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.

The USC Upstate pre-veterinary medicine program is an advisement track within the biology degree program. Students already having a degree and aiming for veterinary school should take courses that are required or recommended and that will best prepare them for taking the VCAT. Veterinary school admission is on a competitive basis. Important factors considered by Admission Committees are grade point averages (GPA), VCAT scores and letters of recommendation.

VCAT (Veterinary College Admission Test) exam:
Pre-vet students must start their math and chemistry sequences as soon as possible in order to take the VCAT exam at the appropriate time. Students must have Organic Chemistry and physics completed by the end of the junior year, as the VCAT exam should be taken the spring semester of the junior year or the fall semester of the senior year. Developmental math students may need an additional year of preparation. The minimum core of courses that are needed before the VCAT is taken is:
English 101+102
Mathematics 126+127 (Precalculus; with Mathematics 143 (calculus) recommended)
Biology 101+102
Chemistry 111+112
Chemistry 331+332 (Organic Chemistry)
Physics 201+202 OR Physics 211+212

Veterinary Programs:
As South Carolina has no in-state veterinary program, “South Carolina quotas” are available at the University of Georgia and Tuskegee University. The largest quota for South Carolina residents is at the University of Georgia. In addition to the VCAT, applicants to the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine program must also take the GRE, including the Advanced Biology section.

Pre-vet students should complete their applications no later than October of the year before they expect to enter veterinary school.

In addition to the VCAT minimum core listed above, other courses that are required (or recommended) are: Anatomy (SBIO 232) or Comparative Anatomy (SBIO 315, preferred), Microbiology (SBIO 330), Physiology (SBIO 242, recommended), Genetics (SBIO 350, recommended), Biochemistry (SBIO 541+543L), Animal Nutrition, and Statistics (SMTH 201 or SPSY 225 or SSOC 220).

S.C. residents interested in the University of Georgia Veterinary School need to contact the S.C. Pre-veterinary Advisory Committee, which coordinates S.C. applicants. The address is:

Pre-Veterinary Advisor
Department of Animal Science
College of Agricultural Sciences
Clemson University
Clemson, SC 29631

S.C. applicants interested in Tuskegee University can apply directly to that school. Other universities with veterinary programs (e.g., North Carolina State University) may accept South Carolina residents but do not reserve any places for South Carolina residents.