This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2024-2025 VCU Bulletin. We may add courses that expose our students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning. We may also add content to the general education program that focuses on racial literacy and a racial literacy graduation requirement, and may receive notification of additional program approvals after the launch. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.

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.

Prerequisites for veterinary school

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.

Science and non-science courses required for veterinary school

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 403Biochemistry I3
MATH 151Precalculus Mathematics 13-4
or MATH 200 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I
or STAT 210 Basic Practice of Statistics
PHYS 201General Physics I4-5
or PHYS 207 University Physics I
PHYS 202General Physics II4-5
or PHYS 208 University Physics II
UNIV 111 Play VideoPlay course video for Focused Inquiry IFocused Inquiry I3
UNIV 112 Play VideoPlay course video for Focused Inquiry IIFocused Inquiry II3
UNIV 200Inquiry and the Craft of Argument3
Total Hours49-52
1

At least six credits in mathematics is required for the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.

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.

Course Title Hours
BIOL 300Cellular and Molecular Biology3
BIOL 303Microbiology3
BIOL 310Genetics3
BIOL 402Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy5
BIOL 411Physiology3

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.