Fifth Semester

• UNIV 301 - Intro to BS Veterinary Technology Credit Hours: 3
• BIOL 130 - General Biology I Credit Hours: 4
• General Education 23MA: ALHT 202 - Statistics and Research Methods ​ or MATH 115 - Statistics  or MATH 130 - Algebra/Trigonometry I  or higher Credit Hours: 3
• BIOL 115 - Animal Behavior Credit Hours: 3
• BIOL 340 - Genetics Credit Hours: 4

Sixth Semester

• VETS 305 - Introduction to Public Health Credit Hours: 3
• Upper Division Veterinary Technology Elective(s) Credit Hours: 3
• BIOL 300 - Immunology Credit Hours: 3
• General Education: choose THREE courses from THREE different categories:¹ 23SS  Social Sciences or 23WG  World History & Global Awareness or 23HU  Humanities or 23AR  The Arts or 23WL  World Languages Credit Hours: 9

Seventh Semester

• Upper Division Veterinary Technology Elective(s) Credit Hours: 3
• VETS 340 - Veterinary Facility Management Credit Hours: 3
• BIOL 330 - Infection and Disease Credit Hours: 3
• ENGL 310 - Technical Writing  or BUSI 320 - Professional Communications  Credit Hours: 3
• Liberal Arts & Sciences Elective Credit Hours: 3
• Science Elective Credit Hours: 3

Eighth Semester

• VETS 450 - Veterinary Technology Internship Credit Hours: 12

Minimum Total Credit Hours = 126

Note:

¹ Student must complete 7 of the 10 SUNY General Education  categories by advisement. 

Program Learning Outcomes

A graduate of the Veterinary Technology BS program should be able to:

• Successfully complete the Veterinary Technician National Exam to become licensed eligible.
• Demonstrate proficiency in completion of the documented essential and recommended skills task list required by the AVMA CVTEA.
• Communicate medical and financial information with sensitivity to the public, clients and colleagues through verbal and written means while advocating for the patient.
  Anticipate, identify, evaluate and prioritize the needs of patients, clients, and coworkers using critical-thinking skills to conscientiously solve problems using compassion.
• Apply advanced knowledge acquired from upper-level courses that explore the diversity of the veterinary profession in advanced veterinary clinical skills, public health, food animal, equine, and lab animal medicine.
• Purposefully engage in self-care and self-compassion utilizing skills in emotional literacy to create a culture of unity within the profession.

SUNY General Education Requirement

Students should be aware that GE requirements vary by degree type. Some majors require additional categories and/or credits. Consult with your academic advisor for program-specific information; for more information, visit: General Education  

General Education Categories and Abbreviations (in alphabetical order): 

Technical Standards for Veterinary Science Technology Programs

The technical standards listed below are intended to inform students of the skills, abilities, and behavioral expectations required in this program. These technical standards reflect performance abilities and characteristics that are necessary to successfully complete the requirements of this program at SUNY Delhi. These standards are not conditions of admission to the program, but persons interested in applying for admission to the program should review this list to develop a better understanding of the skills, abilities, and behavioral expectations necessary to successfully complete the program. The college complies with the requirements and spirit of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; therefore, the college will endeavor to make reasonable accommodations for participants with disabilities who are otherwise qualified.

Office and Hospital Procedures, Client Relations

The student must:

• Communicate with clients and other veterinary professionals to disseminate information relevant to patient care, including obtain an accurate patient history.
• Participate in facility management utilizing traditional and electronic media to manage inventory, schedule appointments, admit and discharge patients.
• File medical records, radiographs, and lab reports.
• Demonstrate telephone etiquette.
• Apply crisis intervention/grief management skills with clients.
• Understand and observe legal boundaries of the veterinary healthcare team members.
• Interact professionally with clients and fellow staff members.
• Demonstrate a commitment to high quality patient care.
• Respect and protect the confidentiality of client and patient information.
• Demonstrate the ability to accurately record medical information.

Pharmacy and Pharmacology

The student must:

• Interpret and follow veterinarian’s pharmacy orders and accurately perform appropriate calculations to prepare medications, including correctly labeling and dispensing drugs.
• Monitor therapeutic responses to drugs and differentiate between abnormal and normal responses to medication.

Nursing Care

The student must:

• Safely work with domestic farm animals, dogs, cats, and laboratory animals.
• Demonstrate safe, effective, and appropriate restraint techniques while veterinary procedures are performed on an animal.
• Demonstrate safe and effective use of restraint devices such as:
  • Muzzle
  • Elizabethan collar
  • Restraint pole
  • Halter
  • Twitch
  • Chutes
• Transfer patients in and out of cages, kennels, and stalls.
• Safely administer medication to animal patients via:
  • Parenteral (subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous)
  • Enteral (balling gun, dose syringe, gastric intubation, hand pilling)
  • Topical routes (including eye meds)
• Perform fluid therapy.
  • Placement and care of intravenous catheters
  • Determine and maintain fluid infusion rate
  • Monitor patient hydration status
• Perform patient assessment techniques that will allow for accurate evaluation of the patient’s physical status with minimal stress and anxiety.
• Obtain temperature, pulse, respiration.
• Assess hydration status.
• Safely apply and remove bandages.
• Recognize and respond appropriately to veterinary medical emergencies and apply established emergency protocols. Perform:
  • First aid
  • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Recognize common domestic animal species and breeds.
• Demonstrate therapeutic bathing, basic grooming, and dipping of small animals.
• Implement appropriate husbandry techniques to enhance wellness and reduce risk of injury and stress.
• Perform appropriate sanitation and nosocomial protocols for a veterinary facility.
• Manipulate and operate equipment necessary for veterinary medical care.
• Interpret expressions and signs of pain in the veterinary patient.
• Identify and interpret changes in patient mucous membrane to evaluate for cyanosis, icterus, and shock.
• Collect diagnostic specimens such as blood, urine, and feces.
• Monitor and assess health status.
  • Auscultation of heart and lungs
  • Respond to equipment alarms and warning sounds of impending danger from animals, humans, and/or equipment

Anesthesia and Surgical Nursing

The student must:

• Communicate in a surgery room while all occupants wear surgical masks.
• Safely manipulate and move patients to a surgical table.
• Accurately calculate and properly administer anesthetic drug dosages via injection, endotracheal tube or mask.
• Safely perform endotracheal intubation.
• Maintain and operate anesthetic delivery and monitoring equipment, including:
  • Pulse oximeter
  • Capnograph
  • Esophageal stethoscope
  • Electrocardiograph
  • Resuscitation bag
  • Scavenging systems
  • Oxygen sources
  • Respiratory monitors
  • Blood pressure monitoring
  • Laryngoscopes
  • Thermometer

Laboratory Procedures

The student must:

• Use a compound microscope to identify cells and organisms.
• Accurately pipette specimens.
• Accurately record the results of manual tests such as:
  • Packed cell volume
  • Total protein
  • Specific gravity
  • ELISA tests
• Accurately record the physical properties of diagnostic specimens.
• Prepare fecal specimens using floatation techniques.
• Perform microbiological procedures to accurately identify microbes.
  • Use of Bunsen burner
  • Loop
  • Staining techniques
  • Culture media
• Perform fine needle tissue aspirates and impression smear preparation.
• Perform necropsy.

Imaging

The student must:

• Manipulate and operate radiographic equipment.
• Critique radiographs to determine if radiographic contrast and density are correct.
• Properly measure anatomic area to be radiographed.
• Accurately interpret technique charts and properly set the parameters in the console of the radiographic machine.
• Properly record parameters in radiation log book.
• Properly label film with patient information.
• Manipulate patient for correct positioning to produce a diagnostic radiograph.
• Perform proper maintenance of radiographic equipment.