Today’s veterinarian is a medically trained, scientifically-oriented professional, capable of rendering many services and accepting wide responsibilities in all areas of animal health and in many areas of public health. Such a challenging career stimulates the interest of students; therefore, the competition for vacancies in veterinary medicine is high.
While most of the pre-veterinary medicine curriculum can be completed in two years, many students are finding it advisable to spend three or four years in completing these requirements. During this time, they also take additional courses leading to a degree in agricultural sciences. Many students are completing degrees before they enter a college of veterinary medicine.
Interested students should anticipate spending three to four years at college preparing for admission to any school of veterinary medicine. Students trying for admission need to maintain a high grade point average in college, especially in science courses. After receiving the applications, some schools arrange for interviews with prospective students to gauge their interest and knowledge of veterinary medicine and their likely success as a veterinarian. Students should have previously gained exposure to veterinary medicine, possibly by working with one or more veterinarians.
The Department of Agriculture always stands ready to assist students in fulfilling their pre-veterinary medicine requirements, whether they wish to do it in a two-year span or over three or four years. The supporting departments at the University – including biology, chemistry, and English – offer quality courses that provide students with an excellent background for the pursuit of veterinary medicine.
The following program is an example of a two-year professional program for entrance into a school of veterinary medicine. The state of Arkansas has a contract with some out-of-state veterinary schools to enroll a limited number of students each year. Students not accepted after the two-year curricula may find it advantageous to pursue a course of study leading to a degree in agricultural sciences at SAU while preparing to be accepted by a school of veterinary medicine. The curriculum listed below meets entrance requirements for the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. Courses marked with an asterisk are required by Oklahoma State University.
Pre-Veterinary Science – 66-69 hours
BIOL 1103/1101 Introduction to Biology/Lab
BIOL 2023/2021 Vertebrate Zoology/Lab
BIOL 2083/2081 General Botany/Lab
BIOL 3032/3022* General Microbiology/Lab
CHEM 1023/1021* University Chemistry I/Lab
CHEM 1123/1121* University Chemistry II/Lab
CHEM 3003/3001* Organic Chemistry I/Lab
CHEM 4003/4001* Biochemistry I/Lab
ENGL 1113* Composition I
ENGL 1123* Composition II
PHYS 2003/2001* General Physics I/Lab
PHYS 2103/2101* General Physics II/Lab
MATH 1023* College Algebra and MATH 1033 Plane Trigonometry or higher MATH
SPCH 1113 Introduction to Public Speaking
Electives – 17-18 hours
Oklahoma State University also requires the following courses:
BIOL 3033/3031* Genetics/Lab
CHEM 3103/3101* Organic Chemistry II/Lab
ENGL 3003* Advanced Professional Writing
