Veterinary Medical School Academic Preparation

Veterinary Medical School Academic Preparation

These courses meet the requirements for most veterinary medicine schools. Veterinary schools generally do not accept AP credit or on-line courses for these required courses. Be sure to check each veterinary medicine school’s requirements.

No veterinary medicine school requires a science major, nor are science majors given extra consideration in the admission process. Becoming a competitive veterinary school applicant also requires more than a solid GPA. Be sure you are meeting regularly with your HPAO advisor.

One year General Chemistry with Labs

CHEM 200                 General Chemistry (5)

Prerequisites: Knowledge of introductory chemistry as demonstrated by completion of CHEM 100 with a grade of C or better, or satisfaction of the Entry-Level Mathematics requirement and qualification on the Chemistry Department Placement Examination

CHEM 201                 General Chemistry (5)

Prerequisite: CHEM 200 or 202 with grade of C or better

One year of General Biology with Labs

Biol 203/203L Principles of Cell & Molecular Biology (4)

Prerequisite: CHEM 200 or 202 and satisfaction of the English placement test requirement

Biol 204/204L Principles of Organismal Biology (4)

Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the English placement test requirement. Recommended completion of BIOL 203/203L

One semester of Organic Chemistry with Lab

(Two semesters recommended to meet requirements for all schools)

CHEM 232/232L         Organic Chemistry (4)

Prerequisite: CHEM 201 with grade of C or better and credit or concurrent enrollment in CHEM 232L

CHEM 432/432L         Organic Chemistry (4)

Prerequisite: CHEM 232 with a grade of C or better and credit or concurrent enrollment in CHEM 432L

One semester of Biochemistry

CHEM 365                 Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology (3)

Prerequisites: BIOL 203, 203L and CHEM 232, 232L

One year of Physics with Labs

Phys 180A/182A        Fundamentals of Physics I/Lab (4)

Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the Entry-level Mathematics requirement. Recommended concurrent registration in PHYS 182A

Phys 180B/182B        Fundamentals of Physics II/Lab (4)

Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the Entry-level Mathematics requirement, PHYS 180A. Recommended concurrent registration in PHYS 182B

One year of Mathematics and Statistics (one semester of each)

Math 124                   Calculus for Life Sciences (4)

Prerequisites: Knowledge of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry as demonstrated by either (1) satisfactory completions of MATH 141 with a grade of C (2.0) or above; or (2) satisfaction of the Entry-Level Mathematics requirement and qualification on the Mathematics Departmental Precalculus Proficiency Examination. Proof of completion of prerequisites required.

                          OR

Math 150                   Calculus I (4)

Prerequisites: Knowledge of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry as demonstrated by either (1) satisfactory completions of MATH 141 with a grade of C (2.0) or above; or (2) satisfaction of the Entry-Level Mathematics requirement and qualification on the Mathematics Departmental Precalculus Proficiency Examination. Proof of completion of prerequisites required.

                          AND

STAT 250                  Statistical Principles and Practices* (3)

Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the Entry-level Mathematics requirement

                     OR

BIOL 215                   Biostatistics* (3)

Prerequisites: Credit or concurrent registration in BIOL 203, 203L, or 204, 204L and MATH 122, 124, 141, 150

*Other statistics courses may also meet this requirement for some veterinary medical schools.  Check with HPAO.

At least one semester of English

One semester of English (may depend on school)
RWS 100 College Composition* (3)
Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the SDSU writing competency requirement
RWS 200 Intermediate Composition* (3)
Prerequisites: Satisfaction of the SDSU writing competency requirement and RWS 100 or equivalent
*Other composition courses may meet this requirement for some veterinary medical schools. Check with HPAO.
If you have AP credit for RWS 100…
RWS 305W Writing in Various Settings (3)

Humanities/Social Sciences (6-12 units generally required)

COMM 103                Oral Communication (3)

Highly Recommended (required by some schools)

Biol 350 General Microbiology (4)
Prerequisite: Organismal Biology Course
OR
Biol 211/211L Fundamentals of Microbiology (4)
Prerequisites: Biology 100 or 203 and 203L; or a grade of B or better in high school biology. Credit or concurrent registration in
Chemistry 100 or 102 or 130.
Biol 351 Genetics (3)
Prerequisites: Completion of Bio 203 and 203L, Bio 204 and 204L, and Bio 215
Animal Nutrition (required by some veterinary medical schools)
Offered online at: Oklahoma State, North Carolina State, Purdue University, and Rutgers University

Courses of Interest to Pre-Vet Students

PSY 101                    Introductory Psychology (3)

BIOL250A                Pre Professional Topics: Topics in Medicine (1)

BIOL250C                Pre Professional Topics: Topics in Veterinary Medicine (1, F)

Biol 523                     Herpetology (3, S)

Prerequisite: Bio 203, 203L, 204, 204L. Recommended Biology 352.

Biol 524                     Ornithology (4, S)

Prerequisite: Bio 203, 203L, 204, 204L. Recommended: Completion of 3-6 upper division units in the major.

Biol 525                     Mammalogy (3)

Prerequisite: Bio 203, 203L, 204, 204L. Recommended: Completion of 3-6 upper division units in the major.

Biol 526                     Terrestrial Arthropod Biology (3, S)

Prerequisite: Bio 203, 203L, 204, 204L. Recommended: Biology 352 and completion of 3-6 upper division units in the major.

Biol 527                     Animal Behavior (3)

Prerequisite: Bio 203, 203L, 204, 204L, 215. Recommended: Biology 352 and completion of 3-6 upper division units in the major.

Biol 590                     Human Physiology (4, F)

Prerequisite: Biology 366, Chemistry 365, Physics 180B, 182B.

Biol 560                     Animal Physiology (offered during summer sessions only) (3)

Prerequisite: Biology 203, 203L, 204, 204L; Chemistry 365; Physics 180B, 182A, and 182B.

In addition to caring for pets and sports animals, veterinarians have traditionally maintained healthy and productive commercial food animals and livestock, secured the public health of humans and commercial animals, and treated illness and disease in livestock. Today, however, the breadth of veterinary medicine encompasses much more. While the majority of veterinarians (75%) are still in private small, large or mixed animal clinical practice, county, state, and federal governments, universities, private industry, zoos, the U.S. military, wildlife organizations, racetracks, and circuses are also some of the diverse settings that employ veterinarians.

There are currently 30 accredited veterinary schools in the United States that grant the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M. or V.M.D.) degrees. Education generally includes a bachelor’s degree and 4 years of veterinary school.

For more information, see: