Accredited Online Animal Science Degrees

The bond between animals and humans is essential. It was important in the growth of society and, accordingly, remains a vital part of many aspects of our lives today. Understanding animals and helping them stay healthy is critical. An online animal science degree can lead you to a fulfilling career working with animals of all varieties.

Online animal science degree programs build knowledge of animal biology, reproduction, safe handling, and more. Some programs explicitly lead to exciting careers in wildlife and zoology. Most, however, are geared toward veterinary science or livestock production and maintenance. Online animal science degrees, in general, can lead to jobs that include vet tech, vet assistant, and animal scientist. Therefore, these programs can create a challenging yet rewarding career.

ARTICLE NAVIGATION:

• Online Animal Science Degrees: Certificate | Diploma | Associate | Bachelor Completion | Graduate Certificate | Master | Professional Certificate
• Accreditation for Animal Science Online Degrees
• Can Online Animal Science Degrees Meet Licensing Requirements?
• Licensure and Certification for Animal Science
• Career Outlook with an Animal Science Degree Online
• Expected Salaries with an Online Animal Science Degree

Certificate

Certificates give students the chance to enter an animal-based career with a markedly small time commitment. For instance, the Pet Grooming Certificate from Penn Foster requires nine courses. With a fast track plan, it can be completed in two months, compared to the average completion time of four months.

Online certificates in animal science often focus on a specific species or type of animal. For example, students can choose to study pigs, horses, small animals, and more. There are also certificates in government policy and livestock evaluation. These programs can correspondingly jumpstart careers as animal service workers, caretakers, lab assistants, and more.

Diploma

Diplomas are typically for people who have finished high school and want to enter a career in a short time. They can also be completed 100% online. Afterward, grads can pursue careers as vet assistants or animal caretakers.

Another key point is that a few college diploma programs do not require you to have a high school diploma. Instead, you can earn a high school diploma while preparing for a career in animal science.

Associate

An associate’s level online animal science degree is the standard education for vet techs. Requiring only a high school diploma for admission, these degrees usually take two to three years to complete. Many can also be completed entirely online.

While most associate’s degrees cover general veterinary technology, some are more specific. For example, Stautzenberger College offers an associate’s degree in Animal Welfare Business Management.

The tuition rates for online animal science degree programs vary greatly. As can be seen with the accredited associate’s degrees in our database, fees range from about $4,500 to as high as $32,000. Therefore, it’s a good idea to compare various programs you are interested in. As long as the online animal science degree is accredited, it is wise to choose the lowest cost option that meets your needs.

Bachelor Completion

If you have completed an associate’s degree, then you can achieve a bachelor’s level online animal science degree in roughly two years with a bachelor completion program. They give you the skills for a career in veterinary technology or the animal industry and are additionally available 100% online.

A bachelor’s degree is required for most vet technologist positions. Therefore, students can use these degrees to move from a technician to a technologist. These bachelor completion degrees generally cover subjects like veterinary technology and animal science.

Graduate Certificate

With a graduate certificate, students can build on their current skills and knowledge. These programs, therefore, allow you to advance your career.

Many of these certificates are specifically for current workers in the field. Take for example the Graduate Certificate in Shelter Medicine from the University of Florida. The curriculum teaches veterinarians how to handle health issues that impact shelter animals in detail.

Education requirements for these degrees, which are available completely online, will vary. Some only require a bachelor’s degree for admission. Others require a doctorate.

Master

Workers who want to expand their career options should consider a master’s-level online animal science degree. Few careers in this industry require a master’s, but you can use it to build your expertise. These animal science degrees online specifically cover important topics impacting animal health. Programs range from broad topics to specific programs in pest management, avian health, and also lab work.

These online animal science degree programs are also available entirely online. Most require 2.5 to 3 years of study in addition to a previous bachelor’s degree. Most are around 30 credit hours. Tuition costs for accredited online degrees range from under $12,000 up to around $68,000.

Professional Certificate

A professional certificate in animal science can help launch a career in vet assisting or other positions in animal care. Available completely online, these certificates, above all, create a fast path to an animal-science career.

The certificates are typically shorter than full online animal science degree programs. As an illustration, the program from CareerStep can be completed in as little as four months with a self-paced format. The program includes 17 courses that cover the basics of animal behavior, anatomy, and nursing.

Accreditation is the process of reviewing a degree or an institution. Colleges and universities receive institutional accreditation. Meanwhile, individual majors qualify for programmatic accreditation.

For online animal science degrees, a variety of groups provide approval. For instance, one such group is the Animal Science Council on Accreditation. ASCA is part of the American Society of Animal Science. The most common accrediting body, however, is the American Veterinary Medical Association.

AVMA specifically verifies degrees for vet techs and veterinary technologists. To qualify for licensing as a vet tech, applicants usually need to graduate from an AVMA-accredited program. Licensing requirements vary, but this is necessary in most states.

AVMA-accredited degrees in our database include:

• Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology from San Juan College
• Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology from Purdue University
• Veterinary Technology – Bachelor Completion Degree from Penn Foster
• Master of Avian Health & Medicine from the University of Georgia

Resources:

• Animal Science Council on Accreditation
• American Veterinary Medical Association

Yes, these online animal science degree programs will generally open the doors for proper licensing.

For example, many associate’s degrees lead to a vet tech career, which requires licensing in most states. To become licensed, you firstly need a degree accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Several degrees in our database are accredited by AVMA, including the associate’s degrees in veterinary technology from San Juan College and Purdue University.

Many careers in animal science will require licensing. A veterinarian will need licensing in addition to a doctorate in veterinary medicine. It is important to realize that a doctorate in veterinary medicine cannot be completed online.

Some online animal science degrees, however, will qualify students for work as licensed vet techs. To become licensed, graduates need an associate’s degree specifically from an AVMA-accredited program. Students then need to complete state requirements, which will include passing an exam.

Let’s look at the process for becoming licensed in the state of Washington as an example:

1. Meet the education requirements. You must graduate from a program accredited by AVMA. (Those with three years or more of industry experience are exempt.)
2. Apply for the exam. Start the process by completing an online or paper application.
3. Pay the fees. The fee for an initial license is $126. Renewal is $91. The state exam additionally costs $160.
4. Pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE).
5. Submit further information. This may include personal data and proof of licensing in other states.
6. Wait for approval or denial.

Resources:

• BLS - How to Become a Veterinary Technologist or Technician
• Washington State Department of Health - Veterinary Technician Licensing

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects to see a large growth in animal science careers, especially positions involving veterinary work. The expected growth for vet-related positions between 2021 and 2031 is:

• Veterinarian: 19%
• Veterinary technologists and technicians: 20%
• Veterinary assistants: 19%

An increase in pet-related spending, as well as an increase in homes with pets, will drive much of this growth. Basically, more people will have pets, and these pet owners will spend more on their pets’ healthcare.

For technologists and technicians, the highest concentration of jobs is found in Colorado. This state has 1.72 technologists and technicians for every 1,000 jobs.

It appears that people in Maine have a high demand for these skills. The state is in the top five for vet technologists (#4 with 1.3 per 1,000 jobs), vet assistants (#1, 1.38), and veterinarians (#5, 0.87). Montana is also noteworthy. It ranks #2 for veterinarians with 1.17 per 1,000 jobs and #3 for vet technologists and technicians, with 1.32 per 1,000 jobs.

Resources:

• BLS - Veterinary Technologists & Technicians
• BLS - Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
• BLS - Veterinarians

While an online animal science degree may not bring the highest salaries, there is certainly a chance for strong earnings. The median salary for vet techs and technologists is $36,850. The top 10% earn over $48,100 annually. It’s a fair assumption that technologists typically have higher salaries, although the BLS does not separate the two.

Vet assistants have a median salary of $29,780. Keep in mind, however, that this career requires only a high school diploma and minimal training. Many learn the position on the job.

Students who use an online animal science degree as a stepping stone to a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine, which must be completed in-person, can become veterinarians. This is a position with high earnings. In fact, the median salary is $100,370. The top 10% additionally earn over $165,000 a year.

Whether you already have a bachelor’s degree or never received your high school diploma, there is an online animal science degree to fit your needs and goals. Submit your information to get started in your new career today! You’ll get the right resources to help you make the perfect choice for your future.