Prerequisite courses

About prerequisite courses

Applicants must complete specific prerequisite courses prior to enrollment in the DVM program. This includes courses in chemistry, biology, physics, math, English composition, and liberal education. All prerequisite courses must be graded at a C– or better and evaluated with A-F grading, unless only offered as pass-fail. A one-time exception to this policy has been granted for prerequisite courses taken spring 2020 and summer 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Courses with a grade of Pass (P) or Satisfactory (S) will be accepted for these two terms only.

Advanced Placement, College Level Examination Program, Postsecondary Enrollment Options, and International Baccalaureate credits are acceptable if documented on an undergraduate transcript. Substitution of advanced courses and experience is typically not allowed. All math and science prerequisite courses must be recent within 10 years of the application deadline. Applicants may petition to have expired coursework considered if they can demonstrate significant use of course content within a current workplace, research setting, advanced degree program, etc. Please contact the admissions office at [email protected] for more details.

Prerequisite courses can be in progress during the fall and spring term of the application cycle but can include no more than five math and science prerequisite courses. Summer classes taken immediately prior to fall semester enrollment in the DVM program may not be used to complete prerequisite courses. Students granted admission with prerequisite courses in progress will be accepted provisionally and must complete all remaining courses with a C or better by the end of the spring term (June 15).

Questions about prerequisite courses? Please send us an email at [email protected].

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English

English

Course Quarter credits Semester credits Requirements
English 9-15 6-10 One writing course and one additional English course, such as speech, literature, advanced writing, technical writing, etc.— this requirement is normally satisfied by the graduation requirement at the applicant’s primary undergraduate institution

Mathematics

Mathematics

Course Quarter credits Semester credits Requirements
Algebra or higher math course 5-8 3-5 College algebra, trigonometry, geometry, pre-calculus, calculus, etc.
Statistics 5-8 3-5 Statistics

Chemistry

Chemistry

Course Quarter credits Semester credits Requirements
General w/labs 12-15 6-10 General inorganic chemistry including labs (three quarters or two semesters)
Organic 5-8 3-5 Organic chemistry I or II, non-terminal sequence (two quarters or one semester, lab not required)
Biochemistry 5-7 3-5 General biochemistry I or II (two quarters or one semester, lab not required) emphasizing metabolic pathways and regulatory mechanism. Course should have organic chemistry prerequisite

Biology

Biology

Course Quarter credits Semester credits Requirements
Biology w/lab 12-15 6-10 General biology introductory course with lab (3 to 5 credits) and one additional biology course (3 to 5 credits) with a course number higher than introductory biology (lab not required for second course)
Genetics 5-7 3-5 Science of genetics (lab not required)
Zoology w/lab 0 0 Zoology is no longer required. It can, however, be considered for the second biology course requirement
Microbiology w/lab 0 0 Microbiology is no longer required. It can, however, be considered for the second biology course requirement

Physics

Physics

Course Quarter credits Semester credits Requirements
Physics 12-15 6-10 Introductory sequence. Topics covered need to include mechanics, heat, sound, electricity, light, magnetism, and atomic physics (labs not required)

Liberal education

Liberal education

Course Quarter credits Semester credits Requirements
Liberal education 15-20 9-12 Three courses total This can be any class designated as a liberal education course or any class counted toward meeting the liberal education degree requirements at the applicant's primary undergraduate instiution

Prerequisite course changes for application cycle starting 2022-2023

The University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine has changed its prerequisite course requirements for admission to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program. These changes went into effect during the application cycle, 2022-2023 / admit term fall 2023 / class of 2027.

Our goals behind these changes are:

  • Align our prerequisite courses with recent changes made to the DVM program curriculum
  • Continue to admit students who are academically ready for the rigors of the DVM curriculum
  • Simplify admissions eligibility through the reduction of the total number of required prerequisite courses. This may also provide cost savings for some applicants.
  • Provide more flexibility and expanded options in which courses will meet our prerequisite course requirements. For some applicants, this may allow them to use classes they are already taking for their degree requirements to fulfill our prerequisite course requirements.
  • Decrease the number of specialized courses needed outside of undergraduate, postgraduate, etc., degree requirements
  • Reduce the need to retake certain prerequisite courses for a better grade if other comparable course options are available

Summary of changes:

  • Microbiology with a laboratory will no longer be a required prerequisite course. Microbiology could instead be applied towards the second biology prerequisite (see number 4 below).
  • Either organic chemistry I OR organic chemistry II can now be used towards our 3 to 5 semester credit organic chemistry prerequisite course requirement. A laboratory is not required.  
  • Either Biochemistry I OR biochemistry II can now be used towards our 3 to 5 semester credit biochemistry prerequisite course requirement. A laboratory is not required.  
  • Biology has been reconfigured to now include one 3 to 5 semester credit introductory biology course with laboratory AND one additional, 3 to 5 credit, biology course (no lab required). The second class must be a course number higher than introductory biology. Zoology is no longer required, however, it could still be used towards the second class, as could other courses like microbiology, animal anatomy and physiology, etc. 
  • Our math requirement has changed to include one 3 to 5 credit course in college algebra or higher course. Previously, math was limited to college algebra, pre-calculus, or calculus. This change now allows students to take geometry, trigonometry, or other advanced math courses. We will continue to require 3 to 5 credits of statistics.
Previous requirement Current Requirement
English
6 to 10 semester credits / 2 courses
No change
Algebra, Pre-calculus, or Calculus
3 to 5 credits / 1 course
College Algebra or higher numbered math course
3 to 5 credits / 1 course
Statistics
3 to 5 credits / 1 course

No change

General chemistry I and II
Two labs required
6-10 credits 2 courses
No change
Organic chemistry
No lab required
3 to 5 credits / 1 course
Organic chemistry I or Organic chemistry II
No lab required
3 to 5 credits / 1 course
Biochemistry
No lab required
3 to 5 credits / 1 course
Biochemistry I or Biochemistry II
No lab required
3 to 5 credits / 1 course
Biology: Introductory course
Lab required
3 to 5 credits / 1 course
No change
Zoology
Lab required
3 to 5 credits / 1 course
One biology course with a course number higher than introductory biology. Lab not required. Zoology is no longer required, but could be used to fulfill the second biology course requirement
Genetics
No lab required
3 to 5 credits / 1 course

No change

Microbiology
Lab required
3 to 5 credits / 1 course
No longer required, but could be used to fulfill second biology course requirement
Physics
No labs required
6 to 10 semester credits / 2 courses
No change
Liberal education
9 to 15 semester credits / 3 courses
No change


Questions about prerequisite courses? Please contact the admissions office at [email protected]