Veterinary Assisting Diploma Courses

This course introduces students to the species and breeds of domestic livestock and development of an appreciation for the principles of livestock production, and issues facing product marketing. Topics include: breeds, basic management and marketing of farm animals, composition, evaluation and marketing of farm animals, composition, evaluation and marketing of animal products; including beef and dairy cattle, horses, goats, poultry, sheep and swine.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

This course presents the basic management and production practices for horses including nutrition, health care, reproductive management, facilities and evaluation.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

Introduces principles, practices, and decisions impacting swine production.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

This course will introduce the principles, practices, and decisions impacting beef cattle production.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

Overview of the factors that define contemporary ethical and scientifically based issues facing the animal industry.

Lecture Hours: 32

Introduction to the functional anatomy and physiological activities governing the animal body; including cells, senses, nerves, skeletal, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, urinary, muscular, reproductive, and endocrinology.

Lecture Hours: 48 Lab Hours: 32

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of D- in AGS-113.

Examines the nutritional principles, digestive systems, composition, and nutritional characteristics of common feedstuffs, ration formulation, and recommended animal feeding programs.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

This course will cover all aspects of record keeping, reception, and administration skills required in a veterinary hospital. Furthermore, students will become familiarized with a computer software used in a veterinary practice.

Lecture Hours: 64

This course provides an understanding of the basic principles of anatomy and physiology and health of companion animals. Additionally, the course will offer insight into social behavior and relationships.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

This course presents the basic management and production practices for horses including nutrition, health care, reproductive management, facilities and evaluation.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

Introduces principles, practices, and decisions impacting swine production.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

This course will introduce the principles, practices, and decisions impacting beef cattle production.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

This class focuses on reading and interpreting medical charts and records, and conversing with veterinary professionals. It is designed for students to develop a working understanding of the language of veterinary medicine.

Lecture Hours: 32

This class introduces the student to small animal pharmaceuticals. Learning is centered on the use, dosage, administration, handling, and storage of commonly used drugs used in small and large animal veterinary practices.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of D- in AGS-218.

Composition I emphasizes fluency, thesis-driven organization, the use of supporting details, and research techniques. Writing is approached as a recursive process that includes prewriting strategies, drafting, revising, and editing. The course helps students shape writing to serve readers' needs and define a sense of purpose in their writing. It also gives students strategies for reading college-level material.

Lecture Hours: 48

Prerequisite(s): Appropriate placement score or equivalent.

This course focuses on applying the writing process to job application materials and workplace-related written communication.

Lecture Hours: 48

This course is designed to present basic facts of arithmetic including whole numbers, fractions, decimals, powers, roots, English and metric measurement, ratio-proportion, percents, introduction to algebra, introduction to geometry, and applied statistics. Instruction includes use of scientific hand-held calculators and emphasis placed on critical thinking, problem solving skills.

Lecture Hours: 48

Prerequisite(s): Assessment score required.

This is a one semester, liberal arts mathematics course that satisfies the minimum general education requirement for math. The course is designed to impart math skills which are helpful in everyday life as well as to expose students to areas of mathematics they may not have seen before. Topics include problem-solving skills, set theory, algebra, consumer mathematics, probability, and statistics. Other topics may be included.

Lecture Hours: 48

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of D- in MAT-060 or MAT-063. Or equivalent placement score.

This course provides an intensified study of algebraic techniques and prepares students for future study in mathematics. The central theme is the concept of functions, their properties, graphs and applications. Functions studied include polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic.

Lecture Hours: 64

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of C- in MAT-102. Or equivalent placement score.

This one-semester pre-calculus course is intended for the student with a solid algebra background who intends to take calculus. It is also beneficial (but not required) for the student to have a background in trigonometry. The course will emphasize functions using an analytical, numerical, and graphical approach. The student will study linear, polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions along with their applications.

Lecture Hours: 64

Prerequisite(s): Appropriate Placement Test Scores: ACT Math Score of 25 OR Compass Score of 51-100 in the College Algebra Domain or 31-50 in the Trigonometry Domain.

The second course of a two-semester pre-calculus sequence. Topics include trigonometry and applications, vectors, analytic geometry, and polar and parametric equations.

Lecture Hours: 48

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of C- in MAT-121. Or equivalent placement score.

This course is a study of descriptive statistics including graphical representation, central tendency, correlation and regression, intuitive treatment of probability and inferential statistics including hypothesis testing.

Lecture Hours: 48

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of C- in MAT-060 or MAT-063. Or equivalent placement score.

The first in a calculus sequence, this course covers topics including functions and their graphs, limits, derivatives, applications of the derivative, and integrals.

Lecture Hours: 64

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of C- in MAT-128 or MAT-134. Or appropriate placement scores: ACT 27; COMPASS TRIGONOMETRY 51-100.

This course introduces students to the oral communication process and how it affects human interaction There will be an emphasis on developing interpersonal, small group, and public speaking skills. Students will be involved in activities that provide opportunity for the understanding and improvement of their oral communication skills.

Lecture Hours: 48

This course studies the fundamentals of public speaking, emphasizing the process of speech preparation and delivery in various contexts.

Lecture Hours: 48

This course provides students with opportunities to gain on-the-job experience in the agriculture, natural resource or horticulture industries. Students will gain an understanding of qualities and skills needed for success. Coordination and guidance will be provided by department instructors.

Co-op Hours: 320

This is a capstone course that will provide students with the necessary skills and competencies that are needed to successfully perform the duties of a veterinary assistant.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of D- in AGV-154 or instructor approval.