Veterinary Degrees Online

Biological Science and Chemistry are the traditional majors for pre-Vet-Med students. However, as with pre-med, any major is an option for a student desiring to become a veterinarian. The coursework requirements are identical to those for Pre-Medicine (see above under Medicine). Some schools have specific requirements for statistics (PSYC 63) and developmental biology/embryology (BIOL 105). Experience working with animals is a universal prerequisite for admissions to veterinary programs, and graduates also must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). It is best to obtain a catalog from the prospective schools and complete the courses required for the school of choice. Close contact with and advising from the advisor for Pre-Health Science in the Biological Science Department is strongly recommended for the entire undergraduate program.

Arcadia University offers several routes for completion of the requirements for admission to schools of veterinary medicine. Majors in Biology or Chemistry are most commonly taken by students interested in veterinary medicine, but schools will accept students with excellent records in other majors, provided they have adequate preparation in the basic sciences and mathematics. The pre-professional adviser assists students with the application process and choice of schools.
Minimum Recommended Courses

All schools of veterinary medicine recommend the following courses:
BI 101, 102 General Biology I, II
BI 211 Comparative Anatomy and Physiology
CH 101, 102 Modern Chemical Concepts I, II
CH 201 Organic Chemistry I
PH 201, 202 Fundamental Concepts of Physics I, II or PH 211, 212 Conceptual Physics I, II
MA 201 Calculus I

Some schools require additional Mathematics or Chemistry as well as Biochemistry and/or Microbiology. These requirements may be met with the following courses:
CH 202 Organic Chemistry II
CH 303 Biochemistry
MA 141 Elementary Statistics
MA 202 Calculus II
BI 323 Microbiology
BI 325 Cell Biology

Students are advised to check with the schools at which they intend to apply to determine which of the Mathematics, Chemistry, Biochemistry or Microbiology courses are pre-requisites for admission.

Satisfactory performance on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required for admission. The GRE may be taken in the spring or summer of the junior year or the fall of the senior year for students who plan to enter veterinary school immediately following graduation.

In addition to prerequisite coursework, students are expected to have gained practical experience with veterinary medicine by either working or volunteering in facilities where veterinary medicine is practiced, such as veterinary clinics, zoos or animal husbandry facilities. Some schools may have specific hour requirements for these experiences.
A strong background in liberal arts and study abroad experiences are considered favorably.
Other courses recommended as electives include the following:

BI 327 Histology
BI 332 Animal Behavior
BI 335 Neurobiology
BI 337 Immunobiology

Veterinarians play a major role in the health care of pets, livestock, zoo, sporting, and laboratory animals. Some veterinarians use their skills to protect humans against diseases carried by animals and conduct clinical research on human and animal health problems. Others work in basic research, broadening the scope of fundamental theoretical knowledge, and in applied research, developing new ways to use knowledge.

Prospective veterinarians must graduate with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) degree from a four-year program at an accredited college of veterinary medicine and must obtain a license to practice. There are 28 colleges in 26 states that meet accreditation standards set by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Council on Education. The prerequisites for admission vary. Many of these colleges do not require a bachelor’s degree for entrance, but all require a significant number of credit hours—from 45 to 90 s.h.—at the undergraduate level. However, most of the students admitted have completed an undergraduate program. Applicants without a bachelor’s degree find it difficult to gain admittance.

In addition to satisfying pre-veterinary course requirements, applicants must submit test scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Veterinary College Admission Test (VCAT), or the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), depending on the preference of the college to which they are applying. Currently, 22 schools require the GRE, 4 require the VCAT, and 2 accept the MCAT.

All veterinary schools require a minimum of two years of pre-veterinary college study for entrance. One-third of the successful applicants have acquired academic degrees prior to entering veterinary school. Science courses required by most veterinary schools:
BIOL 159/160, 161, 370/371, 430
CHEM 120, 121, 240, 340
MATH 180, 220
PHYS 250, 251

The Veterinary Aptitude Test (VAT) and/or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) may be required prior to acceptance by some veterinary schools.

Generally required: BI 151-BI 152, BI 211; BI 311-BI 312; CA 112;
CH 113-CH 114,
CH 211-CH 212, CH 325; EN 112; PHY 101-PHY 102.
Recommended: BI 305, BI 401, BI 405; HE 240.
Students must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).