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The Pre-Veterinary Science major is designed to provide pre-professional training to students planning to continue their education in veterinary, graduate, or medical school or who are contemplating joining the teaching profession. Students who are applying to UMass and are interested in entering the BS-Pre-Veterinary Science major should choose the BS-Animal Science Pre-Vet track option on the Common App. All incoming students enter the program as Animal Science majors and must qualify to enter into the Pre-Veterinary Science major. Eligible students must achieve and maintain a grade of B- (2.7) or better in in ten indicator classes, most of which are part of the curriculum of the BS-Animal Science major. Students may change to the Pre-Veterinary Science major at any time after these requirements are met by submitting the worksheet to @email or Lisa West ISB 427X.

Students interested in transferring to the Pre-Veterinary Science major should carefully read the information at Changing your Major.

Pre-Veterinary Science Course Checklist

Suggested sequence of courses

First year - Fall  

  • ANIMLSCI 101 - Intro to Animal Science, 4
  • BIOLOGY 151 - Intro Biology I, 4
  • CHEM 111 - General Chemistry I, 4    
  • General Education Class - DG or DU, 4
  • FYFS Freshmen Seminar or Residential Academic Program (RAP), 1
  • Credits - 17

First year - Spring

  • ANIMLSCI 103 - Intro  Animal Management, 4
  • BIOLOGY 152/153 Intro Biology II and Lab, 5
  • CHEM 112 - General Chemistry II, 4
  • ENGLWRIT 112 - College Writing, 3   
  • Credits - 16

Sophomore year - Fall

  • ANIMLSCI 220 - Anatomy & Physiology, 4
  • ANIMLSCI 260 - Animal Welfare, 4
  • CHEM 261 - Organic Chemistry I, 3
  • MATH 127 - Calculus, 3 or STATISTC 111, or STATISTC 240, or RESECON 212, Statistics, 3/4
  • Credits 14/15

Sophomore year - Spring

  • ANIMLSCI 285 - Cellular & Molecular Biology, 3
  • CHEM 262 - Organic Chemistry II, CHEM 269 lab, 5
  • General Education Class, 4
  • MATH 127- Calculus, 3 or STATISTC 111, or STATISTC 240, or RESECON 212, Statistics, 4
  • Credits 15/16

Junior year - Fall

  • ANIMLSCI 311 - Genetics, 3
  • MICROBIO 310 - General Microbiology, 3
  • BIOCHEM 423 OR BIOCHEM 320, 3 credits (only one is required; for veterinary schools requiring 5 credits of Biochem, Biochem 321 lab can be taken for the 2 additional credits or Biochem 424 lab, 3 credits)
  • NATSCI 387* - CNS Junior Writing or Elective or General Education Class, 3/4
  • Elective or ANIMLSCI *91C or *91M - Biotech Research Experience, 1-3 (The *91 courses are biotechnology research and are arranged with individual faculty to conduct research. Students can make arrangements with any lab on campus, students complete Biotechnology Research Contract with faculty. Faculty must submit contract for registration.)
  • Credits 13/16

Junior year - Spring

  • ANIMLSCI 572 - Molecular Immunology, 3 OR  ANIMLSCI 472 - Infection and Immunity, 3 (fall semester)
  • ANIMLSCI 332 - Animal Nutrition and Feeding, 4
  • BIOCHEM 424 - Biochemistry II, 3 credits (Suggested but not required. Biochem 423 is a pre-requisite) OR BIOCHEM 321, 2 credits (maybe be required by some vet schools)
  • Elective or General Education Class, 3/4
  • Elective or ANIMLSCI *91C or *91M - Biotech Research Experience, 1-3 (The *91 courses are biotechnology research and are arranged with individual faculty to conduct research. Students can make arrangements with any lab on campus, students complete Biotechnology Research Contract with faculty. Faculty must submit contract for registration.)
  • Credits 14/17      

Senior year - Fall 

  • ANIMLSCI 472 - Infection and Immunity, 3 OR  ANIMLSCI 572 - Molecular Immunology, 3 (spring semester)
  • PHYSICS 131 - Physics, 4
  • ANIMLSCI 494EI - IE: One Health, 3 OR ANIMLSCI 494GI - IE- Good Intentions, 3 (spring semester)
  • ANIMLSCI 366 - Veterinary Microbiology or MICROBIO 265 or MICROBIO 312 - Microbiology, 2
  • Elective or General Education or ANIMLSCI *91C or *91M - Biotech Research Experience, 1-3 (The *91 courses are biotechnology research and are arranged with individual faculty to conduct research. Students can make arrangements with any lab on campus, students complete Biotechnology Research Contract with faculty. Faculty must submit contract for registration.)
  • Credits 13/17

Senior year - Spring

  • ANIMLSCI 494GI - IE- Good Intentions, 3 OR ANIMLSCI 494EI - IE: One Health, 3 (fall semester)
  • ANIMLSCI 521 - Physiology of Reproduction, 4
  • PHYSICS 132 - Physics II, 4
  • ANIMLSCI 366 - Veterinary Microbiology or MICROBIOLOGY 265 or MICROBIOLOGY 312 - Microbiology, 2/3
  • Elective or ANIMLSCI *91C or *91M Biotech Research Experience, 1-3 (The *91 courses are biotechnology research and are arranged with individual faculty to conduct research. Students can make arrangements with any lab on campus, students complete Biotechnology Research Contract with faculty. Faculty must submit contract for registration.)
  • Credits - 16/17

*Note: NATSCI 387 - Writing in the Sciences must be completed in the junior or senior year.

Pre-Veterinary Major when deferring math and chemistry

First year - Fall 

  • ANIMLSCI 101 - Intro to Animal Science, 4
  • BIOLOGY 151 - Intro Biology I, 4
  • MATH 104 - Pre-Calculus, 3
  • General Education Class DU or DG, 4
  • FYFS Freshmen Seminar or Residential Academic Program (RAP), 1
  • Credits - 16

First year - Spring

  • ANIMLSCI 103 - Intro  Animal Management, 4
  • BIOLOGY 152/153 - Intro Biology II and Lab, 5
  • CHEM 111 - General Chemistry I, 4
  • ENGLWRIT 112 - College Writing, 3
  • Credits - 16

Sophomore year - Fall

  • ANIMLSCI 220 - Anatomy & Physiology, 4
  • ANIMLSCI 260 - Animal Welfare, 4
  • CHEM 112 - General Chemistry II, 4
  • MATH 127 - Calculus, 3
  • Credits - 15     

Sophomore year - Spring

  • ANIMLSCI 285 - Cellular & Molecular Biology, 3
  • STATISTC 111, or STATISTC 240, or RESECON 212, - Statistics, 4
  • CHEM 261 - Organic Chemistry I, 3
  • General Education Class, 4
  • Credits -14

Junior year - Fall

  • ANIMLSCI 311 - Genetics, 3
  • MICROBIOLOGY 310 - General Microbiology, 3
  • CHEM 262/269 - Organic Chem II/Lab, 5
  • NATSCI 387* - Jr. Year Writing or Elective or General Education Class, 3/4
  • Credits - 14/15

Junior year - Spring

  • ANIMLSCI 332 - Animal Nutrition and Feeding, 4
  • ANIMLSCI 572 - Molecular Immunology  3 OR ANIMLSCI 472 - Infection and Immunity, 3
  • PHYSICS 131 - Physics, 4
  • Elective or General Education Class, 3/4
  • Elective or ANIMLSCI '91C or '91M - Biotech Research Experience, 1-3 (The *91 courses are biotechnology research and are arranged with individual faculty to conduct research. Students can make arrangements with any lab on campus, students complete Biotechnology Research Contract with faculty. Faculty must submit contract for registration.)
  • Credits - 15/18

Senior year - Fall 

  • ANIMLSCI 494EI - IE: One Health, 3 or Elective, 3/4 OR ANIMLSCI 494GI - IE:  Good Intentions, 3 (spring semester)
  • PHYSICS 132 - Physics II, 4
  • BIOCHEM 423 or BIOCHEM 320 - Biochemistry I, 3 (only one is required; for veterinary schools requiring 5 credits of Biochem, Biochem 321 lab can be taken for the 2 additional credits or Biochem 424 lab, 3 credits)
  • ANIMLSCI 366 - Veterinary Microbiology or MICROBIO 265 or MICROBIO 312 - Microbiology, 2
  • Elective or ANIMLSCI '91C or '91M - Biotech Research Experience, 1-3 (The *91 courses are biotechnology research and are arranged with individual faculty to conduct research. Students can make arrangements with any lab on campus, students complete Biotechnology Research Contract with faculty. Faculty must submit contract for registration.)
  • ANIMLSCI 472 - Infection and Immunity, 3 OR ANIMLSCI 572 - Molecular Immunology (spring semester)
  • Credits - 16/17

Senior year - Spring

  • ANIMLSCI 494GI - IE:  Good Intentions or Elective, 3/4 OR ANIMLSCI 494EI - IE: One Health, 3 (fall semester)
  • ANIMLSCI 521 - Physiology of Reproduction, 4
  • ANIMLSCI 366 - Veterinary Microbiology or MICROBIO 265 or MICROBIO 312 - Microbiology, 2
  • BIOCHEM 424 or BIOCHEM 321 - Biochemistry II, 3 credits (Suggested but not required. Biochem 423 is a pre-requisite) OR BIOCHEM 321, 2 credits (maybe be required by some vet schools)
  • Elective or ANIMLSCI '91C or '91M - Biotech Research Experience, 1-3 (The *91 courses are biotechnology research and are arranged with individual faculty to conduct research. Students can make arrangements with any lab on campus, students complete Biotechnology Research Contract with faculty. Faculty must submit contract for registration.)
  • Credits - 13/15

*Note: NATSCI 387 - Writing in the Sciences must be completed at UMass in the junior or senior year.

Pre-Veterinary Advising

To learn more about the veterinary and animal sciences department’s undergraduate program, please access our Frequently Asked Questions.

The Academic Veterinarian is a career-focused podcast that seeks to educate and support pre-college and undergraduate students pursuing a career in the fields of veterinary and animal science. Special guests share insights and expertise within their area of interest with VASCI faculty member, Dr. Nuno Carreiro, DVM.

Course Requirements for Veterinary Colleges

UMass/Tufts BS/DVM Early Decision Program

University of Melbourne Australia

University of Edinburgh School of Veterinary Medicine

Applying to Vet School FAQs