) degree from a four-year program from an accredited college of veterinary medicine

In order to be accepted into a veterinary medical college it is recommended that students have a minimum undergraduate GPA of a 3.0 and prior experience working with animals. Students are required to take some or all of the following standardized tests: GRE, VCAT, or the MCAT.

Becoming a veterinarian requires the same amount of academic commitment one finds in the fields of dentistry and medicine. There are twenty-eight colleges in the United States that meet accreditation standards established by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Because there are so few accredited veterinary colleges, educational spaces are limited and competition can be quite intense.

While in veterinary college, students receive academic instruction in basic sciences for two years. The remainder of their academic time is spent focusing on clinical procedure, such as treating and diagnosing animal health issues, and performing surgery. During this time students perform laboratory work in medicine, anatomy, and biochemistry. At most veterinary colleges students have the option of simultaneously earning both a D.V. M. degree and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree.

Veterinary graduates who want to work with particular animal populations often choose to pursue additional education in one of twenty AVMA recognized specialties, such as: radiology, pathology, surgery, or laboratory animal medicine. This continuing education typically takes the form of a two-year internship. Interns often receive a small salary or stipend, however their specialization leads to higher paying salary jobs in the future. Veterinarians seeking board certification in a specialized field of veterinary science must also complete a three to four year residency program that provides intense training in their area of focus.

In order to practice as a veterinarian, one must be licensed by the state he or she lives in. The majority of states also require potential veterinarians to pass a state jurisprudence examination covering state regulations and laws.

Career Details
In addition to deeply caring about animals, potential veterinarians must have good dexterity, human communication skills, and management skills.

Veterinarians generally specialize in either small or large animals. Small animal veterinarians tend to care for pets, such as cats and dogs. They also treat birds, reptiles, rabbits, and any other animal that can be kept in a pet capacity. More than one-half of veterinarians exclusively treat small animals.

In clinical settings, small animal veterinarians diagnose animal health issues, vaccinate animals against diseases, and medicate animals experiencing illness or infection. When necessary, small animal veterinarians also perform surgery. Small animal veterinarians are also vital educators, enabling pet owners to optimally nourish, breed, maintain, and care for their pets. New veterinarian college graduates are often attracted to small animal medicine because they enjoy dealing with pets as well as living and working in populated areas.

Veterinarians who work with large animals primarily focus on animals associated with farms, ranches, or zoos. These veterinarians usually drive to the animals' living quarters and examine and treat them on site. Large animal veterinarians are key to a large animal's long-term health care plan by offering preventative care. They not only test for and vaccinate against certain diseases, but they also consult with farmers, ranchers, and land or park managers and therefore help maintain a web of community-based animal health information. This web of information limits the spread of diseases and illness in regional populations and ensures health for the whole community.

Being a veterinarian means being committed. One-third of full time veterinarians spend fifty or more hours a week on the job. Often their weekends are interrupted. There is sometimes a great deal of driving involved. Veterinarians must often work out of doors, in all kinds of weather, and with animals in a variety of states.

If these conditions do not diminish your attraction to the field of veterinary science, then perhaps the field is the right one for you. If so, the rewards are many. Increasing interest and support for public health, national disease control, food safety, and biomedical research, mean that veterinarian skill and knowledge will be increasingly in demand.

Animal Care and Service Workers

Educational Requirements
Taking care of animals is an involved job. Animal care and service workers are individuals working in the field of veterinary science as animal caretakers and animal trainers. Individuals working in this capacity train, feed, water, groom, bathe, and exercise animals. They are also responsible for the cleanliness, maintenance, and repair of animal habitats, such as cages or staged natural environments.

Animal care and service workers are also involved in the emotional well being of animals. In addition to providing exercise and nourishment, these individual often play with the animals and closely monitor their moods. Animal care and service workers remain vigilant about the animals they care for, always looking for indicators of illness, injury, or infection. The job titles and duties of animal care and service workers vary. Individuals working in this realm of Veterinary Science may be employed by boarding kennels, animal hospitals, animal shelters, animal laboratories, stables, aquariums, or zoos.

Job training in animal care and animal-related service work can be achieved on the specific job site and also through online and distance learning programs. Potential students may specialize in coursework that enables them to focus on one or more aspects of animal care. Most individuals seeking a certificate in animal care or service work study animal grooming.

There are many online and distance learning programs that specialize in pet grooming. These programs vary in length from two to twenty weeks. After completion of a pet grooming certificate program, individuals take the The National Dog Groomers Association of America written examination. This examination certifies groomers who pass the test, which consists of four hundred questions.

Another career possibility within animal care and service work is to be a caretaker at an animal kennel or shelter. After working at an animal kennel or shelter, some individuals choose to open their own establishment. The American Boarding Kennels Association (ABKA) offers a three-stage home study program for individuals interested in opening their own kennel. The first two stages in this course address basic and advanced principles of proper animal care. The final stage of the program focuses on in-depth animal care as well as proper business procedures. Individuals completing the program as well as passing oral and written examinations administered through ABKA become certified Kennel Operators, or CKOs.

Animal caretakers in animal shelters are not required to have any specialized training. Most, however, are encouraged to attend training programs and workshops offered through the Humane Society of the United States, the American Humane Association, or the National Animal Control Association.

Most entry-level positions for animal care and service workers require a high school diploma or GED equivalent or, in some cases, a Bachelor degree. For example, an animal trainer working at an aquarium may require a Bachelor degree in biology or an animal-related degree field.

Career Details
The field of animal care and service work provides consistent and steady opportunities. In the United States, each year the number of pet owners increases as does the variety of services they seek for their animals. In addition to this, as community awareness grows around animal abuse issues, animal shelters continue to be established and supported.

If your primary interest in animal care and service work is grooming, you should seek certification through the National Dog Groomers Association of America. Online and distance learning courses can provide an academic structure to enable you to receive this certificate.

Grooming a pet involves several steps. It begins with an initial brushing out of the animal's hair and is followed by an initial hair clipping using electric clippers, combs, and shears. Groomers also cut animal nails, clean their ears, and finish their grooming duties by styling the animal's fur.

Beginning groomers tend to initially focus on how to properly bathe an animal. After their bathing techniques are polished they go on to assume responsibility for the entire animal's grooming experience. Groomers may work for a retail establishment or choose to open their own private practice.

Another option of animal care and service work is to be a caretaker at an animal kennel or shelter. In these settings animal caretakers are responsible for cleaning and maintaining animal cages and habitats as well as feeding and watering the animals. Generally kennel attendants care for pets while their owners are out of town. Kennel caretakers may be promoted into a kennel managerial position and may decide to open their own kennel. Those deciding to open their own kennels must meet ABKA certificate standards.

Animal caretakers who work in stables are called grooms. Grooms are responsible for saddling and unsaddling horses, rubbing them down, walking them as a way of cooling them down after a brisk ride, and feeding them. Grooms also maintain horse stalls and gear.

In zoo settings animal care and service workers are often called keepers. Keepers prepare the food for animals and also maintain their habitats. They closely observe animals for signs of illness or injury and monitor eating patterns for other signs of imbalance.

Another career option in the field of veterinary science is animal training. Animal trainers instruct animals for security, performance, and obedience purposes. They also train animals to assist individuals living with disabilities.

The first thing animal trainers do is to help make the animal comfortable with human contact, then they condition the animals to respond to human commands. When the animal responds in the desired way to the command the animal is rewarded as a form of positive reinforcement. In addition to working in a hands-on capacity, trainers are also frequently in charge of grooming and maintaining the diet and health of the animals they work with.

Working as an animal care or service worker is rewarding. However, it is also a challenging job. Individuals working in this field may have to confront unpleasant situations that generate physical and emotional stress. Animal care and service workers may have to witness and work with abused or neglected animals and possibly hostile members of the public who abuse animals. In addition to these aspects of the job, animal care and service workers may have to work irregular hours and under adverse weather conditions. However, if you are an individual who loves animals, and are patient and flexible, you may find a very fulfilling career in the field of animal care and service work.

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

Educational Requirements
Today people who own animals expect the highest quality veterinary care. In order to meet this expectation many veterinarians depend on the skills of veterinary technologists and technicians. Although job duties vary depending upon the employer, there is very little difference between a veterinary technologist and a veterinarian technician. Veterinary technologists and technicians work in a similar capacity as a nurse in a doctor's office. He or she will perform a variety of key duties as well as participate in routine laboratory and clinical procedures. In order to be a veterinarian technologist, individuals must complete a four-year program. Individuals seeking to be veterinarian technician must complete a two-year program.

Graduation from an accredited veterinary technology program enables students to take the appropriate state examinations. Candidates are tested for competency through an examination that has written, oral, and practical portions. These tests are regulated by the State Board of Veterinary Examiners. Most states depend on the National Veterinary Technician (NVT) Exam. Depending on the state in which the examination is given, students upon passing the exam become either registered, licensed, or certified.

For individuals wishing to work in a technological or technician capacity at an animal research facility, it is recommended that American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) certification is acquired. Those seeking to take this examination must meet a series of educational and experiential requirements before qualifying to take the examination.

Technologists and technicians usually begin their careers in routine positions directly under the supervision of a veterinarian. As experience is gained, technologists and technicians take on more responsibility and can sometimes work in administrative or managerial capacities.

Career Details
Veterinary technologists and technicians generally conduct clinical work under the supervision of a veterinarian in private practice. Veterinary technologists and technicians perform various medical tests and also diagnose and treat medical conditions within animals. They often perform blood or urine tests, prepare tissue samples, and assist doctors in performing other tests. As a result they are skilled in the use of clinical medical equipment. Veterinary technologists and technicians also record an animal's health history, take and develop x-rays, and provide specialized medical nursing care.

Veterinary technologists and technicians are not only employed by veterinarians in private practice, but can also be employed by research facilities. In such facilities they may give animals medication topically and orally, prepare samples for examinations, and record information about animal behavior. Veterinary technologists and technicians working in such settings also frequently handle and maintain laboratory equipment. At research facilities, some veterinary technologists and technicians are responsible for vaccinating or euthanizing ill, injured, or unwanted animals.

Like all career options in the field of veterinary science, veterinary technologists and technicians must not only love animals, but must be prepared to deal with physical and emotional challenges. However, for all of its challenges, being a veterinary technologist or technician can be an extremely fulfilling and stable career choice. For example, even during periods of economic recession veterinary technologists and technicians don't experience as many industry lay-offs as other careers. Animals require care and attention despite the economy and every year the number of pet owners as well as the need for animal based medical research grows.

Veterinary Science: What To Consider?

When thinking about pursuing an online or distance learning degree or certificate program in Veterinary Science it is important to discern your personal and professional goals, as there are a variety of colleges and universities that offer unique programs to meet specific student needs.

The following is a list of questions that potential students should ask themselves when researching online or distance learning degree programs in Veterinary Science.

• What is the primary focus of the degree or certificate program?
• What primary issues does the degree cover in its program trajectory?
• Is the program accredited?
• What are the coursework and time requirements of the program?
• What opportunities are offered by the program that may advance my knowledge?
• What are the credentials and areas of specialization of the faculty?
• What, if any, opportunities are provided for community-based experience in the field?
• Will the degree program in question provide me with the education, training, support, and experience that I will require in order to successfully realize my veterinary science career goals?

In addition to these considerations, you may also want to spend time with animals in a variety of settings in order to explore your interest in veterinary science. As you do, you should consider the following questions in order to discern what aspects of veterinary science you would enjoy the most.

• How do I feel when I see an animal in distress?
• Am I able to work in adverse settings?
• What is my tolerance of patience with both animals and humans?
• Am I able to emotionally deal with the intensity of wounds and injuries?
• Would I be willing to have a consistently flexible schedule?

Certification and Licensure

Associations and Organizations

• American Veterinary Medical Association
• Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
• National Association of Federal Veterinarians

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