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Is this career right for you?

• Do you love working with animals, even those who are in distress from illness or injury?
• Do you also love working with people (their owners/your clients)?
• Would you enjoy applying learning and applying science concepts, such as anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry, to understand disease processes and medical treatments for animals?

Prerequisite courses

Veterinary medicalÌýschools seek applicants who demonstrate intellectual curiosity, a strong sense of service and leadership, have extensive and varied experience with animals, and who have done well in their coursework. They welcome all majors, so the best major to choose is the one you will find most interesting and challenging.

±·´Ç³Ù±ð:ÌýYou may apply to vet school without completing a bachelor’s degree, if you will have completed the vet school’s prerequisites, along with enough elective coursework to have completed a total of 60 credit hours at the undergraduate level. However, it is very rare for students to be accepted into vet school without having completed a bachelor’s degree prior to matriculation.

Veterinary medical school programs expect strong science preparation in addition to social and behavioral sciences. The courses listed below are typical prerequisites for many veterinary programs. However, there is great variability in veterinary medical school requirements and this is not a definitive list. Please utilize resources from theÌýÌýand the . Additionally, many of the lower division science courses listed below are prerequisites to upper division science courses. You are responsible for verifying the requirements and prerequisites for each of the schools that interest you. Health Professions Advisors are happy to assist you.

OPHA's Pre-Health Advisors can help answer complex quesitons regarding pre-requisites; however, OPHA generally recommends retaking AP/IB credits that are part of the course requirements for health professional schools. Because many schools do not accept AP/IB credits for prerequisite requirements, this helps students keep their options open when it comes time to apply as each school can differ in their exceptions.

Additionally, most vet school programs require grades of at least C or higher for all prerequisites. If you do not receive satisfactory grades in required courses, we highly recommend you retake to ensure mastery of content and competitiveness of the application.

Biology

Generally two courses with associated labs of general biology and genetics are required.
At ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder, there are multiple options to fulfill this requirement. Additional biology courses may be required depending on the veterinary school. The following show two options for completing the biology requirement.

Option 1 (Preferred):

• General Biology 1 and Lab (EBIO 1210 and EBIO 1230), 4 credits
• General Biology 2 and Lab (EBIO 1220 and EBIO 1240), 4 credits
• Genetics (EBIO 2070), 4 credits

Option 2:

• Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology (MCDB 1150), 3 credits
• Principles of Genetics (MCDB 2150), 3 credits
• 2 credits of first-year biology labs - choose one:
  • From Dirt to DNA: Phage Genomics Lab (MCDB 1161), 2 credits
  • Drug Discovery Through Hands-on Screens (MCDB 1171), 2 credits
  • Biological Probiotic/Drug Discovery Through Hands-on Screens (MCDB 1181/IPHY 1181), 2 credits
  • Drug Discovery Through Hands-on Screens 2 (MCDB 2171), 2 credits
• Note: Some schools require a year of Biology plus Genetics. If you are inerested in a school that requires that sequence, we recommend option one (above) or takingÌýEBIO 1220 and EBIO 1240 in addition to the above MCDB courses.

Addtionally, the following courses are required:

• Human AnatomyÌý(IPHY 3410), 3 credits (some programs may require the lab)
• Human PhysiologyÌý(IPHY 3430), 4 creditsÌý(some programs may require the lab)
• Cell Biology (MCDB 3145), 3 credits
• Microbiology (EBIO 3400), 3 credits andÌýthe Microbiology Lab (EBIO 3410), 1 credit
• Immunology (IPHY 4600), 3Ìýcredits or (MCDB 4300), 3 credits

The strongest applicants to veterinary medical programs have typically completed additional 9 credits of upper-level biology and biomedical courses.Ìý

Chemistry

Generally two courses with associated labs in general (inorganic) chemistry with additional chemistry courses in organic chemistry and biochemistry are required.ÌýSome schools require additional chemistry courses.Introductory Chemistry (CHEM 1021), 4 credits (Recommended, but optional to provide foundational knowledge)

• Introductory Chemistry (CHEM 1021), 4 credits (Recommended, but optional to provide foundational knowledge)
• General Chemistry 1 and Lab (CHEM 1113 and CHEM 1114), 5 credits
• General Chemistry 2 and Lab (CHEM 1133 and CHEM 1134), 5 credits
• Organic Chemistry 1 and Lab (CHEM 3311 and CHEM 3321), 5 credits
• Organic Chemistry 2 and Lab (CHEM 3331 and 3341), 5 credits
  • You may not need to take Organic Chemistry 2
• Biochemistry (BCHM 4611), 3 credits
  • Required by nearly all veterinary schools

If you are CHEM or BCHM major, be sure to talk to your Pre-Health Advisor, who can help you find the appropriate chemistry courses.

Physics

Generally twoÌýcourses in physics with associated labs are required. At ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder, you have the option of taking an algebra-based sequence or a calculus-based sequence. The algebra-based sequence is usually most recommended, unless your major requires the calculus-based sequence.

Option 1 (Algebra-based)

• General Physics 1 (PHYS 2010), 5 credits, lab included
• General Physics 2 (PHYS 2020), 5 credits, lab included

Option 2 (Calculus-based)

• General Physics 1 (PHYS 1110), 4 credits
• General Physics 2 (PHYS 1120), 4 credits
• Experimental Physics 1 (PHYS 1140), 1 credit

Math and Statistics

One semester of statistics is typically required. Choose one of the following:

• Psychological Science 1: Statistics (PSYC 2111), 4 credits
• Introduction to Statistics (IPHY 2800), 4 credits -ÌýÌýno longer offered
• Introduction to Data Science & Biostatistics (IPHY 3280), 4 credits
• Introduction to Statistics (MATH 2510), 3 credits
• Biological Statistics (EBIO 4410), 4 credits

Some schools specifically require one or more of the following:

• College Algebra (MATH 1011), 3 credits
• Precalculus Mathematics (MATH 1150), 4 creditsÌý
• Calculus 1 (MATH 1300), 5 credits

Writing/English Composition

Most schools require one to two semesters of writing or English Literature/Composition courses. This requirement can be fulfilled via any WRTG course, or a course on scientific writing offered through EBIO or IPHY.

Public Speaking

Generally, a verbal communications or speechÌýclass is required.

• Public Speaking (COMM 1300), 3 credits

Animal Nutrition or Animal Science

• This course is not available at ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder currently,Ìýbut online options are available through Colorado State University, Kansas State University, Oklahoma State University, and University of Kentucky

Additional Classes to Consider

Some veterinary medical schools require a minimum of 12 credit hours in the social sciences and humanities.

Courses in additional disciplines that are of interest to you will provide you with a broad and relevant foundation for veterinary medical school. Consider enhancing your studies in ethics, philosophy, global and public health, cross-cultural studies.

Other Desired Traits and Experiences

Veterinary medical schools especially seek applicants who have a strong history of animal experience and a significant amount of hours engaged in formal non-clinical animal handling experience. It is important for candidates to be comfortable around all types of animals, including large animals, such as horses and cattle.ÌýAdditional types of animal experience, such as working with lab animals, food animals, wildlife, or zoo animals, are also valued by many programs, as well as volunteering experiences, such as at animal shelters. Finding the right experiences for you and your application is a complex process and OPHA's Pre-health Advisors are here to help you find out what experiences, like shadowing and direct patient interaction, are right for you. They can also help you build a comprehensive application, showcasing your unique skills that set you apart.

Updated Jan 2024