Summer Springboard
Veterinary Medicine
ON THE CAMPUS OF UC SAN DIEGO
STEP INTO THE WORLD OF NURSING AND PATIENT CARE.TURN YOUR PASSION FOR ANIMALS INTO A VETERINARY CAREER WITH HANDS-ON LEARNING AND INSIGHTS FROM EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS.
This is a two-week program where you’ll focus on one course for the entire duration.
Veterinary Medicine @ UC San Diego
- Gain a foundational understanding of the structure and function of animals across various species, including major body systems and how they work.
- Learn about diverse roles in veterinary medicine such as veterinarians, vet techs, and animal scientists, and what each path entails.
- Become familiar with typical animal illnesses, their causes, symptoms, and basic diagnostic tools used in veterinary care.
- Get introduced to essential procedures including animal handling, grooming, basic health assessments, ethical treatment, and veterinary terminology.
- Meet professionals in the field, and explore academic and career opportunities.
Summer Springboard
Veterinary Medicine
About This Course
Are you excited to turn your passion and compassion for animals into valuable knowledge? In this Veterinary Medicine course, you’ll explore the expanding and diverse career paths within the field, guided by an experienced and well-rounded Vet Med student. You’ll gain a comprehensive overview of veterinary medicine, including its history, scope, and vital role in animal healthcare. By the end of the course, you’ll have a deeper understanding of the profession, an important advantage in a competitive market with limited veterinary schools in the U.S.
TOPICS YOU'LL EXPLORE
Hands-on Learning
This course emphasizes hands-on learning to deepen students’ understanding of animal health and veterinary care. Through interactive experiences such as basic animal handling, grooming, health assessments, and exposure to real veterinary procedures, students gain practical skills alongside foundational knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and common diseases. Possible field trips may include visits to the San Diego Zoo, animal protection societies, or veterinary medicine university programs.
Career Exploration
This course offers students a valuable opportunity to explore a wide range of careers within veterinary medicine. From veterinarians and veterinary technicians to animal scientists and shelter medicine professionals, students will learn about various roles, educational pathways, and day-to-day responsibilities in the field. Through guest instruction from an experienced veterinary medicine student and site visits to animal welfare institutions, students gain real-world insight into the profession and the academic journey required to succeed in this competitive and rewarding field.
RESOURCES
Course Infosheet
Click here to view or download the printable infosheet for this course.
Program Catalog
Click here to request our catalog to learn more about our summer programs and courses.
Campus Page
Click here to view the website page for this campus and learn more.
“I had a great time! I was able to get a lot of freedom as a rising sophomore in high school. I was able to meet people from all over the world, network and cultivate long lasting friendships. Showed a lot of interesting things about myself and future career and college plans. Thanks SSB @ UCSD!”
– Remy K. | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Veterinary Medicine
Meet Your Instructor
Instructor Information Coming Soon!
Courses are taught by accomplished and passionate faculty recruited from many area colleges, universities and professional forums. Each faculty member is selected for their subject area expertise and proven ability to both challenge and captivate students.
“Overall this is one of the best camp experiences I have had! I’ve learned so much from this 2 week course (at UC San Diego) and made so many new connections with many different people!!”
– Naveen N. | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Veterinary Medicine
Dates & Tuition
| 2027 Dates |
|---|
| Session 1: June 20 – July 2, 2027 |
Click here to enroll in this course using our online enrollment form.
| Tuition |
|---|
| Residential Tuition: $5,998* |
| Commuter Tuition: $3,298* |
| Course Supplement: $250 |
*Apply by November 30 to lock in the lowest prices of the year. Tuition increases on December 1.
Tuition Protection Plan: Allows for cancellation for any reason up until the day of the program.
| Location |
|---|
| City: San Diego |
| State: California |
| Campus: UC San Diego |
Summer Springboard programs are not run by our campus partners (with the exception of Cal Poly and NYSID which are run in partnership with SSB). Universities and their affiliated departments and partners do not control and are not responsible or liable in any manner for any part of the Summer Springboard program.