Veterinary Academy: Zoo Medicine
Experience a week in the life of a working veterinarian as you help care for over 70 species of animals at the Texas Zoo. You’ll also hear from other animal experts about enclosure design and the important role of zoos in conservation around the world.
Check out our Veterinary Academy: Zoo Medicine program in Massachusetts, too!
Prepare for the future
- Daily field classes on topics including physical exams, exotic animal biology and care, and designing animal enrichment activities
- Researching and presenting your own keeper talk to the visiting public
- Time in the lab to discover topics including diagnostic techniques, suturing, and enclosure design
By attending Veterinary Academy: Zoo Medicine, you can earn up to 40 veterinary hours, a required part of every vet school application.
2027 High School Program Dates & Tuition
- 7 Days
- July 11-17
- July 18-24
- $4,999
What’s Included
All meals
On-campus accommodations at Texas A&M University-Victoria
15:1 teaching vet-to-student ratio
Up to 40 veterinary hours
College credit is included with tuition. Students attending high school Veterinary Academy programs are eligible to receive college credit(s) through George Mason University. Credits are included in the cost of tuition and are awarded for successful completion of the program and credit requirements. Learn more.
Program Highlights
Animal Care Rotations
On your first day at the Texas Zoo, you’ll be split into three groups. Each group will take turns rotating through different learning activities on food preparation, enclosure maintenance, and animal enrichment.
Field Classes
The zoo will become a living classroom for you and your fellow attendees as you explore important topics like animal behavioral observations, zoo ethics, and veterinary diagnostics across different areas of the Texas Zoo.
Public Outreach
After four full days of exploration at the Zoo, you will research a specific topic pertaining to animal conservation that you’re passionate about and present your findings during your own Keeper Talk with the visiting public!
Lab Time
Much of a zoo veterinarian’s time is spent in the lab, treating animals for various injuries or performing wellness exams. You’ll participate in several different lab activities including suturing, parasitology, farm animal physical exams, and an enclosure design workshop.
Your Adventure, Day by Day
Day 1
Arrival in Victoria, Texas
Day 2
Physical Exams and Wildlife Behavior
Day 3
Exotic & Wildlife Mammals
Day 4
Reptiles
Day 5
Birds
Day 6
Careers in Veterinary Medicine
Day 7
Departure
Image Gallery
What some of our students and their parents are saying…
The [program] was very interesting to him. He actually wanted us to go to the zoo the day we picked him up so he could show us around! He loved it.”
I honestly really enjoyed the program. I loved not only getting to know the staff and other students but also the zoo keepers. They really knew what they were talking about and it was good to be able to get to know them and ask them questions.”
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For the safety of students, staff, and animals, not all animals may be touched or handled by participants. The teaching veterinarian and other professional staff members will advise students of the proper time, place, and method to handle animals when it is safe to do so.