Pierce
College is located on 427 acres in the western San Fernando Valley of
southern California. Founded in 1947 as an agricultural college, large
sections of tillable and range land have been preserved as an enclave
within a suburban environment. The College maintains herds of cattle,
sheep, and swine, as well as orchards of citrus and other deciduous trees.
Part of the college land, Canyon de Lana, located in the northern end
of the Chalk Hills, has been set aside as a nature preserve. This area
of campus also serves as a feeding ground for large flocks of Canada geese
during the winter months.
Pierce remains unique to the greater Los Angeles area because of its farm and its instructional program in agriculture, natural resources management, Pre-Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Technology.
Pierce College offers two separate A.S. degrees in Veterinary Science: Pre-Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Technology. These majors have different end points and the student must carefully consider which degree best suits their career goal.
The Veterinary
Technology major prepares students to take the California State Board
Examination to become a Registered Veterinary Technician. (RVT) Students
who successfully complete an A.S. degree in Veterinary Technology also
have the option of transferring to Cal Poly Pomona to obtain a B.S. in
Veterinary Technology. Additionally, Pierce college offers academic training
for individuals who qualify for R.V.T. certification under the Alternate
Route category.
The Veterinary Technology Program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. It has been at Pierce College since 1972 and has evolved to meet the changing needs of veterinary medicine. The Veterinary Technology Program is well-equipped for this specialized education with the equivalent of a small veterinary teaching clinic on the premises. The program is experience oriented, with lecture classes complementing hands-on laboratory work. The practical and theoretical knowledge gained enables students to pass the State Board Exam and is directly applicable to employment in veterinary settings.
