Veterinary Technology (VET)
VET 110 Vet Tech Clinics I
2 semester hours
Prerequisite: Admission to program
(Clin 6 hours)
This course provides students with required clinical tasks to be completed in an approved clinical site in the areas of: surgery, restraint, instrumentation, equipment, surgical and medical care, and basic clinical procedures. Upon course completion, the student should be able to understand the responsibilities of a veterinary technician and begin the development of fundamental skills. Student must work a minimum of 20 hours per week in an approved Clinical Site to complete required clinical tasks.
VET 112 Introduction to Veterinary Technology
5 semester hours
Prerequisite: Admission to program
(Lec 3 hrs, Clin 6 hrs)
A series of lectures and required clinical tasks are designed to introduce the student to hospital fundamentals. Topics include history and physical examination, breeds of animals, small animal parasitology, diagnostic and surgical procedures, equine and food animal nursing, sanitation, medical vocabulary, The Alabama Veterinary Practice Act, ethics, jurisprudence, and hospital management. Upon course completion, students should be able to perform history and physical examinations, collect samples, administer medications, perform fecal analysis, know different breeds of animals, and understand parasite life cycles, OSHA regulations and safety procedures, and the technician’s role in veterinary medicine. Student must work a minimum of 20 hours per week in an approved Clinical Site to complete required clinical tasks.
VET 114 Anatomy and Physiology of Mammals
5 semester hours
Prerequisite: Admission to program
(Lec 4 hrs, Lab 2 hrs)
This course is designed specifically for students in the two-year veterinary technology program and covers the fundamentals of anatomy and physiology of mammals. Topics include the skeletal system, muscular system, respiratory system, digestive system, circulatory system, urinary system, the eye, the ear, female reproductive system, pregnancy, parturition, lactation, male reproductive system, neurology, and the endocrine system; and online laboratory dissection. Upon course completion, the student should be able to identify major tissues and organs, understand the physiology of organs and organ systems, and understand the physiological basis for the development of clinical laboratory testing. Student must work a minimum of 20 hours per week in an approved Clinical Site to complete required clinical tasks.
VET 120 Vet Tech Clinics II
3 semester hours
Prerequisite: Student must have completed VET 110, 112, and 114 unless special arrangements have been made with the Program.
(Clin 9 hrs)
This course provides students with required clinical tasks to be completed in an approved clinical site in the areas of surgery, and clinical medicine. Required tasks will include surgical and nursing care, and clinical medicine. Upon course completion, those skills learned from the previous semester should be reinforced and the student should have learned some new technical procedures. Student must work a minimum of 20 hours per week in an approved Clinical Site to complete required clinical tasks.
VET 122 Vet Tech Emergency and First Aid
5 semester hours
Prerequisite: Student must have completed VET 110, 112, and 114 unless special arrangements have been made with the Program.
(Lec 4 hrs, Clin 3 hrs)
This course is designed to teach the basic principles in emergency treatment of animals and incorporates actual management in a clinical environment. Topics include emergency information, equipment and drugs, initial examination, evaluation and treatment, shock, cardiac arrest, respiratory emergencies, fluid therapy, blood collection and transfusion,
emergency treatment of specific conditions, poisonings, and large animal emergencies. Upon course completion, the student should be able to administer first aid to animals needing immediate attention. Student must work a minimum of 20 hours per week in an approved Clinical Site to complete required clinical tasks.
VET 124 Clinical Procedures and Pathology
4 semester hours
Prerequisite: Student must have complete VET 110, 112, and 114 unless special arrangement have been made with the Program
(Lec 3 hrs, Clin 3 hrs)
This course introduces students to common laboratory techniques and diagnostic methods. Students will begin developing laboratory skills with an emphasis in the areas of urology and hematology. Topics of study include the basic laboratory, hematology, bone marrow and blood cytology, urinalysis, clinical chemistry, function tests of the liver, kidney, pancreas, and thyroid, diagnostic cytology, and post mortem examinations; required clinical tasks will be completed in an approved clinical site. The study of medical vocabulary is continued from VET 112. Upon course completion, the student should be able to understand the physiological basis used for diagnostic testing and to perform the laboratory procedures outlined in the course material. Student must work a minimum of 20 hours per week in an approved Clinical Site to complete required clinical tasks.
VET 126 Animal Diseases and Immunology
3 semester hours
Prerequisite: Student must have completed VET 110, 112, and 114 unless special arrangements have been made with the Program.
(Lec 3 hrs)
This course is designed to acquaint the student with the importance and transmissibility of common animal diseases and with immunological principles involved in prophylaxis, treatment and recovery. Emphasis is placed on those aspects of the immune response that affect immunization and diagnosis and to familiarize the student with the common infectious diseases and immunization schedules of domestic animals. Upon course completion, the student should be able to communicate with clients regarding preventable diseases and zoonotic implications and should also be able to assist with formulation of immunization schedules for various species of animals. Student must work a minimum of 20 hours per week in an approved Clinical Site to complete required clinical tasks.
VET 230 Vet Tech Clinics III
3 semester hours
Prerequisite: Student must have completed VET 110, 112, 114, 120, 122, 124 and 126 unless special arrangements have been made with the Program.
(Clin 9 hrs.)
This course provides students with required clinical tasks to be completed in an approved clinical site in the areas of surgery, dentistry, and clinical medicine. Topics include surgical and nursing care, dentistry, and clinical medicine. Upon course completion, those skills learned from the previous semester should be reinforced and the student should have learned new technical procedures. Student must work a minimum of 20 hours per week in an approved Clinical Site to complete required clinical tasks.
VET 232 Anesthesia and Diagnostic Imaging
4 semester hours
Prerequisite: Student must have completed VET 110, 112, 114, 120, 122, 124 and 126 unless special arrangements have been made with the Program.
(Lec 3 hrs, Clin 3 hrs)
This course introduces the student to principles of anesthesia, diagnostic imaging, and safety. Topics include an introduction to anesthesia, patient evaluation and preparation, pre-anesthetic considerations, local anesthesia, assessing the depth of general anesthesia, injectable anesthetic drugs, inhalation anesthesia, introduction to radiography, the radiograph machine, darkroom, radiographic films, general principles of positioning, radiographic protocol, safety measures, technique charts, quality control, introduction to ultrasonography, patient preparation, and equipment controls; required clinical tasks will be completed in an approved clinical site. Upon course completion, the student should be able to properly anesthetize and monitor animals under anesthesia, develop a technique chart, and apply the care and knowledge necessary to produce good quality radiographs and observe safety measures. Student must work a minimum of 20 hours per week in an approved Clinical Site to complete required clinical tasks.
VET 234 Animal Pharmacology and Toxicology
3 semester hours
Prerequisite: Student must have completed VET 110, 112, 114, 120, 122, 124 and 126 unless special arrangements have been made with the Program.
Corequisite: VET 232
(Lec 3 hrs)
This course is designed to give the student exposure to veterinary drugs and teach the importance of exact calculations, proper administration, and the danger and recognition of reactions and overdosage. Topics include introduction and principles of pharmacology; antimicrobials; disinfectants; drugs affecting the nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal systems; antiinflammatories; antiparasitics; euthanasia solutions; and pharmacy and inventory control. Upon course completion, the student should be able to properly calculate drug dosages; fill, label, and dispense medications; recognize the various classifications of drugs; and have knowledge regarding the dangers and toxicosis of various medications. Student must work a minimum of 20 hours per week in an approved Clinical Site to complete required clinical tasks.
VET 236 Vet Microbiology and Parasitology
3 semester hours
Prerequisite: Student must have completed VET 110, 112, 114, 120, 122, 124 and 126 unless special arrangements have been made with the Program.
(Lec 3 hrs)
This course is designed to provide students with practical knowledge of common pathogens. Students will learn how to select and collect samples and data for laboratory processing or submission to another laboratory. Topics include identification of causative agents of diseases; classification and nomenclature of bacteria; morphology and physiology of bacteria; bacteria and disease; laboratory procedures in bacteriology; gram positive and gram negative bacteria; spiral and curved bacteria; actinomycetes organisms; fungi; virology; review of common small animal parasites, and equine and food animal parasitology. Upon course completion, the student should be able to properly collect and handle bacteriological specimens, identify organisms by gram staining, and have a basic knowledge of large animal parasite life cycles, as well as methods of identification of the commonly encountered parasites. Student must work a minimum of 20 hours per week in an approved Clinical Site to complete required clinical tasks.
VET 240 Vet Tech Clinics IV
3 semester hours
Prerequisite: Student must have completed VET 110, 112, 114, 120, 122, 124, 126, 230, 232, 234, and 236 unless special arrangements have been made with the Program.
(Clin 9 hrs)
This course provides students with required clinical tasks to be completed in an approved clinical site in the areas of surgical and nursing care, anesthesia, and clinical pathology. Topics include surgical, medical care and laboratory procedures. Upon course completion, the student should be proficient in those skills reinforced from previous semesters. Student must work a minimum of 20 hours per week in an approved Clinical Site to complete required clinical tasks.
VET 242 Animal Nutrition and Laboratory Animals
3 semester hours
Prerequisite: Student must have completed VET 110, 112, 114, 120, 122, 124, 126, 230, 232, 234, and 236 unless special arrangements have been made with the Program.
(Lec 2 hrs, Clin 3 hrs)
This course is designed to acquaint the student with the basic concepts of animal nutrition and laboratory animal maintenance, husbandry, and handling. Topics include canine dietetics, feline dietetics, nutritional management of small animal disease, feeding the neonate, nutritional management of the convalescent animal, fundamentals of nutrition, principles of disease prevention, housing and equipment, job opportunities, biology of common lab animals, basic principles of research and necessity for use of lab animals, techniques, and zoonosis; required clinical tasks will be completed in an approved clinical site. Upon course completion, the student should be able to formulate a nutritional plan for the healthy and sick animal. The student should be able to handle, care for, and collect diagnostic samples and have basic knowledge of the diseases of the commonly used laboratory animals. Student must work a minimum of 20 hours per week in an approved Clinical Site to complete required clinical tasks.
VET 244 Seminar in Veterinary Technology
3 semester hours
Prerequisite: None
(Lec 3 hrs)
This course is designed to review critical topics covered during the two years of the veterinary technology curriculum along with review questions and tests associated with these topics. Topics include anatomy and physiology,
anesthesiology, animal care, dentistry, emergency and first aid, hospital management, laboratory animals, laboratory procedures, medical calculations, medical nursing, medical terminology, pharmacology, radiology and surgical nursing. Upon course completion, the student should be prepared for the Veterinary Technician National Exam.
VET 246 Vet Tech Large Animal Clinics
2 semester hours
Prerequisite: Student must have completed VET 110, 112, 114, 120, 122, 124, and 126 unless special arrangements have been made with the Program.
(Clin 6 hrs)
This course provides students with required tasks to be completed in an approved clinical site in the areas of large animals. Topics include: restraint, bandaging, venipunctures, radiography, patient care, medication administration. Upon course completion, the student should be able to have a working knowledge of fundamental large animal skills. Student must work a minimum of 20 hours per week in an approved Clinical Site to complete required clinical tasks.
VET 250 Vet Tech Preceptorship
3 semester hours
Prerequisite: Student must have completed VET 110, 112, 114, 120, 122, 124, 126, 230, 232, 234, 236, 240 and 242 unless special arrangements have been made with the Program.
(Prec 15 hrs)
The veterinary technology preceptorship consists of one academic semester of work experience in an approved clinical site. A student evaluation report from the clinical supervisor will be necessary for the course completion and also for meeting requirements for graduation. The clinical practice will include clinical instruction in all areas of a veterinary practice as deemed necessary by the clinical supervisor. Upon course completion, the student should be able to apply all procedures learned in the veterinarian technology program to the practice environment.
