Information about Preveterinary Medicine

What is preveterinary medicine?

The College of Agriculture's preveterinary medicine program is designed to provide anyone who successfully completes it with the proper coursework for applying to Purdue's School of Veterinary Medicine. Completion of the preveterinary curriculum does not guarantee admission into the veterinary medicine program; however, it is a curriculum that provides an excellent foundation for all majors in the College of Agriculture and for many degrees at Purdue.

How are students admitted to the preveterinary medicine program?

A student who would like to become a veterinarian may apply for admission to the College of Agriculture's preveterinary medicine option by submitting an undergraduate admissions application to Purdue. For admission to Purdue's College of Agriculture, the applicant must complete the following high school courses:

• 8 semesters of English
• 6 semesters of academic mathematics (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus)
• 6 semesters of laboratory science (biology, chemistry or physics)
• 4 semesters of foreign language (beginning fall of 2005)
• At least 6 semesters of other high school subjects.

Indiana applicants should rank in the upper half of their high school graduating class, and out-of-state applicants should rank in the upper one-third of their high school class. Applicants must also complete the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Test (ACT).

What is the preveterinary curriculum?

The preveterinary medicine curriculum is a preprofessional undergraduate program of study. Students are required to take biology, general chemistry, calculus, English composition, speech, organic chemistry, genetics, statistics, physics, biochemistry, animal nutrition, microbiology, and electives.

PREVETERINARY MEDICINE -- Credit Hours Required: 100*

Freshman Year
First Semester

• (1) AGR 101 (Introduction to the College of Agriculture
  and Purdue University)
• (4) BIOL 110 (Fundamentals of Biology I)
• (4) CHM 115 (General Chemistry)
• (4) ENGL 106 (English Composition)
• (3) MA 223 (Introductory Analysis I)
• (16)

Second Semester

• (4) BIOL 111 (Fundamentals of Biology II)
• (4) CHM 116 (General Chemistry)
• (3) COM 114 (Fundamentals of Speech Communication)
• (3) MA 224 (Introductory Analysis II)
• (1) VM 102 (Careers in Veterinary Medicine)
• (15)

Sophomore Year
Third Semester

• (3) ANSC 221 (Principles of Animal Nutrition)
• (3) BIOL 231 (Biology III: Cell Structure and Function)
• (2) BIOL 232 (Laboratory in Biology III: Cell Structure and Function)
• (3) CHM 255 (Organic Chemistry)
• (1) CHM 255L (Organic Chemistry Laboratory)
• (3) STAT 301 (Elementary Statistical Methods)
• (3) Humanities elective
• (18)

Fourth Semester

• (3) AGRY 320 (Genetics)
• (1) AGRY 321 (Genetics Laboratory)
• (3) CHM 256 (Organic Chemistry)
• (1) CHM 256L (Organic Chemistry Laboratory)
• (3) Agricultural elective
• (3) Economics elective
• (3) Social science elective
• (17)

Junior Year
Fifth Semester

• (3) BCHM 307 (Biochemistry)
• (4) PHYS 220 (General Physics)
• (6) Agricultural electives
• (3) Humanities elective
• (16)

Sixth Semester

• (4) BIOL 221 (Introduction to Microbiology)
• (4) PHYS 221 (General Physics)
• (7) Agricultural electives
• (3) Written or oral communication elective
• (18)

* Nine credits in the proposed plan of study must fulfill international understanding requirements as defined on pages 26-27 of the 2001-03 College of Agriculture catalog.

It is possible to earn both Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) degrees in seven years. This combined program includes three years of preprofessional courses in the College of Agriculture and four years in the D.V.M. program. To earn the baccalaureate degree in interdisciplinary agriculture, students must earn a minimum of 100 preprofessional credits, fulfill requirements listed above, and successfully complete the initial year of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree program at an accredited school of veterinary medicine.

PREVETERINARY MEDICINE CURRICULUM CORE SUBJECTS*

• Inorganic chemistry with lab, 2 semesters
• Organic chemistry with lab, 1-2 semesters
• Biochemistry, 1-2 semesters
• Biology with lab (diversity, developmental, cell structure), 2-3 semesters
• Genetics with lab, 1 semesters
• Microbiology (general or medical) with lab, 1-2 semesters
• Nutrition (animal), 1 semesters
• Physics with lab, 2 semesters
• Calculus, 1-2 semesters
• Statistics, 1 semesters
• English composition, 1-2 semesters
• Communication (interpersonal, persuasion or speech), 1 semesters
• Careers in Veterinary Medicine (if available), 1 semesters
• Humanities (foreign languages, cognitive sciences, and social sciences), 3 semesters

*Core courses may vary as to the number of semesters required.
PURDUE UNIVERSITY COURSES OR COMBINATIONS OF COURSES THAT WILL MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE (SEMESTER CREDITS SHOWN IN PARENTHESES):

• Chemistry (inorganic) - CHM 111 (3), CHM 112 (3), and 116 (4); or CHM 115 (4) and 116 (4)
• Chemistry (organic) - CHM 255 (3), 255L (1), 256 (3), 256L (1); or CHM 257 (4), 257L (1)
• Biochemistry - BCHM 307 (3); or BCHM 561 (3) and 562 (3); or CHM 333 (3)
• Biology - BIOL 110 (4),111 (4),231 (3), and 232 (2); or BIOL 121 (2),122 (2), 131 (3), 132 (2), 231 (3), and 232 (2)
• Genetics - BIOL 241 (3) and 242 (2); or AGRY 320 (3) and 321 (1)
• Microbiology –BIOL 221 (4); or BIOL 438 (3) and 439 (2)
• Nutrition - ANSC 221 (3)
• Physics - PHYS 220 (4) and 221 (4)
• Calculus - MA 223 (3) and 224 (3); or MA 161 (5) and 162 (5); or MA 165 (4) and 166 (4)
• Statistics - STAT 301 (3); or 503 (3)
• English - ENGL 101 (3) and 102 (3); or ENGL 103 (3); or ENGL 106 (4); or ENGL 108 (3)
• Communication - COM 114 (3); or COM 212 (3); or COM 224 (3)
• Careers in Veterinary Medicine - VM 102 (1)
• Humanities

Other recommended courses: accounting (MGMT 200); animal sciences (including nutrition ANSC 324); biochemistry laboratory (BCHM 309); business (CSR 105); business/technical writing (ENGL 420, ENGL 421); chemistry (CHM 224); economics (AGEC 217, ECON 210, ECON 251, ECON 252); leadership (CSR 309); personal finance (CSR 342).

What is the admissions process like for the veterinary medicine program?

Once students have completed the required preveterinary courses ( ~77 credit hours), they may apply for admission to the School of Veterinary Medicine by completing the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) application. The VMCAS applications are submitted in autumn during the academic year that the student expects to complete the preveterinary coursework. Applicants must also take the required standardized test, the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test, and supply letters of recommendation.

Selection of veterinary school students is based on both academic and experience factors; therefore, it is important to have excellent grades as well as a range of animal and veterinary experience. Qualified candidates are interviewed in early spring. Approximately 65 students are chosen for admission to the veterinary medical program: 38 - 42 are residents of Indiana, while the other 22 - 24 are out-of-state residents.

How can students prepare for a career in veterinary medicine?

A student can prepare academically by taking as much mathematics, science, and English as soon as possible in high school and by establishing a strong college record. The academic record must show that the student has both the ability and motivation needed to enter and compete in the veterinary medical profession. Establishing a good experience, activity, and leadership record is also important in preparation for a veterinary career. Since experience must be included on the veterinary school application, date, amount of time, and type of work should be recorded for all veterinary experience (time spent with a practicing veterinarian or at a veterinary clinic) and animal experience (any time spent with animals other than at a veterinary clinic). Students are encouraged to gain veterinary and animal experience before and during college.

Extracurricular activities are also an important component of the veterinary school application. Participation in Purdue student organizations, residence hall government systems, and intramural sports shows your ability to work with, and lead others. The Pre-Vet Club, Block and Bridle, and the Intercollegiate Horsemanship Club are organizations established for students interested in working with animals.

Who is admitted to the veterinary medicine program?

From the 2003 pool of 94 Indiana applicants and 518 non-resident applicants, 38 in-state and 31 out-of-state residents were admitted. The 'average' Indiana resident had a GPA of 3.62 (4.0=A) and mean Graduate Record Exam scores of 472 (Verbal), 657 ( Quantitative), and 631 (Analytical). The 'average' non-resident had a GPA of 3.65 and mean GRE scores of 495 (Verbal), 656 (Quantitative), and 699 (Analytical). Students admitted to Purdue's School of Veterinary Medicine generally have 2,000+ hours of veterinary experience and 4,000+ hours of animal experience.

How long is the professional veterinary medicine program?

Students who complete the School of Veterinary Medicine's veterinary medical program will receive a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. The professional program consists of four years of intense study. Registration in the School of Veterinary Medicine in each successive semester is contingent upon satisfactory completion of all courses in the preceding semester. During the third and fourth years of the program students make track selections in one of seven main areas of study to match their career goals:

• food animal
• large animal
• small animal
• companion (small and equine) animal
• mixed (small and large) animal
• equine
• non-practice option

What alternatives are there to veterinary medicine?

The preveterinary medicine program provides an excellent science and communications background, and, therefore, can lead to a baccalaureate degree in many different areas. Preveterinary students are asked to identify a B.S. degree program that blends comfortably with their ultimate professional degree goals during the second semester following their Purdue matriculation. This strategy allows preveterinary students to take advantage of information sessions, workshops, and academic advising tailored to their preprofessional goals while maximizing their academic talents and options as they develop their personalized B.S. plans.

Because the average student admitted to the School of Veterinary Medicine spends approximately four years as an undergraduate (preprofessional) student, it is important that preveterinary students continue to think, look, and plan ahead. During the preveterinary program, some students change their career goals and decide not to pursue a DVM degree. Because the freshman years of most agriculture programs are similar, students can easily move from preveterinary medicine to other programs of study. A few related B.S. degree programs are listed below.

Agricultural Education:

Agricultural education combines a strong foundation in broad agricultural content with human relations and communications development through educational coursework and experiences. Students take basic science courses in biology and chemistry and can include biochemistry in their plans of study. Agricultural education is a practical option for those unsure of their future. Graduates have excellent employment opportunities including: teaching agricultural science and business, agribusiness, and extension educator (with a graduate degree).

Contact: Dan Gottschalk,

dgott@purdue.edu

Animal Science:

This option offers a sound education in science and prepares students for scientific careers in animal agriculture. Students successfully completing this program are sought, especially by biotechnological industries often offering unprecedented opportunities. Also, upon completion, students are prepared for graduate study in specialized fields of animal genetics, nutrition, physiology, food science, or management. This Department of Animal Sciences program also may be chosen by students desiring a strong base for dental, medical, or veterinary schools. Graduates continuing for the M.S. or Ph.D. degrees in animal science qualify for numerous research, teaching, or extension positions in industry, government, universities, and colleges.

Contact: Dr. Mark Diekman, mdiekman@purdue.edu

Biochemistry:

Biochemistry, the chemistry of living things, is concerned with the basic materials and processes of life itself. Since biochemistry builds on information from chemistry (particularly organic chemistry), students who enter veterinary school without a firm understanding of organic chemistry and biochemistry find some of their introductory science courses difficult subjects to master. Students who are well-prepared with an undergraduate biochemistry major can devote more time to courses such as anatomy or physiology during their first year of veterinary school. Yes, biochemistry is an ideal undergraduate major for preveterinary studies.

Contact: Dr. Mark Hermodson, hermodson@purdue.edu

Entomology:

Entomology students acquire a broad background in the life sciences, preparing them as pre-professionals pursuing veterinary school, and for a wide variety of scientific, educational, and business careers. Should one choose not to go into veterinary medicine, a degree in Entomology offers exciting opportunities for students interested in feeding the world, preventing the spread of disease, protecting species and the environment, and solving crimes. By studying the most diverse group of living organisms, our undergraduates gain a deep understanding of the subjects, our undergraduates gain a deep understanding of the subjects that can best prepare them for a wide range of professional opportunities in the life sciences. Our students have a very strong background in the physical and biological sciences and thus, courses required for entry into the Vet School are all used within our entomology major. Plus, entomology students take entomology courses in many areas: general entomology; diversity and identification; structure and function; behavior and ecology; pest management, apiculture, aquatic entomology, biological control, biological illustration, medical entomology, and toxicology.

Contact: Alan York, ayork@purdue.edu

Food Science:

Preveterinary students with an interest in food technology, including areas such as food processing, food microbiology, and food chemistry, should consider the food science major in the Department of Food Science. This is an interdisciplinary field that applies basic sciences, mathematics and engineering to convert agricultural commodities into edible foods and beverages through various processing steps. Food processing involves not only the foods themselves, but also the packaging, storage, and distribution of the foods. This results in many jobs in industry, government, distribution, marketing, advertising, consumer relations, and other related fields.

The food science major may be particularly suited to veterinary students who want to work for the USDA in a field such as animal herd health or safety/sanitation of food processing plants.

Contact: Donna Keener,

dlkeener@purdue.edu

Wildlife:

Preveterinary students with interest in wildlife species including both free-ranging and captive (pets, zoos and animal parks) populations should consider the wildlife major in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources as a stimulating and complementary major to their veterinary interests. The main focus of the wildlife major is the protection and management of free-ranging wildlife populations. In order to achieve this goal, students study the ecology of mammals, fish, birds, amphibians and reptiles and identification of these species, the habitat needs of the animals including vegetation identification and management, the cultural and social impacts of wildlife on people, and the impacts of human activities on animal populations and other natural resources.

Contact: Dr. W. L. Mills, wmills@purdue.edu

Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences:

Preveterinary students with an interest in the biology, conservation, management, and culture of fish and other aquatic organisms, including free-ranging and captive (i.e., pets, zoos, and aquariums) populations, and aquaculture (i.e., food production, hatcheries) applications, should consider the fisheries and aquatic sciences major in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources a stimulating and complementary major to their veterinary interests. The primary foci of this major are the protection and management of free-ranging fish populations and the culture of fishes for stocking or food production purposes. In order to achieve these goals, students will study the ecology of fishes and other aquatic organisms (i.e. invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals), learn how to identify these organisms, understand the physical and chemical habitat requirements necessary for aquatic life and how to improve and restore these habitats, the proper methods necessary for propagation and maintenance of health and nutrition, and the cultural and social impacts of aquatic organisms on people, and the impact of people on aquatic organism populations and other natural resources.

The fisheries and aquatic sciences major may be particularly suited to veterinary students who hope to work with aquatic organisms in large aquariums and zoos where aquatic animal propagation and health is encouraged by the creation of natural environments. In addition, students whose interest includes recovery of threatened and endangered fish populations (genetic and reproduction issues) and ecosystem restoration may find fisheries and aquatic sciences an appropriate major.

Contact: Dr. W. L. Mills, wmills@purdue.edu

Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences:

The Natural Resources and Environmental Science (NRES) Program, an interdisciplinary program in the College of Agriculture, offers students a very flexible plan of study. By working closely with an academic advisor, students can develop a personalized curriculum to meet individual career goals. Preveterinary medicine students may be interested in an emphasis on wildlife preservation, animal habitat management, environmental education related to wildlife and endangered species, or field and range management. NRES graduates work for state and local parks, departments of natural resources, the National Park Service and other agencies involved with the preservation of animals, people and the environment.

To earn the baccalaureate degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Science, students must obtain the following credits in addition to completing the preveterinary medicine curriculum: (20) environmental science core courses; (20) directed option electives; (9) social science and humanities electives; (12) electives.

Contact: Dr. Shirl Barker, sbarker@purdue.edu or

Dr. John Graveel: jgraveel@purdue.edu

Should a prospective student visit the campus?

Yes, the College of Agriculture invites and encourages all students considering a career in the food, agricultural, and natural resource system to visit the campus. The College of Agriculture hosts Spring Fest, and Project Future and Project Now each April. Also, the School of Veterinary Medicine holds its annual open house the same weekend. If you cannot attend one of these events or one of the University's Visit Days, feel free to schedule a visit on your own.

For more information on preveterinary medicine or the College of Agriculture, contact:

Jane Alexander
Purdue University
College of Agriculture
Office of Academic Programs
Agricultural Administration Building - Room 7
615 W. State Street
West Lafayette, In 47907-2053
(765) 494-8470 FAX: (765) 494-8469
E-mail: jalexander@purdue.edu
www.agriculture.purdue.edu/oap/
www.purdue.edu/GOinAG