Program: Veterinary Technology, B.S. - Mercy University (2024)

Students who choose the major concentration in veterinary technology must complete:

• VETC 101 - Intro Veterinary Science
• VETC 110 - Applied Animal behavior
• VETC 140 - Veterinary Management
• VETC 256 - Anatomy of Dom Animals Lec
• VETC 256A - Anatomy Dom Animals Lab
• VETC 258 - Animal Handling and Restraint
• VETC 300 - Physiology Domestic Animals
• VETC 306A - Clinical Lab Tech Lab
• VETC 340 - Clinical Vet Tech Team Comm
• VETC 341 - Small Animal Diseases
• VETC 350 - Applied Clinical Vet Nursing
• VETC 350A - Applied Clinic Vet Nursing Practicum
• VETC 360 - Fundamentals Animal Research
• VETC 375 - Principles Lrg Animal Medicine
• VETC 375A - Prin of Large Animal Med LAB
• VETC 495 - Externship I
• VETC 496 - Externship II

Recommended Electives

• VETC 295 - Special Topics Vet Tech
• VETC 305 - Global Veterinary Experience
• VETC 397 - Ind Study in Veterinary Tech
• VETC 380 - Workplace Experience I
• VETC 381 - Workplace Experience II

Note(s)

There is a 15-credit residency requirement in the major concentration of Veterinary Technology.

*Students must complete these courses as part of their General Education Requirements.

The recommended course sequence can be found in the Veterinary Technology Program Student Handbook.

Additional Program Information

Students in the Veterinary Technology Program must earn a minimum letter grade of C or better in all veterinary technology and natural science courses (except BIOL 160/ BIOL 160A), and a minimum letter grade of B or better in ENGL 111and in MATH 116and a minimum grade of C+ inBIOL 160/BIOL 160A.Students must maintain a 2.75 cumulative index in veterinary technology courses for admittance into clinical courses VETC 340, VETC 341,VETC 350, VETC 350A, VETC 360, VETC 375, VETC 375A, VETC 495, andVETC 496and to graduate from the Veterinary Technology Program..

Students enrolled in the undecided – veterinary technology,or the veterinary technology majormay not repeat a course required in the curriculum more than once.

Students enrolled in the undecided – veterinary technology, or the veterinary technology majorare fully responsible for compliance with all requirements, policies and procedures contained in the Veterinary Technology Program Student Handbook. A link to the Veterinary Technology Program Student Handbook can be found on the Program page on the Mercy University websitehttps://www.mercy.edu/degrees-programs/bs-veterinary-technology.

Students should anticipate taking the didactic portion of VETC 375 - Principles Lrg Animal Medicinecourse online during the spring semester and VETC 375A- Principles of Large Animal Medicine Labduring the following summer. VETC 375A is aone-week, hands-on practicum that takes placeat SUNY-Delhi in the summer. Students are responsible for transportation to and accommodations in Delhi. No other Veterinary Technology courses are offered in the summer semester.

NOTE: A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to attain state licensure.

The Veterinary Technology Program is accredited by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) located in Schaumburg, Illinois.

Graduates of the Mercy University Veterinary Technology Program are eligible to sit for the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) administered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). Successful completion of this examination is required for licensure as a veterinary technician by the New York State Education Department (NYSED). Licensure information can be found at: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/vetmed/vtlic.htm.

Veterinary Technology Program Admission Criteria (As of Fall 2018)

1. Admittance into Mercy University
2. High School Assessment Criteria
   1. ≥85% overall GPA required with upper 1/3 of class rank preferred
   2. Minimum of two years high school math with ≥85% (B) average
      1. More than two years high school math preferred
      2. Preference for one year of algebra
   3. Minimum of two years high school English with ≥85% (B) average
      1. More than two years high school English preferred
   4. Minimum of two years high school laboratory science with ≥85% (B) average
      1. More than two years high school laboratory science preferred
      2. Preference for one year each in biology and chemistry

Students that meet the high school assessment criteria will be admitted as undecided-veterinary technology (VTPR). Admittance is competitive; therefore, students accepted as undecided-veterinary technology majors (VTPR) are required to pay a non-refundable deposit of $200 to reserve their spot in the Veterinary Technology Program. This fee will be applied to tuition payment.

Students that do not meet the high school assessment criteria will be required to take additional courses.

3. Application to Veterinary Technology Program
   Students that are admitted as undecided-veterinary technology (VTPR) and taking the VETC 101 - Intro Veterinary Sciencecourse must submit an application to the Veterinary Technology Program for admittance as a veterinary technology major (VTNS). The application must include short essays in response to the prompts given on the application. The application must also demonstrate that the student has met the following criteria:
   1. Overall minimum GPA of 2.75 for the first academic year at Mercy University.
   2. Satisfactory completion of ENGL 111 - English Composition Iand MATH 116 - College Algebrawith a grade of B or better, BIOL 160 - General Biology I Lecture/BIOL 160A - General Biology I Labwith a grade of C+ or better, and VETC 101 - Intro Veterinary Sciencewith a C or better. A required course in the curriculum can only be repeated once.
   3. Volunteer hours or shadowing experience in a veterinary facilityis preferred.

The application deadline is generally midterm of the semester for students admitted as undecided-veterinary technology (VTPR). Students enrolled in VETC 101 Introduction to Veterinary Science will be informed of the specific date at the beginning of the semester and the application will be posted on the course Blackboard shell.

Pending the final grade in VETC 101 - Intro Veterinary Scienceand the calculation of the overall GPA for the first academic year, students will be informed of a provisional acceptance no later than April 15. Students will be informed of full acceptance into the Veterinary Technology Program no later than two weeksafter the end of the semester.

Veterinary Technology Major Concentration Standards

1. Students must earn a minimum letter grade of C or better in all veterinary technology courses, a grade of C+ or better inBIOL 160/BIOL 160AGeneral Biology I Lecture/Laboratory, a minimum grade of C in all other natural science courses, and a minimum grade of B or better in ENGL 111 - English Composition Iand MATH 116 - College Algebra.
2. Students must maintain a 2.75 cumulative index in veterinary technology courses in order to be admitted into clinical courses VETC 340, VETC 341, VETC 350, VETC 350A, VETC 360, VETC 375,VETC 375A, VETC 495, andVETC 496. A minimum GPA of 2.75 is also required for graduation from the Veterinary Technology Program.
3. Students may not repeat a course required in the curriculum more than once. Two withdrawals from a course are equivalent to one full completion of that course.
4. Any student who earns a grade less than the required minimum grade in a course required in the curriculum must repeat the course the next semester it is offered at Mercy Universityin order to progress to any course for which it is a prerequisite.
5. Any student who receives less than the required minimum grade in a course required in the curriculum more than once will automatically be dismissed from the Program.
6. For any veterinary technology lecture course that has a laboratory course as a corequisite, both the lecture and laboratory courses must be taken concurrently. In the event that a student must withdraw from the lecture course, the student must also withdraw from the corequisite laboratory course. If a student must withdraw from a laboratory course, the student must also withdraw from the corequisite lecture course.Students who wish to take the lecture or laboratory course alone will require Program Director authorization and may be required to participate in relevant labs or audit relevant lecture topics.
7. Other thanVETC 375A -Principles of Large Animal Medicine Lab, Veterinary Technology courses within the Veterinary Technology curriculum are not offered in the summer semester.
8. Students who receive an unsatisfactory evaluation in any category, including but not limited to professional and ethical behavior, or required skill in clinical courses VETC 340, VETC 341, VETC 350, VETC 350A, VETC 360, VETC 375, VETC 375A,VETC 495, and VETC 496, or who are dismissed from any externship site, will receive an “F” in the course and will have their records reviewed by the Veterinary Technology Faculty. The faculty will determine if the student will be given the opportunity to repeat the experience in a future semester, and/or be placed on probation, or be dismissed by the Program.
9. If a student is dismissed from any externship site because of an inability to demonstrate content knowledge, the faculty may require the student to pass a competency exam and either retake or audit the course covering the content prior to reassignment to an externship site.
10. Any student that has been dismissed from the Veterinary Technology Program is not eligible to reapply to the Veterinary Technology Program.

Minimal Technical Standards

The following technical standards, which serve to protect the student and patient and are deemed essential for performance as a competent veterinary technologist, are required for admission, continuation and graduation from the Mercy University Veterinary Technology Program:

Essential Requirements

1. Capable of frequently lifting and/or carrying up to 50 pounds from floor to waist level.
2. Ability to tolerate walking and standing for sustained periods of time.
3. Capable of handling, positioning and restraining live animals.
4. Capable of using hands and arms to handle, install, position and move materials.
5. Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs, including auscultatory sounds, alarms, animal vocalizations, cries for help and warning sounds from animals and humans. Ability to perceive and understand the natural or amplified human voice when lips, facial expressions and/or other visual clues are not able to be seen.
6. Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment and to perform nursing duties.
7. Eyesight capable of viewing small visual images and reading instrumentation.
8. Amenable to learning the safe handling and restraint of all Program-required species of domestic and exotic animals without a level of fear that interferes with satisfactory performance.
9. Capacities to read, hear, understand and quickly execute complex verbal and written instructions given in English.
10. Willingness to assist with or perform a wide variety of medical, surgical and diagnostic procedures in the veterinary setting, including humane euthanasia.
11. Ability to act in a professional and ethical manner. Ability to respond positively to constructive criticism.
12. Ability to respond promptly and appropriately in emergency situations. Emotional stability to function effectively under stress and to adapt to an environment that may change rapidly without warning and/or in unpredictable ways.
13. Ability to speak and write in English and be understood by others who speak English.
14. Ability to understand the basis and content of ethical veterinary practice and the professionalism required in such practice. Possession of attributes which include compassion, empathy, altruism, integrity, responsibility, and tolerance.
15. Cognitive abilities necessary to master relevant content in the curriculum at a level deemed appropriate by the faculty. These skill may be described as the ability to comprehend, memorize, analyze, and synthesize the material. Ability to develop reasoning, critical thinking and decision-making skills at a level deemed appropriate by the faculty.
16. The ability to handle and/or be exposed to a wide variety of animal species and their environments without adverse medical consequences (e.g., allergic reaction).

Rabies Immunization

Students enrolled in the Veterinary Technology Program will be exposed to live animals, both on and off-campus. Due to the inherent risk of possible exposure to an animal carrying the rabies virus, all students enrolled in the Veterinary Technology Program are required to receive the prophylactic series of rabies immunizations.

Veterinary Technology Student Essential Skills

Mercy’s program requires that students successfully acquire specified, essential skills in order to complete the Veterinary Technology Program. A link to these skills may be found on the Program page of the Mercy University website.

Veterinary Technology Program Goals and Outcomes

The Veterinary Technology Program goals and outcomes can be found on the Program page on the Mercy University website.

Veterinary Technology Program Transfer Policy

1. The policy for acceptance of transfer credits to satisfy Veterinary Technology Program courses are in addition to the requirements for transfer credits as outlined in the Mercy UniversityUndergraduate Catalog.
2. Course descriptions and course outlines of any veterinary technology course for which the student is requesting acceptance of transfer credits must be submitted to the Program Director for review. In addition, for any veterinary technology course in which essential skills are taught, the student must also submit a signed skills list for that course to the Program Director.
3. Acceptance of transfer credits for a veterinary technology course will only be considered if the course was taken within the last two years at an AVMA-CVTEA accredited veterinary technology program, the credit hours are equivalent and the final grade in the course is C or better.
   1. Transfer students must submit evidence of successful essential skills acquisition if relative to the course that is under consideration for acceptance of transfer credits.
4. Fifteen residency credits at Mercy University in the major is required.
5. VETC 101 - Intro Veterinary Scienceand must be taken at Mercy University, Dobbs Ferry.
6. Transfer credits for VETC 300 - Physiology Domestic Animalsand require program director approval and will be accepted if the following criteria are met:
   1. taken within the last two years at an AVMA-CVTEA accredited veterinary technology program
   2. the course content and credit hours are equivalent
   3. the final grade in the course is C or better
   4. the student has successfully passed a competency exam, administered by Mercy University Veterinary Technology Program faculty, with a 75 or better.
   5. the cost of each competency exam is $25.
7. Acceptance of transfer credits to satisfy prerequisite course requirements will only be considered if the course was taken within the last fouryears at an accredited college institution, the course content and credit hours are equivalent and the final grade in the course is ‘B’ or better for satisfaction ofMATH 116 andENGL 111prerequisites, ‘C+’ or better for satisfaction of the BIOL 160/BIOL 160Aprerequisite and C or better for all other prerequisite course requirements.
8. Graduates of AVMA-CVTEA accredited veterinary technology programs must submit their transcripts to the Program Director for review. Graduates of other veterinary technology programs are required to take VETC 101and VETC 320at Mercy University, Dobbs Ferry.
   1. Transfer students that are graduates of other accredited veterinary technology programs will be required to complete all of the requirements of the Mercy University Veterinary Technology Program courses that they take at Mercy University. This may include successful acquisition of essential skills as listed in the Mercy University Veterinary Technology Program Essential Skills List for that course.

Program Dismissal Review

In cases in which a student has been dismissed from the Veterinary Technology Program, the student may request a dismissal review when theybelievethat extenuating circ*mstances affected their academic performance in the program. The student must follow the SHNS Program Dismissal Review Policy detailed at the beginning of the School of Health and Natural Sciencessection.

Professional Licensure

If you are interested in obtaining professional licensure, please check with the appropriate licensing body in the state where you intend to practice. For additional information and detailed requirements, please refer to the specific program of interest on the “School Resources” section of the Mercy UniversityNC-Sara webpage.

Students Interested in Applying to Veterinary Medical School

Although the majority of veterinary medical schools do not require students to obtain a specific degree, students are more attractive candidates if, in addition to completing the required prerequisite courses, they complete a degree that includes courses in humanities and social sciences as well as animal sciences. The Veterinary Technology major uniquely prepares a student for veterinary medical school by offering many of the courses required to apply to veterinary medical school, including veterinarycourses. However, the student may be required to complete 28 credits in addition to the Veterinary Technology major courses to meet the veterinary medical school admission requirements (please refer tohttp://www.aavmc.org/data/files/vmcas/prereqchart.pdffor more information). Students may be able to take some or all of these courses along with their Veterinary Technology major courses at Mercy University if they meet the University criteria for taking a higher credit course load during any term. Enrolled students may also be able to complete some of these courses during the summer terms, however, financial aid may not cover the tuition for summer courses.

Courses typically required for Veterinary Medical School Application:

* may be taken to fulfill a general education elective

The Veterinary Technology Program courses may provide students with an advantage when applying to veterinary medical school (seehttp://www.avma.org/public/careers/pages/vet-school-admission-101.aspx) by offering a total of 60 credit hours of veterinary based courses including two 360 hour externships (360 hours in a general small animal medicine and surgery hospital and 360 hours in a specialty or referral veterinary facility). In addition, the faculty of the Program provides the Program students with specific academic advisem*nt as well as assistance in the veterinary medical school application process.

Students interested in applying for veterinary medical school, may also choose to pursue a Biology major which would include many of the required science courses for application to medical school. Those students who pursue the Biology major may be able to take a few veterinary technology courses as electives to fulfill their Biology degree and strengthen their veterinary medical school application.

Graduate of the Veterinary Technology Program earn a Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology and are eligible to take the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) for licensure as a Veterinary Technologist.

Electives