A high school diploma with the following
specific courses:
4 English
2 Algebra I & II
1 Geometry
2 Lab Science (including chemistry or physics)
2 History/Social Studies
Academic electives (to equal at least 17 total credits)
To ensure current mathematical skills, students should take a mathematics course during their senior year of high school.
Major Requirements
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)
We work closely with the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul. They have advised us that students should complete an undergraduate major before starting veterinary school. Most of our pre-vet students are biology majors.
The University of Minnesota accepts only a limited number of veterinary students, with residents of Minnesota as the largest group. They also accept a few students from Wisconsin, Nebraska and North Dakota. If you are a legal resident of some other state, I suggest that you contact whatever college of veterinary medicine you plan to attend. Your pre-veterinary curriculum at MSUM can then be tailored to fit requirements of the veterinary school of your choice.
Our pre-vet curriculum (biology major) is based on a strong background in chemistry and physics and also meets certain minimum requirements in math. The first semester freshman typically takes English (Eng. 101), math (depending on previous preparation), Cell Biology (Biol. 111), and General Chemistry (Chem. 150 & 155). The pre-vet curriculum is essentially the same as that followed by other pre-professional students and would prepare one for a wide variety of alternatives.
The educational goals of the Department of Pre-Veterinary Medicine are to provide students with knowledge of the basic principles of the pure sciences, including mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology, as well as the humanities and social sciences. In addition, students are strongly encouraged to participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, such as festivals, athletic activities, and club activities. Upon successful completion of the two-year program, students then advance to the School of Veterinary Medicine to major in veterinary medicine.
Required courses vary from one school to another, and students are encouraged to research various programs early in
their undergraduate program. The veterinary school at the University of Minnesota requires the following coursework:
two semesters of biology
two semesters of general chemistry
one semester of organic chemistry
one semester of biochemistry
one semester of mathematics
two semesters of physics
one semester of genetics
one semester of microbiology
two semesters of English
Four courses from history and social sciences, arts and humanities are also required. No more than two of these courses
should be from one single department.
Biology 160, 210; Chemistry minor with Chemistry 365 as the elective; Physics 203 and 204; Mathematics 111 or 120 or 355; freshman English; 6 credits of social science and humanities; additional helpful courses include Biology 281 or 285, 333, 362, and 388. If you are considering veterinary research, take at least some of Biology 310, 314, 317, 382, 433, and 498 (both immunology and recombinant DNA laboratory).
Biology BIOL 120/121 3/1 Hours
Biology BIOL 122/123 3/1 Hours
Biochemistry ANSC 345 or BIOL/CHEM 446 3 Hours
Elective 300-400 level Animal Science, Biology, or Chemistry classes 3 Hours
Elective 300-400 level Animal Science, Biology, or Chemistry classes 3 Hours
Fundamentals of Chemistry CHEM 120/121 3/2 Hours
Fundamentals of Chemistry CHEM 222/223 3/2 Hours
Organic Chemistry CHEM 340/341 3/2 Hours
Organic Chemistry CHEM 342/343 3/2 Hours
Physics PHYS 231/232 3/1 Hours
Physics PHYS 332/233 3/1 Hours
Pre-Vet Required Core Courses
English Composition ENG 100 3 Hours
English Composition ENG 300 3 Hours
Literature ENG 200 3 Hours
Fine Arts ART 100 or MUSIC 120 or THEA 151` 3 Hours
Humanities/Fine Arts SCOM 161 3 Hours
Humanities/Fine Arts AH 290 or foreign lanaguage 3 Hours
History HIST 119 3 Hours
Social/Behavioral Science HIST 120 3 Hours
Social/Behavioral Science AGRI 108 3 Hours
Social/Behavioral Science PSY 100 or GOVT 110 or ECON 150 3 Hours
Mathematics* MATH 116 (3 Hours) and MATH 117 (3 Hours) or MATH 118 (5) or MATH 119 (4 Hours) or MATH 126 (4.5 Hours)
High school graduation with an average of at least 60% in five Grade 12 university preparatory subjects, including:
- English
- Pre-Calculus Math (or 70% in Academic Math)*
- any two of the following science requirements: Chemistry*, Biology, Physics*, Geology, Oceans, or Agriculture
- one other elective
Note: Nova Scotia students who have successfully completed five Grade 12 university preparatory credits, including English and Math, are able to use NS Oceans 11 and/or NS Agriculture 11 to meet the above-noted science requirements