Veterinary Science

A college degree in veterinary science focuses on the health of all animals – including livestock, poultry, companion animals, captive and free-ranging wildlife, exotic animals, birds, aquatic mammals and fish.

For this major you’ll need to start building a strong foundation by taking lots of science courses in college. Once you begin graduate level studies, you will take specialized courses in veterinary science.

Sample Courses

Veterinary Science Courses:

  • Foundations of Veterinary Science
  • Healer’s Art
  • Animal Welfare
  • Small Animal Medicine
  • Principles of Animal Nutrition
  • Veterinary Immunology
  • Principles of Surgery
  • Principles of Anesthesia
  • Exotic Animal Anatomy and Husbandry
  • Foaling Management
  • Equine Medicine and Surgery
  • Emerging Issues in Animal Health
  • Non-Mammalian Vertebrate Medicine
  • Veterinary Neurobiology
  • Bovine Herd Health Medicine
  • Veterinary Nutrition and Metabolism
  • Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology
  • Veterinary Parasitology
  • Veterinary Physiology and Histology
  • Preventive Medicine

Undergraduate Science Courses:

  • Molecular and Cellular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Microbiology + Lab
  • Biochemistry
  • Chemistry I
  • Chemistry II
  • Organic Chemistry + Lab
  • Physics I
  • Physics II
  • Principles of Organismal Biology
  • Comparative Anatomy
  • Mammalian Physiology

General Curriculum Requirements:

  • Arts Courses: Art, History, Languages, Literature, Music
  • Math Courses: Algebra, Calculus, Computer Science, Logic, Statistics
  • Natural Sciences Courses: Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physics
  • Social Sciences Courses: Anthropology, Economics, Government, Psychology, Sociology
Biology Major Michelle F.

“I’m here at El Camino College studying biology to become a veterinarian. I want to become a veterinarian because I love helping animals, and I’ve seen how they have helped me either being emotional companions, and when I was younger, I really struggled to read by myself. So by going outside and hanging out with my dog, I learned that animals are really my safe place.”

Visit Michelle's Page
Animal Science Major Cynthia G.

“I’m an animal science major, and I want to dedicate the rest of my life to helping animals.”

Visit Cynthia's Page