Overview

 Students preparing for admission to a professional veterinary medical program must choose a specific course of study (major) offered by one of the colleges at the university in which the student is enrolled. Students are encouraged to enroll into a degree program leading to another career choice, in case they are not selected to a professional veterinary medical program. This degree program should provide appropriate educational experiences and academic rigor to prepare the student for entrance into a veterinary medical program.

Experience With Animals

Knowledge of and experience in working with animals is critical preparation for a successful veterinarian. Appropriate preparation includes formal training and experience as well as contact with and handling of animals.

Applicants to the College of Veterinary Medicine are expected to be familiar with animals and animal behavior. General agriculture knowledge is encouraged for those interested in farm animal veterinary medicine. To obtain this experience, applicants should register for the course work which provides exposure to animals or involve themselves in practical animal applications in the private sector.  All applicants to veterinary medicine programs are expected to have experience with both large and small animals.

Applying to Vet School

The prerequisite coursework for veterinary medicine varies by program, but closely resembles that needed for medical schools.  Most vet programs also require applicants to have coursework in animal nutrition or animal feeds.  UT Tyler does not offer this class but UT Tyler students are able to take online through cooperating universities.  Students should use the webistes below to explore specific schools' prerequisites.  Most veterinary programs require a score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) as part of the application.

Veternarian Medicine Schools

There are two veterinary medicine programs in Texas:

Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine

 

There are two other colleges of veterinary medicine close to Texas:

• LSU College of Veterinary Medicine at Baton Rouge, LA
• Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Stillwater, OK

All Other Veterinary Schools Within the US

Contact

For more information or questions concerning courses at UT Tyler that will fulfill veterinary school prerequisites, please contact:

Dr. Rachel Mason
Chief Health Professions Advisor & JAMP Faculty Director
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
The University of Texas at Tyler
3900 University Blvd
Tyler, Texas 75799
Office: RBS 3002
Phone: 903.565.5641

Marti Halbrook, MS
Assistant Director, of Academy of Future Health Professionals
The University of Texas at Tyler
3900 University Blvd
Tyler, Texas 75799
Office: CAS 132
Phone: 903.566.7193