| Listed below are the courses required for admission to the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University. Other veterinary medicine programs have similar requirements, but you should study the specific prerequisites at the schools you plan to apply to. The prerequisite courses are typically completed in 2 years at DSU. Pre-vet students should also consider following the curriculum for a BS degree in chemistry or biology while taking the pre-vet requirements, thus opening up additional career opportunities. |
| | Courses | Credit | Notes |
|---|
| General Education Requirements |
| | English Composition | ENG 101 and ENG 102 or 103 | 6 | Two semesters of English composition |
| | Communication Studies | COM 101 | 3 | Public speaking |
| | Mathematics | MAT 104/105 or MAT 106 | 3-6 | Most students take college algebra (MAT 104) and trigonometry (MAT 105). Precalculus (MAT 106) will substitute for MAT 104/105. Although not specifically required for professional school, trigonometry (or precalculus) is a prerequisite for physics. |
| | Social/Behavioral Sciences | PSY 101, SOC 101, ANT 101, ECO 210 or 211, GEO 201 or 303, PHI 201, PSC 103 or 201 | 6 | Veterinary school only requires two courses from this category. However, If you plan to complete a degree from DSU, you must take PSY 101, plus TWO of the listed social science courses to meet the "Perspectives on Society" category under the General Education Requirements (9 hours). |
| | | | 18-21 |
| Science and other Requirements |
| | Chemistry | CHE 101, 102, 103, 104, 212, 440 | 17-19 | Two semesters of general chemistry, one semester of organic chemistry, and one semester of biochemistry. |
| | Physics | PHY 221, 233 | 4 | One semester of physics for the life sciences with laboratory. |
| | Biology | BIO 100, 101, 217, 300, 328, 427 | 24 | Principles of biology I and II, microbiology, cell biology, genetics, and immunology. Although cell biology is not specifically required for veterinary school, it is a prerequisite for immunology. |
| | Nutrition | FCS 345 | 3 | General nutrition |
| | | | 48-50 |
| Recommended electives |
| | Advisor recommendations | Consult your advisor | | Work with your advisor to choose courses related to your interests, your career goals, and preparation for any professional or graduate schools you might be considering. You must take enough electives to bring your total credit to at least 124. See additional requirements below. |
| | | | |
| Applicants to veterinary school must have a minimum GPA of 3.0, both as a cumulative average and in the required math/science courses. No grade lower than C is acceptable in any required course. |
| Enrollment in upper-level BIO courses (BIO 200 and above) requires that you have "Full Admission" status. You have full admission status if you have completed BIO 100, 101, and CHE 101, 102, 103, and 104 with no grades below C. Consult the Bulletin or the Division of Biological and Physical Sciences web site, or see your advisor for more information. |
| Applicants to veterinary school must submit an official score on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). GRE scores must be submitted by December 1st of the application year and be no more than three years old. |
| The College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University has much more information available on the web at: http://www.cvm.msstate.edu |
| IMPORTANT: Application to health professional schools is very competitive. Completion of the minimum requirements will not ensure admission. Admission decisions are based on policies established by the professional school's faculty and admission committee. Successful applicants typically have GPAs and other qualifications well in excess of stated minimums. Talk to your advisor for more information on what is realistically needed to have a good chance of getting into your desired professional school. |
