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].
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 |