• Work alongside zoo and veterinary clinic staff as they care for and treat a variety of animals

• Earn seven college credits for dual enrollment courses in biology and veterinary technology at LCCC

• Explore careers in animal sciences and veterinary medicine through job shadows

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With projected growth rates of 19 to 20 percent, veterinarians, veterinarian technicians and veterinarian assistants are among the nation’s most in-demand professionals. That’s why our Animal Sciences program is a must-consider for rising high school seniors interested in these and other professions centered around the care and treatment of animals.

Made possible by the partnership of Lehigh Career & Technical Institute, Lehigh Valley Zoo, Lehigh Carbon Community College and Macungie Animal Hospital, this intensive, dual-enrollment program is designed to give students a head start on college and expose them to a variety of careers in animal sciences and veterinary medicine through job shadows, hands-on training and clinical study.In order to be eligible for this distinguished program, students must:

• Reside in a Lehigh County school district
• Be entering their senior year of high school
• Have a grade-point average of 2.5 or better
• Have an excellent attendance record
• Have completed biology with a grade of C or better
• Have completed math courses through geometry with a grade of C or better
• Have a written recommendation from their high school guidance counselor or teacher
• Meet academic prerequisites for Lehigh Carbon Community College

In a typical school week, students split their time between immersion in the program curriculum at LCTI, dual-enrollment courses — biology, veterinary technology and veterinary terminology — at LCCC and shadowing professionals or participating in other activities at Lehigh Valley Zoo, Macungie Animal Hospital and various facilities in the region.

Successful participants complete the program with at least seven readily-transferable college credits. Students also have opportunities to earn industry credentials that signal their readiness for higher learning to college admissions officers and prepare them to work in a variety of veterinary fields.

Industry Credentials

Animal Sciences students can earn the following certifications and credentials in high school:

• Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider via American Heart Association
• OSHA Certification via CareerSafe®

College Credits

Animal Sciences is a dual-enrollment program that allows students to earn seven readily transferrable college credits from the following school(s):

• Lehigh Carbon Community College

Career Pathways

with associate degree:

• Agricultural technician
• Veterinary technician

with bachelor’s degree:

• Veterinary technologist
• Wildlife biologist

with doctoral degree:

• Veterinarian
• Veterinary surgeon