Veterinary Science Degree

The entry profile of the degree is that of a person with an interest in issues related to Health Sciences in general, and Veterinary Sciences in particular, and with a special sensitivity towards the animal world, its medicine, production and public health, focused from the veterinary point of view, with the corresponding repercussions on the human species. Likewise, they must be interested in, or show interest in, the agricultural world in all its aspects, including its development, and in all the socio-occupational and sectorial areas in which the veterinary profession develops.
Although previous specific knowledge is not compulsory, it is recommended to have previous basic knowledge corresponding to a level of 2nd Baccalaureate in the option of Health Sciences, being the ideal student whose training has included the following subjects: Biology, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.

The entry profile of the degree is that of a person with an interest in issues related to Health Sciences in general, and Veterinary Sciences in particular, and with a special sensitivity towards the animal world, its medicine, production and public health, focused from the veterinary point of view, with the corresponding repercussions on the human species. Likewise, they must be interested in, or show interest in, the agricultural world in all its aspects, including its development, and in all the socio-occupational and sectorial areas in which the veterinary profession develops.
Although previous specific knowledge is not compulsory, it is recommended to have previous basic knowledge corresponding to a level of 2nd Baccalaureate in the option of Health Sciences, being the ideal student whose training has included the following subjects: Biology, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.

The USC has a programme of student tutors for undergraduate degrees, so that students in their final years, after a training provided by the University, carry out orientation tasks for students who are beginning their studies.

Information on the student tutor programme:

Tutoring programme

When an official degree is suspended, the USC guarantees the effective development of the studies started by its students until their completion. To this end, the Governing Council approves the criteria related, among others, to:
- The admission of new enrolments in the degree programme.
- The gradual suppression of teaching.
- If the extinct degree is replaced by a similar one (modifying the nature of the degree), it establishes the conditions that facilitate students' continuity of studies in the new degree and the equivalences between the subjects of one and the other plan.

Access to Bachelor’s Degree programmes is granted to students with the following degrees/ diplomas or studies, or any other recognized as equivalent to these:
A.1. Spanish Bachiller, European Baccalaureate or International Baccalaureate.
A.2. Baccalaureate from European Union Member States’ education systems or other countries withinternational agreements.
A.3. Advanced Technician in Vocational Training, Advanced Technician in Plastic Arts and Design orAdvanced Technician in Sports Education, from the Spanish Education System.
A.4.Studies carried out in European Union Member States or in other countries with international reciprocal agreements which meet the academic requirements in those States to access their university study programmes.
A.5. Official Spanish university degrees of Diplomado, Arquitecto Técnico, Ingeniero Técnico, Licenciado, Arquitecto, Ingeniero, Graduado or Máster Universitario.
A.6. Partial (foreign or Spanish) university studies.
Access to Bachelor’s Degree programmes is also possible for:
B.1. People over twenty-five after successfully passing a specific access test.
B.2. People over forty with work or professional experience related to a university field of knowledge.
B.3. People over forty-five after successfully passing a specific access test.
Likewise, access to Bachelor’s Degree programmes is granted to:
C.1. People meeting the requirements to enter university according to the Spanish Education System regulations prior to Ley Orgánica 8/2013, of December 9.

1. Students have demonstrated possession and understanding of knowledge in an area of study that builds on the foundation of general secondary education, and is usually at a level that, while relying on advanced textbooks, also includes some aspects that involve knowledge from the cutting edge of their field of study.
2. Students are able to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and possess the competences usually demonstrated through the development and defence of arguments and problem solving within their field of study.
3. Students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their field of study) in order to make judgements that include reflection on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues.
4. Students are able to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
5. Students will have developed those learning skills necessary to undertake further study with a high degree of autonomy.

1. Ability to learn and adapt.
2. Capability for analysis and synthesis.
3. General knowledge of the working area.
4. Planning and work management.
5. Capability to put knowledge into practice.
6. Capabillity to work both independently and as part of a team.
7. Ability to work in an international context.
8. Leadership, initiative and entrepreneurship.
9. Capability to communicate in different areas.
10. Ethical commitment and undertaking of responsibilities.

A. Specific disciplinary competences
1. General knowledge of the animals, its behavior and the bases of its identification.
2. Structure and function of healthy animals.
3. Livestock breeding, genetic improvement, management and animal welfare.
4. Physical, chemical and molecular bases of the major processes that take place in the animal organism.
5. Basic and appliedprinciplesof the immune response.
6. Knowingthe basicsof the differentbiological agentsof veterinary interest.
7. Knowledgeofthechanges in the structureandfunctionof the animal organism.
8. Knowledgeand diagnosisof the variousanimal diseases, both individual and collective, and itsprevention measureswith special emphasis onzoonosesandnotifiablediseases.
9. General basis of medical and surgical treatments.
10. Knowledge of the techniques applicable to domestic animals, including those with direct influence on animal and human health.
11. Knowledgeof the functional and optimizationbases ofplant and animal productionsystems and its environment impact.
12. Principles of Science and Food Technology. Elaborated food quality control and alimentary security.
13. To know the organizational, economic and management aspects in all fields of the veterinary profession.
14. To know the veterinary rules and laws, as well as animal trade regulations..
15. To know the rights and duties of the veterinarian, with special emphasis on ethical principles.
16. To know the basic analytical techniques and its interpretation.
17. Knowledge of the biological effects of ionizing radiation and radioprotection measures.
18. To know the basic procedures to ensure a proper reproductive activity, and the techniques and methods for obstetric problems resolution.
B. Specific professional competences
1. Obtain an accurate and relevant medical history and perform a complete clinical examination of the animal.
2. Collect and send specimens with the corresponding reports.
3. Perform standard laboratory tests, and interpret clinical, biological and chemical results.
4. Diagnose common diseases using complementary protocols and diagnostic techniques.
5. Perform epidemiological studies and develop prevention, control and eradication programs on animal diseases, with a focus on compulsory notifiable diseases and zoonoses.
6. Attend all species in an emergency and perform basic first aid.
7. Perform basic medical and surgical treatments in animals.
8. Prescribe, manage and administer properly veterinary medicines.
9. Implement basic procedures to ensure proper reproductive activity, and carry on technological processes to solve obstetric problems.
10. Identify raw materials for animal feeding and management of dietary programs appropriate to the species and condition of the animals.
11. Evaluate and interpret health and production parameters of an animal group, considering the economic, environmental and welfare aspects, and seeking their optimization.
12. Perform ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection animals destined for the food chain and correctly identify conditions affecting the quality and safety of products of animal origin.
13. Conducting health checks in all types of food processing establishments and food handling activities.
14. Conduct a risk assessment, including those related to environmental and biosafety, as well as assessment, management and monitoring of quality management systems.
15. Technical and economic advice and management of veterinary companies in the context of sustainability.
16. Applying the methods of individual identification of animals.
17. Perform technical reports specific to veterinary competencies.
18. Apply knowledge of radiation protection in those diagnostic procedures that require the use of ionizing radiation.
C. Specific academic competences
1. Analyze, synthesize and solve problems and make decisions within the scope of the Veterinary profession.
2. Be aware of the ethical responsibilities of the veterinary profession in relation to the society.
3. Disclose information obtained during the Veterinary professional practice in a easy oral and written way, with other colleagues, authorities and society in general.
4. Search and manage information related to veterinary practice.
5. Know and apply the scientific method in professional practice, including evidence-based medicine.
6. Knowing how to find professional help and advice.
7. Have basic knowledge of a foreign language, especially in technical aspects of veterinary science.
8. Being aware of the need to keep professional skills and knowledge up-to-date through a process of lifelong learning.

1. Capacity for reasoning and argument.
2. Ability to obtain adequate, diverse and updated information by various means such as literature and Internet information, and critically analyze it.
3. Ability to develop and present an organized and understandable text.
4. Ability to make a clear, concise, and consistent public presentation.
5. Skill in the use of ICTs.
6. Use information in a foreign language.
7. Ability to solve problems through the Integration and application of knowledge.