Pre-Veterinary Medicine (Non-Degree)

Students interested in becoming veterinarians may enroll in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment at the University of Kentucky and complete their requirements for admission to veterinary school. Most students completing a science-based degree program can complete prevet requirements at the same time. Pre-veterinary advising is available for any UK student.

Although the Commonwealth of Kentucky does not have a school of veterinary medicine, it is a participating member of the Southern Regional Education Board plan, under which legal Kentucky residents may attend the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. Each year 38 qualified Kentucky students are chosen from Kentucky to enter the Auburn program. There is also a plan whereby three legal Kentucky residents may be accepted by the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine each year.

Admission is on a competitive basis with the final selection being made by a committee from each of the veterinary schools.

Pre-veterinary studies is not a degree program, but a pre-professional curriculum. It is strongly recommended that all pre-veterinary students choose a degree goal early in their college career. Although it is possible to complete pre-vet requirements in three years, the majority of students accepted to veterinary school have a B.S. or B.A. degree.

Due to the high level of competition for admission to any veterinary school, a student should maintain at least a 3.2 academic standing on all college work. The average overall GPA for students accepted to veterinary schools is approximately 3.6. All required courses must have a grade of C or greater.

Most US veterinary schools use the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) application.

The following is a list of courses for Auburn College of Veterinary Medicine requirements. However, some changes in the pre-veterinary curriculum may go into effect during the school year. The student has the responsibility to work closely with his or her pre-veterinary advisor in making certain that all requirements are met for consideration for acceptance.

All advanced placement credit for required courses must have prior approval by Dr. Dwyer. Auburn does not accept correspondence credit for required courses, except for Animal Nutrition.

Auburn’s Pre-Veterinary Curriculum

Written Composition Credit(s): 6 *
Literature (e.g. ENG 251 )** Credit(s): 3 or 6
Fine Arts (e.g. MUS 100 )** Credit(s): 3
Humanities/Fine Arts electives Credit(s): 6 **
History (e.g. HIS 108 /HIS 109 ) Credit(s): 3 or 6 **
Social sciences electives Credit(s): 9 **
MA 123 - ELEMENTARY CALCULUS AND ITS APPLICATIONS Credit(s): 4
OR
MA 113 - CALCULUS I Credit(s): 4
The above courses are waived for students with a B.S. or B.A. degree.
BIO 148 - INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I Credit(s): 3
BIO 152 - PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY II Credit(s): 3
Biology Laboratory I and II Credit(s): 2 ***
BIO 315 - INTRODUCTION TO CELL BIOLOGY Credit(s): 4
CHE 105 - GEN COLLEGE CHEMISTRY I Credit(s): 4
CHE 107 - GENERAL COLLEGE CHEMISTRY II Credit(s): 3
CHE 111 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY Credit(s): 1
CHE 113 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY Credit(s): 2
CHE 230 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I Credit(s): 3
CHE 231 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I Credit(s): 1
CHE 232 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II Credit(s): 3
CHE 233 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II Credit(s): 1
PHY 211 - GENERAL PHYSICS Credit(s): 5
BCH 401G - FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOCHEMISTRY Credit(s): 3
ASC 378 - ANIMAL NUTRITION AND FEEDING Credit(s): 3
Science Electives Credit(s): 6 ****

Note(s):

* Consult advisor.

** Students should contact a UK pre-veterinary advisor regarding approved courses.

*** Check with pre-veterinary advisor for approved courses.

**** Science electives must be two of the following courses: BIO 304 , BIO 350 or ASC 325 , BIO 308 , BIO 542 , ASC 364 , BIO 561 or BIO 563 , BIO 544 , PHY 213 .

Auburn strongly urges students to take organic chemistry and physics courses at a four-year college or university.

Tuskegee’s Pre-Veterinary Curriculum

The student has the responsibility to work closely with his or her pre-veterinary advisor in making certain that all requirements are met for consideration for acceptance.

All pre-veterinary students who enter veterinary school without obtaining an Animal Science degree and petition UK for one later must fulfill the departmental requirements for an Animal Science degree. In order to be eligible for the B.S. in Animal Sciences, students must have completed all UK Core courses, all college requirements and all of the required core courses and production courses required in the Animal Sciences degree program.

Chemistry w/Lab Credit(s): 4
Organic Chemistry w/Lab Credit(s): 4
Biochemistry w/Lab Credit(s): 4
Physics w/Lab Credit(s): 8
Advanced Biology (300 level or above) Credit(s): 9
ASC 101 - DOMESTIC ANIMAL BIOLOGY Credit(s): 3
ASC 378 - ANIMAL NUTRITION AND FEEDING Credit(s): 3
Mathematics Credit(s): 6
English Credit(s): 6
Social Sciences/Humanities Credit(s): 6
Liberal Arts Credit(s): 6
Advanced Biology Electives Credit(s): 8
Medical Terminology Credit(s): 1