Taylor Epp, Director

Veterinary nurses are compassionate, highly motivated paraprofessionals dedicated to animal health care. As integral members of the veterinary health care team, they are entrusted with diverse medical responsibilities that include animal nursing care, laboratory specimen analysis, surgical assistance, anesthesia, radiographic imaging (x-ray), nutritional management, dental prophylaxis, physical therapy, and client education. These varied duties afford the veterinary paraprofessional a profound impact on every aspect of animal care. Their involvement enables veterinary hospitals and animal care and research facilities to offer expanded services efficiently and effectively.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recognizes two levels of training for the veterinary paraprofessional:  a two-year certification and a four-year bachelor's degree.  The Certificate of Completion at Michigan State University is a two-year training program. After completion of the pre-clinical courses, students complete clinical clerkship training at the Michigan State University Veterinary Medical Center. Through the clinical clerkships, the students develop and apply their knowledge and problem-solving skills in a functional hospital setting.  The two-year level of training is most appropriate for individuals who seek employment in privately owned veterinary clinical practices.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Veterinary Nursing requires four years of academic training. In addition to the core curriculum of the Certificate of Completion, the students complete the general education requirements of Michigan State University and elective courses.  The elective courses allow the students to focus on potential career paths within the veterinary profession such as production animal medicine, equine and companion animal medicine, pathology, biomedical research, and practice management. Their training offers exposure to clinical specialty areas such as emergency medicine, cardiology, ophthalmology, equine anesthesia, and necropsy.  The four-year bachelor's degree level of training is linked with employment in research facilities, vivaria, industry, educational institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and large-group or specialty practices.

The state of Michigan requires that any person practicing as a veterinary professional must be licensed and registered with the state. Regulation of veterinary professionals is the responsibility of the Veterinary Board of Examiners in the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulation. The credentialing examination is only available to qualified graduates of accredited training programs. The Veterinary Nursing Program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and graduates of the Certificate of Completion or Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Nursing are eligible to take the National Board Examinations for licensure.

Enrollment in the Veterinary Technology Program’s academic certificate and degree options is limited.  Students are admitted for fall semester only.  Applications for admission are accepted through early February of the year that admission is sought. For additional information, contact the Veterinary Nursing Program, Veterinary Medical Center, 736 Wilson Road, Room A-22, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1316 or visit https://cvm.msu.edu/future-students/veterinary-nursing-program.

The Certificate of Completion articulates with an Associate in Applied Sciences degree from Lansing Community College.  For specific degree requirements for the Associate in Applied Science, contact Lansing Community College at http://www.lcc.edu.

Bachelor of Science

Admission

The number of students who can be admitted to the Bachelor of Science degree program in veterinary technology is limited.  All persons who are interested in applying for admission to the bachelor's degree program in veterinary nursing must complete an application which can be found, along with the application process instructions, by visiting https://cvm.msu.edu/future-students/veterinary-nursing-program.

Applications for admission to the bachelor's degree program in veterinary nursing are accepted through early February of the year that admission is sought.

Students who are enrolled in colleges and universities other than Michigan State University should contact Michigan State University's Office of Admissions and the College of Veterinary Medicine regarding admission to the bachelor's degree program in veterinary nursing as transfer students.

To be considered for admission, an applicant must have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.75 and a minimum of a 2.5 grade-point average of the last 12 credits completed and a minimum of a 2.0 grade in all math and science courses:

1. Completion of at least 28 credits of the University graduation requirements or transfer equivalents including:
   1. One of the following: (Mathematics 101 and 103) or (Mathematics 103 and 114) or (Mathematics 116 or 124 or 132 or 152H). See item 2. b. under Requirements for a full list of applicable math combinations.
   2. Biological Science 161 and 171.
   3. Tier I writing course.
   4. Additional credits selected from an Integrative Studies in the Arts and Humanities course numbered below 211, an Integrative Studies in the Arts and Humanities course numbered 211 or higher, an Integrative Studies in the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences 200-level course, and an Integrative Studies in the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences 300-level course.

The final selection of students to be admitted to the baccalaureate degree program in veterinary nursing is based on the cumulative grade-point average of all courses taken, the grade-point average calculated on all courses in mathematics and the physical and biological sciences, and the grade-point average of the last 12 credits. The selection process also  includes submission of a personal statement, letters of recommendation and documentation of 80 hours of veterinary related experience.

Students who complete the requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree in Veterinary Nursing will be qualified to take the National Board Examinations for licensure as veterinary-technicians.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Veterinary Nursing

1. The requirements for a bachelor's degree as specified in the Undergraduate Education section of the University catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Veterinary Nursing.
   The completion of the Mathematics courses referenced in item 2. b. below may also be used to satisfy the University mathematics requirement.
   
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Veterinary Nursing major is met by completing the following courses:  Veterinary Medicine 410 and 412. Those courses are referenced in items 2. a. below.
   
   Students who are enrolled in the Bachelor of Science degree in Veterinary Nursing may complete the alternative track in Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that consists of the following courses: Biological Sciences 161, 162, 171, and 172; and Chemistry 141. The completion of Biological Science 171 satisfies the laboratory requirement. Biological Science 162 and 172 and Chemistry 141 may be counted toward both the alternative track and the requirements for the major referenced in item 2. below.
2. The following requirements for the major (90 to 97 credits):

   a.	All of the following courses (75 credits):
   	BS	161	Cell and Molecular Biology						3
   	BS	162	Organismal and Population Biology						3
   	BS	171	Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory						2
   	BS	172	Organismal and Population Biology Laboratory						2
   	CEM	141	General Chemistry						4
   	VM	110	Veterinary Medical Terminology						1
   	VM	120	Veterinary Comparative Nutrition						2
   	VM	130	Comparative Anatomy for Veterinary Nurses						2
   	VM	140	Pharmacology for Veterinary Nurses						2
   	VM	150	Hospital Procedures and Communication						2
   	VM	155	Veterinary Nursing Careers and Professional Development						1
   	VM	160	Small Animal Nursing Skills						3
   	VM	165	Large Animal and Laboratory Animal Nursing Care Techniques						2
   	VM	170	Hematology and Immunology for Veterinary Nurses						2
   	VM	175	Clinical Pathology Laboratory I for Veterinary Nurses						1
   	VM	176	Clinical Pathology Laboratory II for Veterinary Nurses						1
   	VM	205	Preventive Animal Health Care for Veterinary Nurses						3
   	VM	210	Surgical Nursing for Veterinary Nurses						2
   	VM	215	Surgical Nursing and Anesthetic Management Laboratory						1
   	VM	245	Parasitology for Veterinary Nurses						2
   	VM	250	Veterinary Comparative Clinical Physiology						5
   	VM	255	Small Animal Diseases and Management						3
   	VM	265	Dentistry Techniques for Veterinary Nurses						1
   	VM	270	Advanced Skills Development for Veterinary Nurses						1
   	VM	275	Large Animal Diseases and Management						3
   	VM	295	Biomedical Research and Regulatory Issues for Veterinary Nurses						1
   	VM	303	Anesthesiology for Veterinary Nurses						2
   	VM	304	Radiology for Veterinary Nurses						2
   	VM	305	Hospital Practice Management for Veterinary Nurses						2
   	VM	410	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Anesthesiology (W)						3
   	VM	411	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Radiology						3
   	VM	412	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Companion Animal Medicine (W)						3
   	VM	413	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Companion Animal Surgery						3
   	and
   	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   	VM	414	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Equine Medicine and Surgery						3
   	VM	415	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Food Animal and Equine Medicine and Surgery						3
   	VM	450	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Emergency Medicine						3
   	VM	451	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Cardiology						3
   	VM	452	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Neurology						3
   	VM	453	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Ophthalmology						3
   	VM	454	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Critical Care						3
   	VM	458	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Companion Animal Diagnostic Ultrasound						3
   	VM	466	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Large Animal Anesthesia						3
   	VM	470	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Food Animal Medicine						3
   	VM	480	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Clinical Pathology						3
   	VM	482	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Necropsy						3
   	VM	483	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Biomedical Research						3
   	VM	484	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine						3
   	VM	486	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Clinical Parasitology						3
   	VM	490	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Special Problems						3
   b.	One of the following options (0 to 7 credits):
   	(1)	One of the following courses:
   		MTH	116	College Algebra and Trigonometry					5
   		MTH	124	Survey of Calculus I					3
   		MTH	132	Calculus I					3
   		MTH	152H	Honors Calculus I					3
   	(2)	MTH	103	College Algebra					3
   		and
   		One of the following:
   		MTH	101	Quantitative Literacy I					3
   		MTH	102	Quantitative Literacy II					3
   		MTH	114	Trigonometry					3
   		MTH	201	Elementary Mathematics for Teachers I					3
   		STT	200	Statistical Methods					3
   		STT	201	Statistical Methods					4
   	(3)	MTH	103A	College Algebra I					3
   		MTH	103B	College Algebra II					3
   		and
   		One of the following:
   		MTH	101	Quantitative Literacy I					3
   		MTH	102	Quantitative Literacy II					3
   		MTH	114	Trigonometry					3
   		MTH	201	Elementary Mathematics for Teachers I					3
   		STT	200	Statistical Methods					3
   		STT	201	Statistical Methods					4
   	(4)	Successfully complete the proctored mathematics placement exam with a score of 19 or higher.
   c.	One of the following options, 15 credits from Elective Group 1 or 15 credits from Elective Group 2. Courses used to satisfy requirement 2. a. above may not be used to fulfill this requirement.
   	Veterinary Nursing Elective Group 1
   	VM	414	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Equine Medicine and Surgery						3 to 6
   	VM	415	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Food Animal and Equine Medicine and Surgery						3 to 6
   	VM	450	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Emergency Medicine						3
   	VM	451	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Cardiology						3
   	VM	452	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Neurology						3
   	VM	453	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Ophthalmology						3
   	VM	454	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Critical Care						3
   	VM	458	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Companion Animal Diagnostic Ultrasound						3
   	VM	466	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Large Animal Anesthesia						3
   	VM	470	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Food Animal Medicine						3 to 6
   	VM	480	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Clinical Pathology						3
   	VM	482	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Necropsy						3
   	VM	483	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Biomedical Research						3 to 12
   	VM	484	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine						3 to 12
   	VM	486	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Clinical Parasitology						3
   	VM	490	Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Special Problems						3 to 12
   	Veterinary Nursing Elective Group 2. Complete 15 credits in courses from one of the following concentrations. All course selections must be approved by the Veterinary Nursing Program.
   	Business Communication
   	ACC	230	Survey of Accounting Concepts						3
   	AFRE	100	Decision-making in the Agri-Food System						3
   	AFRE	130	Farm Management I						3
   	AFRE	203	Data Analysis for the Agri-Food system						3
   	AFRE	222	Agribusiness and Food Industry Sales						3
   	AFRE	232	Commodity Marketing I						3
   	AFRE	240	Food Product Marketing						3
   	AFRE	315	Labor and Personnel Management in Agri-Food System						3
   	AFRE	327	Global Agri-Food Industries and Markets						3
   	AFRE	435	Financial Management in the Agri-Food System						3
   	COM	100	Human Communication						3
   	COM	225	An Introduction to Interpersonal Communication						3
   	COM	240	Introduction to Organizational Communication						4
   	EC	201	Introduction to Microeconomics						3
   	EC	202	Introduction to Macroeconomics						3
   	EAD	315	Student Leadership Training						3
   	FI	320	Introduction to Finance						3
   	HRLR	211	Introduction to Organizational Leadership						3
   	HRLR	311	Applied Organizational Leadership						3
   	General Animal Science
   	ANS	110	Introductory Animal Agriculture						3
   	ANS	110L	Introductory Animal Agriculture Laboratory						1
   	ANS	134	Dairy Production I						3
   	ANS	200C	Dairy Cattle Genetics and Evaluation						2
   	ANS	200E	Introductory Animal Welfare Assessment						1
   	ANS	201	Animal Products						3
   	ANS	201L	Animal Products Laboratory						1
   	ANS	210	Introduction to Disciplines in Animal Agriculture						3
   	ANS	211	Animal and Product Evaluation						3
   	ANS	222	Introductory Beef Cattle Management						3
   	ANS	234	Dairy Production II						3
   	ANS	252	Introduction to Management of Avian Species						3
   	ANS	262	Introductory Sheep Management						3
   	ANS	272	Introductory Swine Management						3
   	ANS	305	Applied Animal Behavior						3
   	ANS	305L	Applied Animal Behavior Laboratory						1
   	ANS	307	Animal Reproduction						3
   	ANS	309	Animal Health and Disease Management						3
   	ANS	313	Principles of Animal Feeding and Nutrition (W)						4
   	ANS	314	Genetic Improvement of Domestic Animals (W)						4
   	ANS	334	Dairy Management I						3
   	ANS	401	Ethical Issues in Animal Agriculture						1
   	ANS	407	Food and Animal Toxicology						3
   	ANS	413	Non-Ruminant Nutrition						4
   	ANS	418	Animal Agriculture and the Environment						3
   	ANS	422	Advanced Beef Cattle Feedlot Management						3
   	ANS	425	Animal Biotechnology						3
   	ANS	427	Environmental Toxicology and Society						3
   	ANS	442	Advanced Horse Management						3
   	ANS	445	Equine Exercise Physiology						4
   	ANS	455	Avian Physiology						4
   	ANS	472	Advanced Swine Management						3
   	ANS	480	Animal Systems in International Development						3
   	ANS	483	Ruminant Nutrition						3
   	General Zoo and Wildlife
   	EPI	390	Disease in Society: Introduction to Epidemiology and Public Health						4
   	FW	101	Fundamentals of Fisheries and Wildlife Ecology and Management						3
   	FW	110	Conservation and Management of Marine Resources						3
   	FW	181	Introduction to Science, Technology, the Environment and Public Policy						3
   	FW	364	Ecological Problem Solving						3
   	FW	413	Wildlife Research and Management Techniques						3
   	FW	423	Principles of Fish and Wildlife Disease						3
   	FW	423L	Principles of Fish and Wildlife Disease Laboratory						1
   	FW	424	Population Analysis and Management						4
   	FW	444	Conservation Biology						3
   	FW	449	Wildlife Policy						3
   	FW	491	Special Topics in Fisheries and Wildlife						1 to 3
   	IBIO	313	Animal Behavior						3
   	IBIO	341	Fundamental Genetics						4
   	IBIO	355	Ecology						3
   	IBIO	355L	Ecology Laboratory (W)						1
   	IBIO	369	Introduction to Zoo and Aquarium Science						3
   	IBIO	408	Histology						4
   	IBIO	413	Laboratory in Behavioral Neuroscience (W)						4
   	IBIO	415	Ecological Aspects of Animal Behavior (W)						3
   	NEU	300	Neurobiology						3
   	Sustainability and Policy
   	AFRE	100	Decision-making in the Agri-Food System						3
   	AFRE	206	World Food, Population and Poverty						3
   	ANR	250	Global Issues in Agriculture and Natural Resources						3
   	ANS	124	Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems						2
   	ANS	418	Animal Agriculture and the Environment						3
   	ANS	424	Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems: Integration and Synthesis						3
   	ANS	480	Animal Systems in International Development						3
   	CSS	101	Introduction to Crop Science						3
   	CSS	120	Issues in Food and Agriculture						3
   	CSS	124	Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems						1
   	CSS	222	New Horizons in Biotechnology						2
   	EC	201	Introduction to Microeconomics						3
   	EC	202	Introduction to Macroeconomics						3
   	EPI	390	Disease in Society: Introduction to Epidemiology and Public Health						4
   	FW	434	Human Dimensions of Fisheries and Wildlife Management (W)						3
   	FW	445	Biodiversity Conservation Policy and Practice						3
   	IBIO	446	Environmental Issues and Public Policy						3
   	HRT	251	Organic Farming Principles and Practices						3
   	PHL	380	Nature of Science						3
   	SOC	161	International Development and Change						3
   	SOC	252	Introduction to Environmental Sociology						3
   	Pharmacology and Toxicology
   	ANS	407	Food and Animal Toxicology						3
   	ANS	427	Environmental Toxicology and Society						3
   	BMB	200	Introduction to Biochemistry						4
   	EPI	390	Disease in Society: Introduction to Epidemiology and Public Health						4
   	NEU	300	Neurobiology						3
   	PHL	380	Nature of Science						3
   	PHM	350	Introductory Human Pharmacology						3
   	PHM	351	Fundamentals of Drug Safety						3
   	PHM	431	Pharmacology of Drug Addiction						3
   	PHM	450	Introduction to Chemical Toxicology						3
   	Ecology and Resource Management
   	AFRE	265	Ecology and Economics						3
   	ANS	124	Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems						2
   	ANS	418	Animal Agriculture and the Environment						3
   	FOR	419	Applications of Geographic Information Systems to Natural Resources Management						4
   	FW	181	Introduction to Science, Technology, the Environment						3
   	FW	364	Ecological Problem Solving						3
   	FW	413	Wildlife Research and Management Techniques						3
   	FW	417	Wetland Ecology and Management						3
   	FW	423	Principles of Fish and Wildlife Disease						3
   	FW	423L	Principles of Fish and Wildlife Disease Laboratory						1
   	FW	424	Population Analysis and Management						4
   	FW	434	Human Dimensions of Fisheries and Wildlife Management (W)						3
   	FW	463	Wildlife Disease Ecology						3
   	IBIO	355	Ecology						3
   	IBIO	355L	Ecology Laboratory (W)						1
   	Animal Management
   	AFRE	130	Farm Management I						3
   	ANS	110	Introductory Animal Agriculture						3
   	ANS	110L	Introductory Animal Agriculture Laboratory						1
   	ANS	134	Dairy Production I						3
   	ANS	222	Introductory Beef Cattle Management						3
   	ANS	233	Dairy Feed Management						3
   	ANS	234	Dairy Production II						3
   	ANS	252	Introduction to Management of Avian Species						3
   	ANS	262	Introductory Sheep Management						3
   	ANS	272	Introductory Swine Management						3
   	ANS	309	Animal Health and Disease Management						3
   	ANS	334	Dairy Management I						2
   	ANS	401	Ethical Issues in Animal Agriculture						1
   	ANS	422	Advanced Beef Cattle Feedlot Management						3
   	ANS	442	Advanced Horse Management						3
   	ANS	472	Advanced Swine Management						3
   	Animal Products and Nutrition
   	ANS	110	Introductory Animal Agriculture						3
   	ANS	201	Animal Products						3
   	ANS	201L	Animal Products Laboratory						1
   	ANS	211	Animal and Product Evaluation						3
   	ANS	233	Dairy Feed Management						3
   	ANS	313	Principles of Animal Feeding and Nutrition (W)						4
   	ANS	407	Food and Animal Toxicology						3
   	ANS	413	Non-Ruminant Nutrition						4
   	ANS	483	Ruminant Nutrition						3