Pre-Veterinary Medicine

General Information:

Kevin Sargent, advisor

The suggested Pre-Veterinary Medicine curriculum is based on those courses that fulfill or exceed the 60 core hours required to enter the University of Missouri School of Veterinary Medicine. If alternate choices of Veterinary schools are to be considered, students should individually tailor their program to fit that school’s requirements. In addition to these hours, it is recommended that students should include a major(s) in Chemistry, Biology or Agriculture. Pre-Veterinary students should expect to take courses beyond the minimum needed to graduate. It is recommended that the student take very high course loads, since this is highly considered as a criterion for admission to veterinary school. Students need a minimum of 40 hours (more hours are suggested) observing one or more veterinarians actively engaged in their normal work environments through at least one credit hour of internship. Most applicants have amassed hundreds of observation hours and apply with a GPA well above 3.0. A GPA below 3.0 is not usually considered.  Schools also focus on the combined GPA of the three semesters prior to application/interview and on overall science GPA.  Admission to veterinary school is very competitive, and the student should prepare for another career in case he or she is not admitted to veterinary school.

Recommended:

Biology:

• BIO 114 - General Zoology
• BIO 124 - General Botany
• BIO 304 - Microbiology
• 10 Biology hours required at minimum

Chemistry:

• CHE 114 - General Chemistry I
• CHE 124 - General Chemistry II
• CHE 215 - Organic Chemistry I
• CHE 225 - Organic Chemistry II
• CHE 444 - Biochemistry I
• Organic II is not always a requirement

Internship: (1 credit hour, more are desirable)

Observing one or more veterinarians actively engaged in their normal work environments. It is recommended that students engage in a minimum of 40 hours observing veterinary practice in each of the following areas: Equine, Food Animal, Exotics/Pocket Pets (i.e. Birds, Zoo Animals, Reptiles, Hamsters, Gerbils, Mice, etc.), Small Animal. 

Mathematics:

• MAT 133 - College Algebra
• MAT 153 - Trigonometry

Physics:

• PHY 234 - Physics I: Calculus-based
• PHY 214 - Physics I: Algebra/Trigonometry-based

• Or

• PHY 224 - Physics II: Algebra/Trigonometry-based
• PHY 244 - Physics II: Calculus-based
• Most students take Algebra-based

Choose Six Credits of English/Communication Electives: (or more advanced courses)

• ENG 103 - College Composition
• ENG 253 - American Rhetoric
• ENG 333 - Technical Writing
• SPC 103 - Public Speaking
• SPC 203 - Interpersonal Communication

Choose Ten Credits of Social Sciences Electives:

• Can include courses from history, economics, political science, geography, literature, mythology, psychology, and philosophy

Additional Recommended Courses:

Agriculture:

• AGA 114 - Animal Science
• AGA 224 - Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Livestock
• AGA 283 - Animal Health
• AGA 303 - Principles of Animal Nutrition
• AGA 403 - Advanced Reproductive Techniques
• AGA 423 - Applied Animal Nutrition

Biology:

• BIO 233 - Fundamentals of Cell Biology and Genetics
• BIO 375 - Human Anatomy
• BIO 384 - Cell and Molecular Biology
• BIO 434 - Human Physiology
• BIO 444 - Genetics and Genomics

Chemistry:

• CHE 314 - Physical Chemistry I
• CHE 324 - Physical Chemistry II
• CHE 334 - Quantitative Chemical Analysis
• CHE 344 - Instrumental Chemical Analysis

English:

• ENG 333 - Technical Writing

Mathematics:

• MAT 175 - Calculus I

Note:

A minor in Animal Science is an excellent option for the Pre-Veterinary student allowing an opportunity for the students to be involved with College of the Ozarks farm through the work study program. If the Animal Science minor is not viable, then any or all of the listed courses are recommended.

Students should contact the University of Missouri College’s Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or Admission Advisor for advisement during the fall semester preceding the application to the veterinary medicine program.