Veterinary Degrees Online

Since there are many applicants for a limited number of openings at the professional schools in the health and allied health fields, students are urged to get a strong foundation in the basic sciences in their first two years and work toward a high G.P.A.

A broad background in humanities and social sciences will help students in communicating and relating with people. Students wanting to enter schools of medicine, veterinary science and dentistry need to complete a baccalaureate degree, with a major in biology, chemistry or other appropriate discipline. Students should make choices that meet the requirements of the 2+2 Benedictine University program or the program of study they plan to pursue at the senior college level.

Prerequisites
High school studies should include:
3 years of math, including second year algebra, geometry and trigonometry;
3 years of science, including one each in biology, chemistry and physics;
Other science courses (highly recommended);and
2 years of foreign language (highly recommended)

Stetson University provides the required curricula for students planning careers in veterinary medicine, dentistry, general medicine and allied health fields. Students may work on any major as long as they include in their curriculum the required science core courses.

Stetson’s pre-health program is administered by the University’s Health Professions Advisory Committee, composed of faculty representatives from Biology, Chemistry, Integrative Health Sciences, and the Social Sciences. This committee oversees the student’s curriculum, advising and preparation for the professional school’s admissions process.

Course Information
The required science core courses may vary slightly from one professional school to another, but the prescribed courses include: Calculus, English, general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, general physics, among others. Core courses should be completed by the end of the junior year.

In addition to core courses and those required for the student’s major, academic work should be distributed to include humanities, social science and advanced science courses for a broad academic background.

Since there are many applicants for a limited number of openings at the professional schools in the health and allied health fields, students are urged to get a strong foundation in the basic sciences in their first two years and work toward a high G.P.A.

A broad background in humanities and social sciences will help students in communicating and relating with people. Students wanting to enter schools of medicine, veterinary science and dentistry need to complete a baccalaureate degree, with a major in biology, chemistry or other appropriate discipline. Students should make choices that meet the requirements of the 2+2 Benedictine University program or the program of study they plan to pursue at the senior college level.

Prerequisites
High school studies should include:
3 years of math, including second year algebra, geometry and trigonometry;
3 years of science, including one each in biology, chemistry and physics;
Other science courses (highly recommended);and
2 years of foreign language (highly recommended)

Requirements
All students must General Education core degree requirements (link to page 2 of general education core requirements), and they must complete the following courses specific to the concentration. Courses required for the concentration may also satisfy General Education requirements.
BIO 106 – Cellular Biology;
BIO 107 – Biological Organisms and Ecology;
CHE 111, CHE 112 – General Chemistry I and II;
CHE 223, CHE 224 – Organic Chemistry I and II;
MAT 114 – College Algebra, if needed;
MAT 115 – Trigonometry, if needed;
MAT 122, MAT 125 or MAT 223, – Calculus or Statistics; and
PHY 211, PHY 212 – General Physics I and II

Recommended Additional Courses
Other science courses to consider are BIO 108, BIO 109 – Anatomy and Physiology I and II and BIO 215 – Microbiology.

PRE-VETERINARY CONCENTRATION
Two Year Plan Course Plan

First Year
First Semester
ENG 111 – Comp. & Rhetoric [3]
BIO106 – Cellular Biology [4]
CHE 111 – Gen. Chemistry I [4]
Humanities Elective [3]
MAT 114 – College Algebra [3] OR MAT 223 – Calculus I [5]
Total Hours 17-19

Second Semester
ENG 112 – Comp. & Research [3]
BIO 107 – Biological Organisms & Ecology [4]
CHE 112 – Gen. Chemistry II [4 ]
Social Behavior Elective [3]
MAT 115 – Trigonometry [3] OR MAT 224 – Calculus II [4]
Total Hours 17-18

Second Year
First Semester
CHE 223- Organic Chemistry I [4]
Social Behavior Elective [3]
PHY 211 – General Physics I [4]
Fine Arts elective [3]
Elective [3]
Total Hours 17

Second Semester
CHE 224- Organic Chemistry II [4]
SPH 110 – Fund. of Speech [3]
PHY 212 – General Physics II [4]
Humanities or Fine Arts elective [3]
Social Behavior Elective [3]
Total Hours 17

Recommended Social/Behavioral Science courses
PSC 210: American Government, PSC 210: General Psychology, PSY 215: Growth & Development, SOC 210: Introductory Sociology

Recommended Humanities/Fine Arts
PHI 213: General Ethics, PHI 201: Introduction to Philosophy, REL 230: Contemporary Moral Problems, HUM 183 & 184: Exploration of Human Values I & II.

The Pre-Health Advising Program has four components: 1) a strong curriculum in the sciences, which includes undergraduate research; 2) courses in the social sciences and humanities that address ethical, economic, and social issues in the health care field; 3) practical programs that focus on themes such as how to plan for a career in medicine and how to apply to medical and dental school; and 4) lectures by physicians and leaders in the health care professions. Through this range of activities, the Pre-Health Advising Program aids students in both their intellectual and career development.

Pre-Health Advising involves faculty from across the natural sciences, social ¬sciences, and the humanities. This approach to pre-health advising is in keeping with the nature of the problems facing medicine and health care professions today. In order for the health care professions to deal effectively with the scientific, technological, economic, social, and ethical problems that they currently face, those entering the professions must be trained broadly in the liberal arts. The American Association of Medical Colleges encourages undergraduates to take a balanced distribution of courses from the natural sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities. Wooster’s curriculum provides a strong foundation for students interested in a career in medicine, dentistry, nursing, veterinary medicine, and other allied health fields. In addition to the strong programs the College offers in biology, biochemistry, and chemistry, many courses in the social sciences and humanities also address current issues in medicine and other health care fields. Research and clinical experiences are strongly encouraged for ¬students pursuing a career in the medical professions, and Wooster students are provided with an excellent opportunity to do undergraduate research through the College’s Independent Study program. The Pre-Health Advising Program assists ¬students in several important ways. Students are given practical advice, assisted in choosing the most appropriate courses, informed about the range of health career options, educated about the importance and methods of preparing for graduate admissions exams (e.g., MCAT, DCAT, VCAT, and GRE), and guided in the application process. Moreover, students are also provided with the chance to engage intellectually with health care issues through hands-on experiences, such as Medic Aid in which Wooster students volunteer at a local hospital, and through lectures presented by doctors and scholars in the health care field.

The College of Wooster also participates in various dual degree programs in the health care field. In medicine and dentistry, the dual degree option applies to any properly accredited medical or dental school that admits students with three years of pre-medical preparation. The College has established with Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry a combined seven-year or 3-4 program for Wooster ¬students. With approval of the in absentia privilege, the Bachelor of Arts degree is granted upon the successful completion of the first year of the professional course. The College has also established a cooperative 3-4 program with the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing (Case Western Reserve University), which requires the completion of three years at Wooster and four years at Case Western Reserve. While at Wooster, a student must meet the requirements for the dual degree program and complete two courses each in biology, chemistry, psychology, and sociology, and one course each in statistics, literature, and logic. Upon the successful completion of the first year in the nursing program at Case Western Reserve, the student will earn a B.A. from Wooster, and upon the completion of the nursing curriculum an N.D. and R.N. from Case Western Reserve. The R.N. is awarded upon passing the state certification examination. Details of these programs and specific course requirements are available from the chairperson of the Pre-Health Advising Program.