Your Path to Veterinary School
Veterinarians study, diagnose, and treat injury and disease, as well as provide preventive care for their animal patients.
Vets can specialize in a broad range of fields and animal types, including internal medicine, research, public health, domestic animals, wildlife, and livestock. To become a veterinarian, one must complete graduate medical education, a residency, and pass licensing exams.
The courses outlined below will help you meet the undergraduate course requirements for admission to a Veterinary program.
Sample Post-Bacc Pre-Vet Curriculum:
Summer
2 General Chemistry courses intensively over eight weeks
CHEM 31 and CHEM 32, 4 credits each
(Assumes current with pre-calculus – algebra with trigonometry)
Fall Term
1 Principles of Biology, BIOL 001, 4 credits
1 Organic Chemistry, CHEM 141, 4 credits
1 Calculus I (MATH 19, 3 credits, or MATH 21, 4 credits)
Between terms, prepare for GRE here or the second winter
Spring Term
1 Principles of Biology, BIOL 002, 4 credits
1 Organic Chemistry, CHEM 142, 4 credits
1 Calculus II (MATH 20, 3 credits, or MATH 22, 4 credits)
Summer Term
2 Physics with labs over 10 weeks (algebra-based)
PHYS 11 with lab PHYS 21, 5 credits
PHYS 12 with lab PHYS 22, 5 credits
Fall Term
1 Animal Anatomy with lab, ASCI 111, 4 credits
1 Biochemistry, BCOR 201, 3 credits
Elective Science or Animal Sciences (Genetics, BCOR 101 or Animal Genetics, ASCI 168, 3 credits) or English, Humanities, Social Sciences, as needed
Spring Term
1 Animal Nutrition, ASCI 043, 3 credits
1 General Physiology, ASCI 120, 3 credits
Any remaining Science, Animal Science, English, Humanities, or Social Science courses
Featured Summer Course for Pre-Vet Students
CREAM: Integrated Large-Animal and Agricultural Operation Management: On-Farm Dairy Intensive
This program is offered each summer through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at the University of Vermont. During the summer 8 to 15 students manage a herd of 60 registered Holstein and Jersey cattle. This on-farm experience also includes special projects and field trips and offers students an uncommon experiential learning experience that will help distinguish them as future agriculture leaders. Visit the Cooperative for Real Education in Agricultural Management’s webpage for more information.
A Note from Your Advisor
Veterinary schools usually require more foundation courses than do medical schools. They also vary significantly, so interested students should research veterinary schools of interest to determine a list of courses needed. Animal care experience with a variety of animals is important. There is a shortage of large animal veterinarians across the US.