BSU Catalog Home | Pre-Professional Program

Pre-Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Kerry Openshaw (Advisor)

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 Biology 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.

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.

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. Delay in meeting with the pre-veterinary medicine advisor will likely result in delayed entrance into veterinary medical school.

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 1211, 1212, 2360, 3250, 3260, 3710
CHEM 1211, 1212, 1240, 2311, 2312, 2371, 2372, 3411, 3412
ENGL 1001, 1002
MATH 1470, 2171, 2172 (or) 2471, 2472
PHYS 1101, 1102 (or) 2101, 2102

The following courses are strongly recommended to be included in the student's pre-veterinary curriculum:

ACCT 1100
BIOL 3580, 3755, 3920, 4210, 4220, 4590
CS 1107
PSY 1100
SOC 1104, 1105
THSP 1100

A suggested pre-veterinary medical academic schedule is listed below; numbers in parentheses are semester credits:

Freshman

BIOL 1211, 1212; F, S; (4,4)
CHEM 1211, 1212; F, S; (3,3)
CHEM 1240; S; (2)
ENGL 1001, 1002; F, S; (4,4)
MATH 1470, 2471; F, S; (5,5)
Electives: Consult your Pre-Veterinary Medicine Advisor

Sophomore

BIOL 2360, 3710; F, S; (4,4)
BIOL 3920; F or S; (1)
CHEM 2311, 2312; F, S; (3,3)
CHEM 2371, 2372; F, S; (1,1)
MATH 2472; F; (5)
PHYS 2101, 2102; F, S; (5,5)
Electives: Consult your Pre-Veterinary Medicine Advisor

Junior

BIOL 3250, 3260; F, S; (4,4)
CHEM 3411, 3412; F, S; (3,3)
Electives: Consult your Pre-Veterinary Medicine Advisor

Senior

Consult your Pre-Veterinary Medicine Advisor