Examines proven strategies designed to help learners achieve greater personal, academic, and professional success. Learners will apply personal responsibility thinking and behaviors; self- management, awareness, and motivation strategies; as well as interdependence skills to develop a proactive life plan.

Develop an understanding of terms and abbreviations used in the practice of veterinary medicine. Through reading, writing, and speech, learners will master combining forms as they relate to bodily structures, and word parts for the understanding and definition of medical procedures, treatments, and conditions.

Demonstrate personal and professional characteristics and qualities expected of a veterinary technician. This course covers appropriate client and staff relations, telephone etiquette, scheduling, managing records, client services and education. Laws and ethics regarding the practice of veterinary medicine, legal requirements for record keeping and veterinary practice management software will also be covered.

Evaluate common domestic species. Learners will also examine the Animal Welfare act regarding the care and housing of animals.

Perform the every day medical calculations used in veterinary medicine with accuracy.  Learners will perform metric conversions, calculate drug dosages and fluid rates and practice filling prescriptions.

Introductory course focused on general biological principles, cell structure and function, genetics, organ system anatomy and physiology, behavior, evolution, and ecology. May include dissection of fresh and/or preserved materials.

Examine the body systems of vertebrate animals. Learning activities include animal dissections. This course establishes the essential framework required for becoming a veterinary technician. 

Demonstrate basic laboratory procedures including: storage, cleaning and the principles of microscopy. Learners will study parasites of common domestic species, including prevention, lifecycle, treatment, and impact on animal health. Labs will concentrate on diagnostic parasitology.

Develops writing skills which include prewriting, drafting, revising and editing. A variety of writing assignments are designed to help the learner analyze audience and purpose, research and organize ideas and format and design documents based on subject matter and content. Also develops critical reading and thinking skills through the analysis of a variety of written documents. Keywords: Written Comm, Comm, Writing

Learners develop and apply skills in all aspects of the writing process. Through a variety of learning activities and written documents, learners employ rhetorical strategies, plan, organize and revise content, apply critical reading strategies, locate and evaluate information, integrate and document sources, and apply standardized English language conventions.Keywords:English Comp, Comp 1, E Com, English 1, English

Focus on disease etiology, symptoms, transmission, diagnosis, prevention, and control as it relates to companion animal and equine diseases.

Establish the basics of animal nursing including patient history, restraint for medical procedures, and preventative medicine on both large and small animal patients. Topics covered Include venipuncture, wound management, client education, diagnostic imaging, and small animal nutrition. This course is only offered in spring and summer semesters.

Analyze various drugs and other substances used in veterinary medicine. Learners will analyze drug classification, effects, side effects, and client education related to a wide variety of medication use in the field of animal medicine. Learners will apply principles of measurement, administration and safe storage of drugs used in veterinary medicine. This course is part of a two-course series.

Learners will gain experience with patient preparation for common surgical procedures, presurgical diagnostics, aseptic technique, and surgical assisting. 

Focuses on developing effective listening techniques and verbal and nonverbal communication skills through oral presentation, group activity, and other projects. The study of self, conflict, and cultural contexts will be explored, as well as their impact on communication.  Keywords: Oral, Oral Comm, Comm, Speech

Explore husbandry and care of exotic pets, pocket pets, birds and animals used for research. Topics covered include housing requirements, sanitation, nutrition, radiology, restraint and handling. Learners will practice hands on skills including administering medications, diagnostic sampling techniques and physical examinations of rats, mice, birds, rabbits, and other small mammals. This course may also work with reptiles. This course is only offered in fall semester.

Develop skills in a veterinary clinic working environment. This is a 120 hour internship.

Investigate hematology and urinalysis. Learners will practice sample collection and perform venipuncture on common domestic species. Labs will consist of learners practicing diagnostic procedures such as CBCs, blood chemistry and urinalysis.

Participate in surgical procedures including dog and cat sterilization surgeries. Other surgical procedures may occasionally be performed as needed. Learners will participate as anesthetists, sterile surgical assistants, and non-sterile assistants throughout the course.

Perform physical exams and evaluation of the general health of equine patients. Learners will learn diagnostic sampling techniques, parenteral and enteral medication administration, venipuncture, wound management techniques, and common restraint techniques for medical procedures. Other topics of study include nutrition, radiology, toxicities and disease management.

Build on the concepts learned in Veterinary Pharmacology 1. Learners will continue to analyze drugs commonly used in veterinary medicine. This is the second course of a two-course series.

Explore emergency and critical care of common domestic species. Topics covered include cardiopulmonary arrest, toxicology, care of hospitalized patients, and advanced nursing procedures.

TBD

Develop skills in a veterinary clinic working environment. This is a 120 hour internship.

Introduces learners in the Veterinary Technician program to common livestock diseases, the body’s response to disease, diagnosis, control and prevention. Types of diseases examined include infectious, non-infectious, zoonotic and reportable. Methods of livestock husbandry, handling, restraint, physical examination, diagnostic sampling and treatment will also be examined in this course. This course is only offered in spring semester.

Develop knowledge in anesthesia and surgical assisting with an emphasis on Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT) for companion animals.

Explores the relationship between the general principles of psychology and our everyday lives. Students are given the opportunity to achieve a deepened sense of awareness of themselves and others. This understanding enables students to improve their relationships with others at work, in the family and in society. Keywords: Psych, Relationships, Human Relations, Hr psych

This science of psychology course is a survey of multiple aspects of behavior and mental processes. It provides an overview of topics such as research methods, theoretical perspectives, learning, cognition, memory, motivation, emotions, personality, abnormal psychology, physiological factors, social influences, and development. Keywords: Psych, Intro to Psych

This course introduces the study of diversity from a local to a global perspective using a holistic, interdisciplinary approach that encourages exploration and prepares students to work in a diverse environment. The course introduces basic diversity concepts, examines the impact of bias and power differentials among groups, explores the use of culturally responsive communication strategies, and compares forces that shape diversity in an international context.

Introduces students to the fundamental sociological concepts, including sociological perspectives, research methods, the significance of culture in society, and the socialization process. Other topics include deviance, the impact of groups on behavior, societal inequities, global changes, the role of social institutions, and social stratification