Preparation for professional studies in veterinary medicine

Important general information

Students interested in the pre-veterinary medicine career advising track must obtain a bachelor’s degree and complete the necessary prerequisites in order to apply for veterinary school. Those interested in veterinary school should consult with a pre-professional health career adviser to learn about requirements that are specific to the schools of veterinary medicine to which they hope to apply.

Declaration of the pre-veterinary medicine career advising track through VCU Career Services - Pre-Professional Health Career Advising does not constitute or guarantee admission to any veterinary school. Students must apply separately to a veterinary medicine program of their choice at the appropriate time.

If interested in preparing for veterinary school, students must declare an academic major and should declare and maintain their pre-veterinary career advising track. Students do not earn a pre-veterinary medicine degree. Those unsure of their academic majors initially should clarify their academic interests through regular conversations with their academic adviser and pre-professional health career adviser. Pre-veterinary medicine students are encouraged to major in fields of greatest interest to them. To declare a pre-veterinary medicine career advising track, see the Pre-Professional Health Hub.

The Graduate Record Examination is taken prior to application to veterinary school and those scores are weighed heavily in admissions decisions. Students are strongly advised to prepare thoroughly through self-directed study or through a prep course prior to registering to take the GRE.

Students must complete general biology, cell biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry and physics courses as science prerequisites for admission to veterinary school.

Other science courses, including genetics, animal physiology, comparative vertebrate anatomy and microbiology are strongly recommended for pre-veterinary students.

Students should consult with a pre-professional health career adviser and academic adviser for additional guidance.

General prerequisites for Doctor of Veterinary Medicine programs

Course	Title	Hours
BIOL 151 & BIOZ 151	Introduction to Biological Sciences I and Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory I	4
BIOL 152 & BIOZ 152	Introduction to Biological Sciences II and Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory II	4
CHEM 101 & CHEZ 101	General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Laboratory I	4
CHEM 102 & CHEZ 102	General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II	4
CHEM 301 & CHEZ 301	Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I	5
CHEM 302 & CHEZ 302	Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II	5
CHEM 403	Biochemistry I	3
MATH 151	Precalculus Mathematics 1	3-4
or MATH 200	Calculus with Analytic Geometry I
or STAT 210	Basic Practice of Statistics
PHYS 201	General Physics I	4-5
or PHYS 207	University Physics I
PHYS 202	General Physics II	4-5
or PHYS 208	University Physics II
UNIV 111 Play course video for Focused Inquiry I	Focused Inquiry I	3
UNIV 112 Play course video for Focused Inquiry II	Focused Inquiry II	3
UNIV 200	Inquiry and the Craft of Argument	3
Total Hours		49-52

Additional recommended prerequisites for veterinary medicine programs nationwide

Students are encouraged to review admissions requirements for the specific institution(s) that they are considering applying to as well as VCU course descriptions for prerequisite courses. Students should meet with a pre-professional health career adviser and academic adviser after declaring the track to develop their curriculum plan.

Students should also consult with their academic adviser and pre-professional health career adviser to discuss an individual plan of study in parallel with their academic majors.