Program Overview

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Pre-Veterinary Medicine Program

The College of Veterinary Medicine offers the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree, which prepares graduates to diagnose, treat, and prevent animal diseases, as well as promote public health, conserve animal resources, and promote the bond between humans and animals.

Program Overview

Veterinarians must be licensed to practice veterinary medicine in a given state, with licensure regulated by the Veterinary Medical Board. Ohio State academic programs are designed to prepare students to apply for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio.

Pre-Professional Programs

Pre-professional programs are designed for students who intend to enter professional school after graduating with a bachelor's degree. Pre-health is the pre-professional program for students interested in the health professions, including dentistry, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, and veterinary medicine.

Admission Criteria

Admission to the College of Veterinary Medicine is based on:

• Completion of prerequisite course work
• Participation in non-academic activities (volunteering, community service, work history, military service, sports)
• Exposure to the profession
• Personal interview

Prerequisite Courses

The prerequisite curriculum includes:

• Biochemistry 4511
• Microbiology 4000
• Physiology 3200
• Communication 2110
• 35 credit hours of science electives
• 16 credit hours of humanities and social sciences electives

Curriculum

The veterinary medicine curriculum spans four years, with the first three years focusing on preclinical course work, including:

• Topographic anatomy
• Functional histology
• Epidemiology
• Cell biology
• Comparative biology of disease
• Pharmacology
• Musculoskeletal system
• Clinical pathology

The final year is spent rotating through clinical experiences, including:

• Anesthesia
• Pathology
• Radiology
• Food animal
• Equine
• Small animal rotations

Internship

Students are encouraged to explore the profession through work or volunteer experience with a veterinary practice or informational interviews with people in the profession.

Student Organizations

Pre-veterinary medicine students are encouraged to join the pre-veterinary medicine club, which sponsors activities to help students become more aware of and knowledgeable about the veterinary profession.

Possible Careers

There are many career opportunities available to veterinarians, including:

• Private practice
• Public health
• Research
• Teaching
• Regulatory veterinary medicine
• Military service

Salary Estimates

Graduates who pursue the practice route can expect a starting salary between $75,000 and $100,000, while those who pursue a specialty area may expect salaries between $120,000 and $200,000.