ATE 4940 - Veterinary Technology Capstone Practicum

School of Veterinary Technology

Credit(s): 6
Contact Hours: 90
Effective Term Spring 2020 (570)

Requisites

Prerequisite ATE 3052 with a minimum grade of C and
Prerequisite ATE 3515 with a minimum grade of C and
Prerequisite ATE 3615 with a minimum grade of C and
Prerequisite ATE 4854 with a minimum grade of C

Course Description

Veterinary Technology Capstone is an applied course which allows the student to utilize the knowledge gained in earlier courses in the curriculum to expand leadership opportunities within the profession. Students will use this opportunity to investigate an area of veterinary technology that is new to them through a practicum. They will design a professional experience through volunteerism and/or work experience that will consist of a minimum of 80 hours during the semester. The student will create and implement their own learning contract which will define the scope of the practicum. The practicum proposal must be approved by the professor, who will guide the student through the experience. The student will use approved off-campus sites to implement the hands-on portion of the project. Students will employ critical thinking skills by formulating a problem statement that will be the foundation of the practicum experience.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. The student will, through experiential learning, explore aptitude and interest in a selected role in the veterinary profession which expands beyond their current experience by:
    1. Describing the position desired and the required academic qualifications, credentials and work experience required to obtain the position
    2. Identifying a workplace situation/problem within the veterinary profession.
    3. Formulating a problem statement that will be investigated within the scope of the work and/or volunteer experience.
  2. The student will develop goals, objectives and outcomes associated with creating an experience related to the identified professional role by:
    1. Identifying a mentor that will guide them through Veterinary Technology Capstone.
    2. Designing a self-directed learning contract that specifies the goals, objectives and outcomes associated with the learning experience on one of two paths.
    3. Developing a contract with instructor approval that involves a mixed experience of volunteerism and work at two different sites OR developing a contract with instructor approval that is based on volunteerism or work at one site.
    4. Identifying specific goals which have been created based upon collaboration with the mentor and/or supervisor.
  3. The student will demonstrate a readiness to enter the advanced professional field of veterinary technology by:
    1. Organizing a career e-portfolio based on his/her capstone project that is suitable a for professional job search.
    2. Utilizing a professional e-portfolio to validate the assessment and completion of expected outcomes of this capstone experience.
    3. Implementing a working relationship within the practicum with the mentor and/or supervisor as measured by successful completion of the self-directed learning contract.
    4. investigating professional organizations and/or veterinary technician specialties that are related to the Capstone Experience and determining a path toward membership.
  4. The student will demonstrate leadership and management skills associated with the identified professional role within veterinary technology by:
    1. Identifying and utilizing the resources that will enhance and coordinate the practicum experience.
    2. Analyzing the leadership skills of their mentor or supervisor and relate them to their personal managerial style.
    3. Managing the project/s through development of a completion timeline or Gant chart and weekly progress reports.
  5. The student, using critical thinking skills, will evaluate the value of his/her capstone experience by:
    1. Assessing the impact of completing the St. Petersburg College Bachelor of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology on current and future professional goals.
    2. Utilizing journal documentation to validate the assessment and completion of the expected outcomes of the practicum experience.
    3. Creating a visual presentation for live presentation in a final online webinar.

Criteria Performance Standard

Upon successful completion of the Veterinary Technology Capstone Practicum in Veterinary Technology the student will, with a minimum of 70% accuracy, demonstrate mastery of each of the major learning objectives through classroom measures developed by individual course instructors.

History of Changes

C&I Approval: , BOT Approval: , Effective Term: Spring 2019 (555). C&I Approval: , BOT Approval: , Effective Term: Summer 2019 (560).
C&I Approval: , BOT Approval: , Effective Term: Spring 2020 (570)

Related Programs

  1. Veterinary Technology (VETTC-BAS) (640) (Active)