Title: What Undergraduate Degree Is Best for Vet School?
Headings: What Undergraduate Degree Is Best for Vet School?
What Undergraduate Degree Is Best for Vet School?
Undergraduate Degrees for Vet School
Important Facts About Vet School
Animal Science
Zoology
Biology

Content: View Schools
Undergraduate Degrees for Vet School
To gain admission to veterinary school, you need to complete a significant number of prerequisite courses in chemistry, biology, physiology, physics, English, and mathematics. Some Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) programs also require or prefer you to have significant experience working with animals, such as 500 hours of pre-veterinary experience. The bachelor's degree programs discussed below offer many of these subjects as part of core course requirements. They may also allow you to complete research or field internships in your area of interest, helping you gain pre-veterinary experience. Important Facts About Vet School
Common Courses
Lecture and lab courses on normal and abnormal animal organ systems, clinical practice
Prerequisites
Most accredited veterinary medicine programs require applicants to have a bachelor's degree
Concentrations
Options may include large animal clinical sciences, small animal clinical sciences, and infectious diseases and pathology
Possible Careers
Private clinic and hospital veterinarian, laboratory veterinarian, farm animal/large animal veterinarian
Median Salary (May 2019)
$95,460*
Job Outlook (2019-2029)
16%*
Source: * U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Animal Science
Animal science majors learn about the biology of domesticated farm and companion animals. Preliminary courses include organic chemistry, genetics, domestic and companion animal biology, avian husbandry, and equine biology. Your instruction also includes livestock production, animal health, and animal hygiene. Some programs offer an emphasis in veterinary science that includes courses in immunology, pharmacology, physics, and calculus. Zoology
Zoology is the study not only of animals but also of the ecosystems that sustain them.