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Premedical-Professions Advising Home > Veterinary Medicine - Curriculum
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Veterinary Medicine - Curriculum
Choose any major - but do well!

While many veterinary schools do not require a prescribed pre-professional academic program of study some specifically designate that students should have an advanced biology degree. Typically students interested in pre-veterinary study complete the BS program in biology or chemistry/biology. It is critical that your performance in each class is of exceptional quality. The typically successful applicant to veterinary school maintains a GPA of ~3.5 or higher.

It is critical when planning your curriculum for pre-veterinary study that you explore the requirements for the schools to which you planning to apply. Each school's prerequisite course requirements differ slightly. Remember also, you will need to take the GRE exam in your third year.
RECOMMENDED PREMEDICINE COURSE SEQUENCE
IN ADDITION TO THOSE REQUIRED FOR YOUR MAJOR
Year I
Chemistry CH 110-111 College Chemistry 8 credits
Mathematics M 144-145 Calculus* 8 credits
Biology BIO 122-123 Biological Science or BIO 212-213 8 credits
Premed Studies PPS 100*** 1 credit

Year II
Chemistry CH 230-231 Organic Chemistry 8 credits
Physics PHY 120-121 Introductory Physics or PHY 112-(113 or 114) College Physics** 8 credits
Premed Studies PPS 200*** 1 credit

Year II
Premed Studies PPS 300*** 1 credit

*Calculus is not required by all medical-professions programs.
**Chemistry majors take Phy 112 and Phy 114. Students majoring in non-science disciplines can enroll in physics in their junior year.
***While PPS courses are not required, these courses are extremely valuable in assisting in the application process!

Advice from the Premedical Professions Advisory Committee
Consider Alternative Careers!
Since there are far more applicants to veternary schools than there are positions in the first year classes, one must be realistic. Many qualified, aspiring pre-veterinary students do not gain admission to veterinary school, therefore, all pre-veterinary students should consider alternative career goals from the beginning.

Keep in contact with your advisors!
Whatever your choice of major:
  • Be sure your departmental advisor knows of your plans.
  • Consult with a member of the Premedical Professions Advisory Committee.
  • Plan your curriculum to include the additional science courses shown in the Calendar in this section of the website.
Consider extracurricular activities!
Demonstrate, by example, that you are a humanistic person concerned for others:
  • Volunteer in a hospital or clinic.
  • Be involved in some medically-related foundation e.g., Diabetes Foundation.
  • Lead a fund-raising campaign for a foundation, or a medically-related cause.
Consider summer internships!
A summer internship can strengthen your application to medically-related graduate programs and add much to your education:
  • The Career Center has a listing of internship experiences available to students.
  • You can develop an internship during the summer near your home or at a locale that you would like to visit.
Read! Read! Read!
Reading speed and comprehension may be one of the most critical factors in your effort to achieve your career goals. The vocabulary on the admission tests is at the college level, while most text books are at the highschool level. Therefore, consider reading regularly a journal such as Science, Nature, Atlantic Monthly, or the Smithsonian.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
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