Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields
Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
Study in one or more of the veterinary medical or clinical sciences or a program undifferentiated as to title.
Inside the major
Programs within this field
Colleges may offer this field under 12 more specific program names. The program you choose affects the courses you take.
- Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General
- Study in one or more of the veterinary medical or clinical sciences or a program undifferentiated as to title.
- Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine
- Focuses on the scientific study of animal models of human disease and related experimental procedures, and prepares veterinarians and animal health specialists to manage the laboratory use and care of experimental animals. Covers laboratory animal husbandry, laboratory animal disease, biohazard control, gnotobiology, breeding, comparative anatomy and physiology, comparative gene mapping, protein function, physical and mathematical modeling, computer modeling, stem cell technology, colony and genetic stock management, cryopreservation, applicable regulations, and bioethics.
- Large Animal/Food Animal and Equine Surgery and Medicine
- Focuses on the scientific study of the internal medicine and invasive and noninvasive treatment of herd, work, sport, and food animals. Covers equine medicine, swine and dairy medicine, food animal medicine, pathophysiology, large animal diseases, large animal anesthesiology and surgical procedures, preoperative and postoperative care, and specific medical specialties such as dentistry, ophthalmology, oncology, obstetrics/theriogenology, and orthopedics.
- Small/Companion Animal Surgery and Medicine
- Focuses on the scientific study of the internal medicine and invasive and noninvasive treatment of companion and household animals. Covers avian medicine, pet care, companion animal medicine, pathophysiology, small animal diseases, small animal anesthesiology and surgical procedures, preoperative and postoperative care, and specific medical specialties such as dentistry, ophthalmology, oncology, obstetrics/theriogenology, and orthopedics.
- Veterinary Anatomy
- Focuses on the scientific study of the structure of small and large animal cellular, organ, tissue, and body systems and their relation to physiologic function, disease, and therapeutic treatment. Covers histology, ultrastructure, molecular biology, biochemistry, developmental biology, neuroscience, electrophysiology, electron microscopy, computer imaging, and applications to specific species.
- Veterinary Infectious Diseases
- Focuses on the scientific study of zoonotic infectious diseases, disease mechanisms, and prevention and treatment strategies. Covers disease pathogenesis, vector biology, mycobacterial infection, blood parasites, retroviruses, food-borne diseases, new infectious agents, ecotoxicology, mechanisms of disease transfer, antibody resistance, comparative pathology, communicable diseases, and disease prevention and eradication.
- Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology
- Focuses on the scientific study of the microbial causation and immunologic processes related to animal disease, prevention, and treatment. Covers bacteriology, mycology, virology, immune response mechanisms, humoral and cell function, cancer defenses, immune system dysfunction, immunologic diseases, parasitology, pathogenesis, and disease vectors.
- Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology
- Focuses on the scientific study of the development and process of disease in domestic and wild animals and applications to diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. Covers pathogenesis, immunoparasitology, viral therapy, inherited metabolic diseases, environmental toxicology, anatomical and clinical pathology, necropsy and biopsy techniques, clinical laboratory analysis, pathological interpretation, and disease diagnosis.
- Veterinary Physiology
- Focuses on the scientific study of the functional dynamics of animal biological systems and their relationship to the diagnosis and treatment of disease and injury. Covers mammalian and non-mammalian physiology, laboratory physiology, physiological responses to the environment, endocrinology, animal biotechnology, mechanisms of hormone action, organ systems, metabolism, and pathophysiology.
- Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health
- Focuses on the study of the prevention and control of communicable animal diseases, diseases affecting humans, and prepares veterinarians to function as public health specialists. Covers animal epidemiology, biostatistics, food safety and quality assurance, food toxicology, zoonotic and infectious diseases, disease vectors and transference, production medicine, animal health, veterinary public health practice, and inspection and evaluation methods.
Also called Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General (Cert.), Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General (MS), Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General (PhD)
Also called Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine (Cert.), Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine (MS), Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine (PhD)
Also called Large Animal/Food Animal and Equine Surgery and Medicine (Cert.), Large Animal/Food Animal and Equine Surgery and Medicine (MS), Large Animal/Food Animal and Equine Surgery and Medicine (PhD)
Also called Small/Companion Animal Surgery and Medicine (Cert.), Small/Companion Animal Surgery and Medicine (MS), Small/Companion Animal Surgery and Medicine (PhD)
Also called Veterinary Anatomy (Cert.), Veterinary Anatomy (MS), Veterinary Anatomy (PhD)
Also called Veterinary Infectious Diseases (Cert.), Veterinary Infectious Diseases (MS), Veterinary Infectious Diseases (PhD)
Also called Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology (Cert.), Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology (MS), Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology (PhD)
Also called Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology (Cert.), Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology (MS), Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology (PhD)
Also called Veterinary Physiology (Cert.), Veterinary Physiology (MS), Veterinary Physiology (PhD)
Also called Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health (Cert.), Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health (MS), Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health (PhD)
Where it can lead
Careers this field can lead to
Explore related careers, starting with the closest connections and the occupations hiring the most people.
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $107,310
- Hiring change through 2035
- 17.9%
- Job openings a year
- 24,900
To get hiredDoctoral or professional degree
Explore this career Growing fastVeterinarians
- Median pay
- $130,100
- Hiring change through 2035
- 9.4%
- Job openings a year
- 3,100
To get hiredDoctoral or professional degree
Explore this career GrowingAnimal Scientists
- Median pay
- $68,940
- Hiring change through 2035
- 5.8%
- Job openings a year
- 200
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this careerAll work is projected to grow 3.5% between 2025 and 2035; read every hiring-change figure against it.
Working style
How and where the work happens
Related careers can feel very different from one another. Compare the specific occupations to understand the work each one involves.
Few of the careers connected to this field are measured as substantially in-person or active work. Compare the specific occupations to see how much time each one involves with people, equipment, and movement.
College options
Where to study it
Ordered by how many degrees each college awards in this field. Sort by any numbered column.
| College | Degrees a year | Admit rate | Average annual cost after aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Tennessee-Martin TN | 48 | 87% | $12,000 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus PA | 25 | 54% | $26,000 |
| Morehead State University KY | 14 | 82% | $9,000 |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities MN | 5 | 77% | $10,000 |