BSU Catalog Home | Pre-Professional Program

Pre-Veterinary Medicine

Advisors: Dr. Patrick Guilfoile, Dr. Kerry Openshaw, Dr. Ken Traxler

1. The pre-veterinary medical student should fulfill all requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree at Bemidji State University. The student should declare an academic major. Pre-Veterinary Medicine is not an academic major. Although the major may be in any field of study, experience indicates that a science major will provide the student with an advantage while attending veterinary medical school and in preparing for the Veterinary College Admissions Test. Most veterinary medical schools require the student to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Veterinary College Admissions Test (VCAT). The GRE or VCAT is taken in the spring of the junior year.
2. Admission to veterinary school is very competitive. Accepted students typically have a grade point average of 3.70 and average GRE scores of 1800 or higher. Pre-veterinary students should plan their program so they have other options if they are not admitted to veterinary school.
3. Early entrance into veterinary medical school is possible for some students. Most students, however, enter veterinary medical school after completing a baccalaureate degree. In addition, some veterinary medical schools may require more courses than listed below. It is the responsibility of the pre-veterinary medical student to become aware of these additional requirements and to plan his or her pre-veterinary medical curriculum accordingly.
4. The pre-veterinary medical student should work closely with the pre-veterinary medicine advisor so all course requirements are filled prior to entrance into veterinary medical school. A delay in meeting with your pre-veterinary medicine advisor will likely result in delayed entrance into veterinary medical school.
5. In addition to a strong background in behavioral sciences, English, and humanities, the following courses are specifically required for entrance into most pre-veterinary medical schools:

   BIOL 1210, 1220, 2360
   CHEM 1211, 1212, 2311, 2312, 2371, 2372, 3411
   ENGL 1101, 1102
   PHYS 1101, 1102 (or) 2101, 2102
   MATH (math requirements vary from school to school)

6. In addition, the following courses are recommended, as they are required by some veterinary schools:

   BIOL 3250, 3260, 3710
   CHEM 3412, 3471
   THSP 1100

7. A suggested pre-veterinary medical academic schedule is listed below:

   Freshman

   BIOL 1210, 1220
   CHEM 1211, 1212
   ENGL 1101, 1102
   MATH (Choose course(s) based on requirements of school you plan to attend)
   Electives: Consult your Pre-Veterinary Medicine Advisor

   Sophomore

   BIOL 2360
   CHEM 2311, 2312
   CHEM 2371, 2372
   PHYS 1101, 1102 (or) 2101, 2102
   Other recommended Pre-Veterinary courses
   Electives: Consult your Pre-Veterinary Medicine Advisor

   Junior

   CHEM 3411
   Other recommended Pre-Veterinary courses
   Electives: Consult your Pre-Veterinary Medicine Advisor

   Senior

   Consult your Pre-Veterinary Medicine Advisor