Academic Considerations

Prerequisite courses must be completed prior to accepting a position into the Animal Care and Training (ANCT) program. These courses will help prepare you for the rigorous curriculum in the ANCT program. Typically, about 40% of the students in the program have Associate Degrees, and 25% of the students who start our program already have a Bachelor's Degree. The age range of the students may vary from 18 - 50+. Students who have recently graduated from high school, or those without an adequate academic preparation, may find the course work load & other time demands very difficult. Check out the demands of the Program to learn more.

Prerequisites for ANCT program

All prerequisite courses MUST:
Be completed before you accept a position in the Animal Care and Training - you may only have 2 prerequisite courses in progress at the time of applying. In progress courses must be completed by June 30th. 

Be completed at an Accredited College - The prerequisites do not have to be completed at Moorpark College. However, they need to appear on a college transcript. 
If you have coursework outside of the Ventura County Community College District, please make sure to send your official transcripts to Admissions and Records. Your official transcripts must be evaluated by a counselor prior to starting the program. 

Be completed with a grade "C"  or better.

Some classes that are part of the Animal Care and Training Program and open to the entire student population can be taken at Moorpark College before entering the program.
These courses are: 
ANCT M08 Applied Wildlife Conservation
ANCT M09 Animal Behavior
ANCT M09L Animal Behavior lab
ANCT M17 Animal Diversity

Certificate of Achievement 

Upon completion of the curriculum within the Animal Care and Training Program a Certification of Achievement is awarded.

If classes needed to complete other General Education requirements for an Associates Degree have previously been completed either individually or as part of another Associates or Bachelor's Degree at an Accredited College it will then earn the student an Associate of Science Degree from Moorpark College. 

If you do not have other College General Education Classes completed. It is strongly recommended to complete these additional recommended classes before starting the program. Taking them while in the program may prove difficult with the already heavy course and work load. 

General Education (GE) Requirements

General Education (GE) Requirements are NOT required for admission. However, GEs are required to earn the Associates Degree. 

  • VCCCD GE Area 3 - Arts and Humanities - minimum of 3 semester units (i.e. MUS M01)
  • VCCCD GE Area 6 - Ethnic Studies - minimum of 3 semester units (i.e. ETHS M01)

Please see a counselor for the correct GE Pattern according to your catalog rights. 

If you do not have other GE courses completed and you want to earn the Associates Degree at Moorpark College, it is strongly recommended to complete the GEs before starting the program. Taking GEs with ANCT courses will prove to be rigorous. 

If GEs were completed through a bachelor's degree program at an accredited institution, it will then earn the student an Associate of Science Degree from Moorpark College. 

Still have questions about the ANCT program, progress of your application, or the selection process? 
E-mail ANCTapplication@vcccd.edu