Veterinary Science
Diagnose and treat animals
What You'll Study
Veterinary Science is medicine for every species except humans. It covers the health, welfare, handling, and treatment of pets, livestock, and wildlife.
- Animal Anatomy (Multiple species)
- Animal Nutrition
- Veterinary Pathology
- Surgery
- Parasitology
- Epidemiology (Zoonotic diseases)
- Animal Behavior
- Pharmacology
Example Classes
How to Know If You'll Like It
You'll probably enjoy this if...
- ✓You love animals (obviously)
- ✓You are emotionally tough (euthanasia is part of the job)
- ✓You don't mind getting dirty/bitten/scratched
- ✓You are good at science
- ✓You communicate well with OWNERS (animals don't talk)
- ✓You are observant
You might not enjoy this if...
- ✕You just want to cuddle puppies (it's medical work)
- ✕You are allergic to fur
- ✕You can't handle seeing animals in pain
- ✕You want to be rich (Vets earn less than human doctors but have high debt)
Self-Check Quiz
Answer these questions honestly to see if this major might be a good fit for you.
Can you handle sad endings?
Career Outcomes
Featured In-Demand Careers
Other Common Career Paths
- •Veterinarian
- •Vet Tech
- •Zoologist
- •Animal Researcher
- •Food Safety Inspector
Try It First
Test if you like this field before committing to a major:
Watch "The Incredible Dr. Pol" or similar vet shows.
Volunteer at an animal shelter (cleaning cages is good intro reality).
Research common foods toxic to dogs and make a poster.
Related Majors
Frequently Asked Questions
Admissions can be harder because there are fewer Vet schools.
You learn everything, then usually specialize (Small Animal, Equine, Exotic).
Yes, big animals can hurt you. Bites/scratches are common.
DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine).
Highly. You are the voice for the voiceless.
Ready to Explore This Major?
Get personalized guidance on whether Veterinary Science is right for you and how to build a competitive profile.