Pre-Veterinary Science

"Pre-Veterinary" means you are following a course of study which will prepare you to apply to a veterinary school (or other post-graduate health profession). As a pre-veterinary student, you will take classes and gain experience that post-graduate schools look for in qualified applicants. Pre-Veterinary Scienceis nota degree program. It is a curriculum designed to prepare you to apply to a health professional school.

First Year Advisor

CSET Advising Center

Office: 125 Trafton Center
Phone: 507-389-1521
Email: csetadvising@mnsu.edu

Advisor: Penny Knoblich, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Office: 240 Trafton South
Phone: 507-389-2786
Email: penny.knoblich@mnsu.edu

Specific course requirements for admission to veterinary schools vary somewhat. The following requirements are designed for application to the University of Minnesota Veterinary School. Students should use these requirements as a general guide and check specific requirements for other veterinary schools.

Required for Advising Track (Core, 49-53 credits):

ENG 101 - English Composition (4)
Plus one additional course such as speech, literature, advanced writing,
technical communication, etc.

• BIOL 105 - General Biology I (4)
• BIOL 106 - General Biology II (4)
• BIOL 211 - Genetics (4)
• BIOL 270 - Microbiology (4)
• CHEM 201 - General Chemistry I (5)
• CHEM 202 - General Chemistry II (5)
• CHEM 322 - Organic Chemistry I (5)
• CHEM 323 - Supplemental Organic Functional Group Chemistry (1)
• CHEM 360 - Principles of Biochemistry (4)
• PHYS 211 - Principles of Physics I (4)
• PHYS 212 - Principles of Physics II (4)

Choose one of the following options:

• MATH 112 - College Algebra (4) and
  MATH 113 - Trigonometry (3) or
  MATH 115 - Precalculus Mathematics (4) or
  MATH 121 - Calculus I (4)

*Although the University of Minnesota specifically requires only MATH 112, Minnesota State Mankato PHYS 111 requires either both MATH 112 and MATH 113 or MATH 115 or higher as prerequisites.

 

Required Electives (12-16 credits):

• Two History and Social Sciences (6-8 credits)
• Two Arts and Humanities (6-8 credits)
• Organic chemistry:
  • CHEM 322
  • plus CHEM 323

Recommended Electives:

• BIOL 220 - Human Anatomy (4) and
  BIOL 330 - Principles of Human Physiology (4) or
  BIOL 431 - Comparative Animal Physiology (3)

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) must be taken.

 

Students are strongly encouraged to declare a major and work toward a Bachelor's degree while completing the pre-veterinary coursework. Because of the extensive overlap of required courses with major's courses, students commonly major in one of the biology or chemistry options.