Veterinary Science Degree

• Admission profile

  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.

• Minimum number of ECTS enrollment credits per student and school period

  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.

• Tutorial action and reception

  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

• Title suspension rules

  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 and admission rules

  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.

The Faculty of Veterinary Science has 8 classrooms of different capacities, 23 classrooms for work in small groups and 36 labs for practical teaching. It also has 3 computer rooms, a reading room with around 140 seats and an audiovisual activities classroom.

All the centre's facilities have a wireless network.

The Library of the Faculty of Veterinary Science is part of the Shared Library of the Lugo Campus, and has over 1,600 reading stations, a room for group work, a classroom equipped with 22 computers connected to the wireless network, among other facilities.

The general objectives of the degree are summarized in the training of graduates with the knowledge and professional skills to guarantee the health of animals and humans through:
• The control of hygiene, inspection, and technology in the production and processing of food for human consumption, from primary production to the consumer.
• The prevention, diagnosis, and individual or collective treatment, as well as the control of animal diseases, whether considered individually or in groups, particularly in the case of zoonoses.
• The control of breeding, management, welfare, reproduction, protection, and feeding of animals, as well as the improvement of their production.
• The obtention, under excellent and economically viable conditions, of products of animal origin and the assessment of their environmental impact.
• Knowledge and application of legal, regulatory, and administrative provisions in all areas of the veterinary profession and public health, understanding the ethical implications of health in a changing global context.
• Development of professional practice with respect for other healthcare professionals, acquiring skills related to teamwork, efficient use of resources, and quality management.
• Identification of emerging risks in all fields of the veterinary profession.

• Basic skills

  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.

• Generic skills

  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.

• Specific skills

  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.

• Transversal skills

  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.

Mobility

Student mobility is regulated by the ‘Inter-university exchange regulations’. The External Relations Office manages national (SICUE), European (ERASMUS) and non-EU exchange programmes (exchanges with Latin American or English-speaking countries):
International

Internships

Tutored Internships
A total of 24 ECTS are programmed in compulsory supervised practices following the minimums established in the ORDER ECI/333/2008, with a presence of the student of 85%, distributed in 3 disciplines:
- Hospital Clinical Rotation: 7 credits in clinical rotation in the different services of the Rof-Codina University Veterinary Hospital, with a final assessment of skills.
- Clinical Internships: 9 credits of an internship in external clinics or clinical research activity in veterinary medicine, with a final assessment of skills.
- Non-Clinical Internships: 8 credits for an internship in farms for the production of food animals, pilot plants, slaughterhouses, veterinary laboratories, agri-food industries and with professionals of the Official Veterinary Services, or undertaking research activity in veterinary medicine with a final assessment of skills.
Optional External Work Placements
Students can have a maximum of 6 credits recognised by undertaking optional external work placements.

The End of Degree Project (EDP) consists of individual preparation by the student of a project, paper, report or original study in which the knowledge, skills, competences and abilities acquired during the Degree studies are integrated and developed.
The EDP will be related to the contents of the Degree in Veterinary Science and will include at least the tasks of literature search and review, reading and integration of information, preparation of relevant results, writing, presentation and defence of the work.
Students may register for EDP if they have no more than 75 credits of the syllabus pending, excluding those corresponding to the EDP.
For the EDP to be defended and assessed, it is essential to have passed all the remaining credits of the degree and to be enrolled in the EDP.
https://www.usc.gal/en/center/faculty-veterinary-science/degree-project