Veterinary sciences programs focus on ways to prevent and treat animal diseases. Students learn how diseases begin, develop, and transfer to other hosts. They also learn how to research the causes of animal diseases.

In 2001, the news was flooded with stories of hoof-and-mouth disease. Several ranchers and farmers across Europe were forced to slaughter sheep, pigs, and cattle to prevent spread of the disease. If not, the virus would spread quickly and interfere with milk and meat production. It could also cause permanent health damage to the animals. With the help of people such as veterinary scientists, steps were taken to contain the disease.

In veterinary sciences programs, you take several advanced science and math courses. These include statistics, biochemistry, and pharmacology. You also take courses in genetics, anatomy, and physiology. Depending on your interests, you can specialize in microbiology, toxicology, or physiology. You could also specialize in pharmacology, infectious diseases, or other similar fields. You can study diseases transmitted through bacteria, fungi, or viruses. Or, you can study how genes are inherited. You can even study how brains send signals to nerves and muscles!

A number of four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. offer graduate programs in veterinary sciences. Typically they are offered through the school's veterinary medicine program, where you earn a Ph.D. in veterinary sciences after you finish your bachelor's degree. Some programs also offer master's degrees. However, the most common degree is a doctorate. Most programs take three to five years to complete after you finish your bachelor's degree.

In addition, some schools offer certificate programs in veterinary sciences. These are usually for people who already have their DVM (veterinary medicine degree) or a graduate degree in a related field.

Most people with a degree in veterinary science work as research scientists. You can work for pharmaceutical laboratories and drug companies. You can also work for university labs or government agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration or National Institutes of Health.