General Education Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree in Veterinary Nursing

  • Writing Rhetoric and American Cultures (WRA 101 or higher)
  • One of the following: (Mathematics 101 and 103) or (Mathematics 103 and 114) or (Mathematics 116 or 124 or 132 or 152H)
  • Integrative Studies in Social Science (one ISS 200 level and one 300 level)
  • Integrative Studies in Arts and Humanities (IAH course 201-210 and one IAH course 211 or higher)
  • General Chemistry (CEM 141)
  • Organism and Populations Biology (BS 162 and BS 172)
  • Cells and Molecules Biology (BS 161 and BS 171)

Veterinary Nursing Core Curriculum

Once the candidate has completed the prerequisite courses and has been formally admitted into the Veterinary Nursing Program, they are then eligible to begin the core veterinary technology coursework. The Veterinary Nursing Program is a prescribed curriculum that has limited course offerings. As a result, students are only able to begin the Program during fall semester.

Fall Semester - Year 1
  • VM 110
    Veterinary Medical Terminology
  • VM 130
    Comparative Anatomy for Veterinary Nurses
  • VM 140
    Pharmacology for Veterinary Nurses
  • VM 150
    Hospital Procedures and Communication
  • VM 250
    Veterinary Comparative Clinical Physiology
  • Total Credits
    11
Spring Semester - Year 1
  • VM 120
    Applied Biochemistry and Nutrients for Veterinary Nurses
  • VM 160
    Small Animal Nursing Skills
  • VM 170
    Hematology and Immunology for Veterinary Nurses
  • VM 175
    Clinical Pathology Laboratory I for Veterinary Nurses
  • VM 304
    Radiology for Veterinary Nurses
  • VM 205
    Preventive Health Care for Veterinary Nurses
  • Total Credits
    13
Fall Semester - Year 2
  • VM 165
    Large Animal and Laboratory Animal Nursing Care Techniques
  • VM 176
    Clinical Pathology Laboratory II for Veterinary Nurses
  • VM 210
    Surgical Nursing for Veterinary Nurses
  • VM 215
    Surgical Nursing and Anesthetic Management Laboratory
  • VM 255
    Small Animal Diseases and Management
  • VM 295
    Biomedical Research and Regulatory Issues for Veterinary Nurses
  • VM 303
    Anesthesiology for Veterinary Nurses
  • Total Credits
    12
Spring Semester - Year 2
  • VM 155
    Veterinary Nursing Careers and Professional Development
  • VM 245
    Parasitology for Veterinary Nurses
  • VM 265
    Dentistry Techniques for Veterinary Nurses
  • VM 270
    Health Care Development for Veterinary Nurses
  • VM 275
    Large Animal Diseases and Management
  • VM 305
    Hospital Practice Management for Veterinary Nurses
  • Total Credits
    10
Summer Semester - Year 2
  • VM 410
    Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Anesthesiology
  • VM 411
    Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Radiology
  • VM 412
    Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Companion Animal Medicine
  • VM 413
    Veterinary Nursing Clerkship in Companion Animal Surgery
  • VM 4**
    Veterinary Nursing Clerkship elective
  • Total Credits
    15

Option 1 Elective Track

During this semester, Veterinary Nursing students that have chosen to pursue the elective option 1 track will take an additional 15 credit hours of Veterinary Nursing Clinical Clerkship electives.Examples of these elective choices are dermatology, oncology, ophthalmology, food animal medicine, and large animal anesthesia.

Option 2 Elective Track

The above outline represents our more traditional curriculum for students completing the Bachelor's degree in Veterinary Nursing. This is referred to as “Option 1.” We do, however, offer a non-traditional curriculum that provides flexibility and diversity to a student’s course selection, referred to as “Option 2.”

A student wishing to pursue the “Option 2” degree requirements completes only the first semester of required clinical clerkships. The student replaces the elective clinical clerkships with a variety of electives that have been pre-approved by the Veterinary Nursing Program’s academic advisor and Program Director(s). Option 2 provides opportunities for students to study abroad and diversify their education by taking courses in subject areas such as zoology, animal science, agribusiness, and communication. For a complete list of approved electives, please contact our academic advisors.

MSU’s online course descriptions and schedule of courses will provide more detailed information for each of the courses listed above.