Massachusetts is a fair place to earn pre-veterinary studies diploma. There are 3 schools offering respective programs in Massachusetts, and the best one is offered by University of Massachusetts Amherst. That college offers a great pre-veterinary studies program evaluated with four stars for curriculum and four-star rating for teaching as well.
10 Schools with Pre-Veterinary Programs
Students can earn a bachelor’s degree that prepares them for a veterinary program at any of these ten schools:
| College/University | Location | Institution Type | Tuition and Fees (In-state, 2015-2016)* |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota State University | Fargo, ND | 4-year, Public | $8,098 |
| Hollins University | Roanoke, VA | 4-year, Private | $35,635 |
| Rutgers University | Newark, NJ | 4-year, Public | $13,597 |
| Tufts University | Medford, MA | 4-year, Private | $50,604 |
| Washington University in St Louis | Saint Louis, MO | 4-year, Private | $48,093 |
| Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | 4-year, Private | $49,116 |
| University of Wisconsin River Falls | River Falls, WI | 4-year, Public | $7,937 |
| University of New Hampshire | Durham, NH | 4-year, Public | $16,986 |
| Mercy College | Dobbs Ferry, NY | 4-year, Private | $18,076 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Blacksburg, VA | 4-year, Public | $12,485 |
Source: *National Center for Education Statistics
School Selection Criteria
Consider the following when looking for pre-veterinary schools:
- Students should check that a prospective school has a strong science department to ensure that they receive adequate preparation.
- Prospective students should look for a pre-veterinary school that offers the opportunity to complete an internship at a local veterinary clinic, animal shelter, zoo or farm.
- Students may also wish to look for research opportunities related to veterinary medicine.
- Students might want to consider certificate programs in areas closely related to veterinary medicine, such as animal health management, which are designed to supplement a bachelor’s degree program.
Pre-Veterinary Medicine Program
A pre-veterinary course of study includes science and math courses along with the general education requirements. It usually takes three years to complete the requirements, and a student may apply to veterinary school as soon as the requirements are met, even if they have not yet completed a bachelor’s degree. Upperclassmen may have the best chances at landing research and volunteer opportunities.
By completing specific coursework in the sciences and taking advantage of outside opportunities related to veterinary medicine, like internships and research, undergraduates can prepare for enrollment in a veterinary medicine program.
Applying to Veterinary Medical Colleges as a University of Massachusetts Amherst Pre-Veterinary Science Major or Animal Science Major
Veterinary medical school admission is extremely competitive, with approximately 3,000 seats available in the US compared to over 20,000 human medical school seats. There are 2-2.5 times the number of applicants as there are available seats. The UMass Amherst Pre-Veterinary program is nationally ranked in the top five of college programs for future veterinarians. Of the 20-30% of our majors who apply to vet school, virtually all gain admission to at least one vet school and most students choose between multiple acceptances.
Most students intending to major in Pre-Veterinary Science enter as Animal Science majors. If they earn a 2.700 or better GPA in ten selected science classes, they have the option to enter the Pre-Veterinary Science major. The courses required to graduate with a Pre-Veterinary Science major are specifically tailored to fulfill the course requirements of most veterinary medical, graduate, and medical schools and to prepare our majors for success in these programs.
Students who change their mind about applying to veterinary medical school will benefit from an Animal Science careers seminar, career training classes and biotech research opportunities and can graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Pre-Veterinary Science, Veterinary Technology, or Animal Science with a concentration in Animal Management, Biotechnology, or Equine Science. The UMass Amherst Animal Science program is also highly ranked nationally.
Early Admissions Program with Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS (MCLA)
Pre-Veterinary Concentration
The Pre-Veterinary concentration aligns with the pre-requisite courses for veterinary programs. Coursework includes Animal Behavior and Animal Physiology, and students can complete animal care internships at MCLA, the Berkshire Museum and/or local animal hospitals.
Requirements
- BIOL 101 Seminar for Entering Majors (1 cr)
- BIOL 150 Introduction to Biology I: Cells (4 cr)
- BIOL 160 Introduction to Biology II: Organisms (4 cr)
- BIOL 240 Genetics (4 cr)
- BIOL 302 Applied Statistics in Biology (1 cr)
- BIOL 320 Microbiology (4 cr)
- BIOL 360 Biochemistry (3 cr)
- BIOL 410 Animal Physiology OR BIOL 395 Vertebrate Zoology OR BIOL 395 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (3-4cr)
- BIOL 450 Animal Behavior (4 cr)
- BIOL 540 Internship (1 cr)
- Elective BIOL courses, 300-level or above (6 cr)
- CHEM 150 Introduction to Chemistry I (4 cr)
- CHEM 152 Introduction to Chemistry II (4 cr)
- CHEM 201 Organic Chemistry I (4 cr)
- CHEM 202 Organic Chemistry II (4 cr)
- PHYS 131 General Physics I (4 cr)
- PHYS 132 General Physics II (4 cr)
- MATH232 Intro to Statistics (3cr)
General Pre-Veterinary School Course Requirements
Course requirements vary greatly between schools. It is most important that you research the schools you are interested in for their pre-veterinary requirements. You can check VMCAS for the Summary of Course Prerequisites or access the VMSAR for the most updated course requirements by school.
Although prerequisite requirements vary by school, the following are some of the most common courses required. Again, it is important to check the requirements of each school you are considering at each school for which you plan to apply. Please refer to the most updated AVMA website for school-specific requirements. (updated 2019-2020)
| Course Subject | # Semesters | UC Berkeley course sequence most students use to fulfill requirements |
| General (Inorganic) Chemistry & Organic Chemistry | Most schools require 2 semesters of general chemistry and 2 semesters of organic chemistry both with lab. | Chem 1A/1AL, 1B (lab included), 3A/3AL, 3B/3BL |
| Biology/Zoology | .Most schools require 2 semesters with lab. | Bio 1B (lab included), Bio 1A/1AL |
| Physiology | Some schools require 1 semester. | MCB 136 (Human Physiology) OR IB 148 (Comparative Animal Physiology) |
| Microbiology | Some schools require 1 semester with lab. Some schools require 2. | MCB C112/112L OR PH 162A/162L (1 semester) MCB C103 OR MCB 116 OR IB 118 (if 2 semester required) |
| Biochemistry | 1 semester | MCB 102 OR Chem 135 OR MCB C100A/Chem 130A |
| Physics | 1-2 semesters | Physics 8A, 8B OR Physics 7A, 7B OR Physics 7A, 8B |
| Genetics | Some schools require 1 semester. | IB 164 |
| Mathematics/Statistics | 1-2 semesters | Math 16A, 16B OR Math 1A, 1B OR Math 53, 54 OR Math 10A*, 10B* Math 10B does not fulfill the statistics requirement for most vet schools.Statistics (not all vet schools require stats) Stats 2 OR Stats 20 OR Stat 131 or PH 142 |
| English | 2 semesters | Generally, English R1A, R1B or any courses that satisfy the Reading and Composition requirement at Berkeley will fulfill veterinary school English coursework requirements for most veterinary schools. See a list of those courses. Save your course syllabi in case any veterinary schools express concern that you did not complete their English requirement.*Some vet schools accept the completion of a 4-year degree as a substitute for the English requirement. |
| Nutrition (Animal) | Some schools require 1 semester. | Not offered at Berkeley, consider contacting vet schools for recommendations on where to take it. |
| Speech/Public Speaking | Most schools require 1 semester. | College Writing Program 10A or 10B |
| Humanities, Social & Behavioral Science | Most schools require 1 semester of an introductory course. Some schools require 2. | Psych 1 (for majors) OR Psych 2 (for non majors) AND Sociol 1 |
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