Veterinary Medicine, AA

“Pre-veterinary medicine” is NOT an undergraduate major. Students will need to select an academic major in order to earn a bachelor’s degree in preparation for application to this professional program. Most students interested in these careers major in a scientific field (biology, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, animal science, poultry science, etc.), but students can major in any field as long as application requirements are met according to the professional school’s specifications. The curriculum below is based on application requirements at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University. Students should consult with the school of their choice for specific guidelines, GPA requirements, etc. Any veterinary program will require superb academic performance, a rigorous core of math and science courses, and a demonstrated interest in animal health.

Program Requirements

The following advisement plan is a recommended course of study. An academic advisor may alter course sequence to meet individual student needs. In addition, an academic advisor may recommend additional or different courses depending upon student career plans and/or requirements of the college or university to which the student plans to transfer.

Freshman Year

Fall Semester

PSY 2553 - Psychology of Personal Adjustment Semester Credit Hours: 3
ENG 1113 - English Composition I Semester Credit Hours: 3
BIO 1134 - General Biology I Semester Credit Hours: 4
AGR 1214 - Animal Science Semester Credit Hours: 4
MAT 1313 - College Algebra Semester Credit Hours: 3 ¹

Total Hours: 17

Spring Semester

ENG 1123 - English Composition II Semester Credit Hours: 3
BIO 1144 - General Biology II Semester Credit Hours: 4
CHE 1214 - General Chemistry I Semester Credit Hours: 4
MAT 1323 - Trigonometry Semester Credit Hours: 3 ¹
Humanities and/or Social Science and/or Fine Arts Semester Credit Hours: 3

Total Hours: 17

Summer Semester

CHE 1224 - General Chemistry II Semester Credit Hours: 4 ²

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester

SPT 1113 - Public Speaking I Semester Credit Hours: 3 ^3,4
CHE 2424 - Organic Chemistry I Semester Credit Hours: 4 ⁴
PHY 2414 - General Physics I Semester Credit Hours: 4
Humanities or Social Science or Fine Arts Elective Semester Credit Hours: 3
Elective Semester Credit Hours: 1

Total Hours: 15

Spring Semester

CHE 2434 - Organic Chemistry II Semester Credit Hours: 4
PHY 2424 - General Physics II Semester Credit Hours: 4
Humanities and/or Social Science and/or Fine Arts Semester Credit Hours: 9

Total Hours: 17

Note(s):

¹Certain undergraduate majors may require additional math beyond trigonometry, including one or two semesters of calculus. MSU vet school requirements are a minimum of 6 hours in math, with college algebra being the lowest level accepted.

²General Chemistry I and II are required for vet school and as prerequisites for Organic Chemistry I and II. Students may elect to take both General Chemistry I and II over the summer to avoid a heavy class load during the spring semester.

³MSU vet school will accept an undergraduate major-specific junior or senior level technical writing course in place of the formal speech course. Certain undergraduate majors may also have alternate requirements/options for speech.

⁴BIO 2924 - Microbiology is an application requirement for MSU vet school. Students may elect to take it at JC or at their senior college. Students that wish to take it at JC may elect to do so by delaying the sequence of organic chemistry or physics, taking it in place of the formal speech course (if there are alternatives for satisfying this requirement), or taking it during a summer semester.