Academics Sites > Office of Pre-Professional Advising > Pre-Veterinary Medicine

Pre-Veterinary Medicine

Pre-Veterinary Medicine is not a major, but rather a compilation of courses and experiences to prepare students for next steps. Professional schools evaluate achievement in required prerequisites, regardless of major. We recommend for students to choose a major they enjoy and in which they can excel.

Students are encouraged to contact us to receive assistance in planning when to take these prerequisite courses, and those who are declared as being in the Pre-Veterinary Medicine program are required to meet with their Medical Professions Advisor each semester in order to remain in the program. Students will receive academic advisement for their chosen degree program with their assigned academic advisor.

A competitive GPA is essential when considering a career in the health field. Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA to remain in the Pre-Veterinary Program. Our experience is that students with a GPA below 3.0 are, unfortunately, not competitive.

The courses listed below are generally required for veterinary schools in our region, in addition to the courses necessary for Graduate Record Examination (GRE) preparation. We encourage students to seek out and familiarize themselves with the prerequisite and admission test requirements of their intended veterinary school(s), as requirements may vary.

Biology Courses*

BIOL 1107/1107L: Principles of Biology I/Lab (4)
BIOL 1108/1108L: Principles of Biology II/Lab (4)
BIOL 3134: Cell and Molecular Biology (3)
BIOL 3131: Principles of Physiology (3)
BIOL 3133: Evolution and Ecology (3)

Chemistry Courses

CHEM 1211K: Principles of Chemistry I/Lab (4)
CHEM 1212K: Principles of Chemistry II/Lab (4)
CHEM 3401: Organic Chemistry I/Lab (4)
CHEM 3402: Organic Chemistry II/Lab (4)
BCHM 5201: Biochemistry I/Lab (4), or BCHM 3200: Principles of Biochemistry (3)

Mathematics and Physics Courses

MATH 1112 or 1113: Trigonometry or Pre-Calculus, if necessary (3)
MATH 1441: Calculus I (4)
STAT 1401: Intro to Statistics (3)
PHYS 1111K: Intro to Physics I /Lab (4), or 2211: Principles of Physics I/Lab (4)
PHYS 1112K: Intro to Physics II/Lab (4), or PHYS 2212: Principles of Physics II/Lab (4)

Additional courses to consider

BIOL 4130: Genetics (3)
BIOL 4240: Biology of Microorganisms (4)
BIOL 5131: Cell Biology (3)
BIOL 5230/5210: Comparative Animal Physiology/Lab (4)
BIOL 5241: Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (4)
COMM 1110: Public Speaking (3)
Animal Science courses*

*Please refer to each school’s prerequisite requirements for specific information.

Visit us on the web at academics.georgiasouthern.edu/prepro-advising/.

Make it official. Add your Pre-Professional Program by filling out the Office of Pre-Professional Advisement Interest Form on our home page. This step will ensure that you receive up-to-date information from Medical Professions Advising staff regarding events, programming, and advising.

Study + Excel. A competitive GPA is essential when considering a career in the health field. You must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA to remain in the Pre-Veterinary Program at Georgia Southern University. Talk with your Academic Advisor, professors and Academic Success Center for help with study skills through various workshops and tutoring.

Resume + Interviews. Create and/or improve your resume at the Office of Career Services. You can also gain confidence and develop your interview skills with a video-taped mock interview.

Job Shadow. Pre-Veterinary Medicine students should plan to gain 250+ hours working under the direct supervision of a veterinarian. Document your experiences in a physical or digital format, and obtain at least one letter of reference from a veterinarian you have shadowed.

Volunteer + Lead. We recommend that you participate in volunteer activities working with animals. Contact the Office of Leadership and Community Engagement for more information about volunteering with local weekly trips, Alternative Break Trips, and more. We also recommend that you participate in leadership seminars, workshops, retreats and LEAD courses. Get involved and join a student club or organization, such as the Future Veterinarian’s Society.

Connect + Explore. Get to know your professors and local health care professionals. These individuals are valuable resources for research experience, volunteering, shadowing and letters of recommendation. Consider Study Abroad programs through the Office of International Programs and Services. Attend information sessions, workshops, field trips, and other events for pre-veterinary students offered by the Office of Medical Professions Advising.

Research. Talk with your professors and peers who are involved with undergraduate research and consider opportunities within the College of Science and Mathematics.

Prepare for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). This exam requires substantial amounts of preparation and study time, so it is never too early to begin. Typically, students prepare to take the GRE in the spring of their junior year, so it is important that necessary coursework be completed by this time.

Degree: DVM. Veterinarians care for the health of animals and work to improve public health. They diagnose, treat and research medical conditions and diseases of pets, livestock and other animals. Although most veterinarians work in private clinics and hospitals, others travel to farms, work in laboratories or classrooms, or work for the government.

Entrance Exam: Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

Veterinary Medicine Programs in US: Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC)

There is one veterinary medicine school in Georgia. Specific admissions requirements are available on the school’s website:

The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine

Last updated: 5/31/2022