Pre-Veterinary

You love animals, and envision yourself in a career dedicated to promoting their well-being. Wheaton’s pre-veterinary academic track will prepare you for a future serving the healthcare needs of animals. As part of a high-quality and immersive liberal arts experience, you’ll engage in coursework that will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in veterinary school. Topics you’ll study will include biology, chemistry, physics, math, English as well as animal behavior, for which Wheaton offers a minor. You’ll have access to myriad experiential learning opportunities, including student-faculty research, and Wheaton’s on-campus Animal Facility.

All of the courses below are required before applying to veterinary schools. Keep in mind that these courses represent the basic requirements for most veterinary schools.  Additional courses are common.  Check with specific veterinary school programs for extra requirements. There are 28 veterinary schools in the US and five in Canada. Consult Pre-Health Adviser for the right sequence of courses for you.

Courses required by the majority of veterinary schools

Two Biology courses minimum 

Bio 114: Introduction to Biological Sciences
Bio 305: Biochemistry*

*Course prerequisite for Bio 305: Biochemistry that must be completed before taking the course: Chem 253, Chem 254, and BIO 211 or BIO 221 (see below).

One course minimum from

Bio 211: Genetics
Bio 221: Microbiology

Note: Bio 211: Genetics – required or recommended by 21 veterinary schools; Bio 221: Microbiology – required or recommended by 18 veterinary schools

Four Chemistry courses 

Chem 153: Chemical Principles
Chem 253: Organic Chemistry I
Chem 254: Organic Chemistry II
Chem 232: Aqueous Equilibria

Two Physics courses 

Phys 170: Introductory Physics I
Phys 171: Introductory Physics II

One Mathematics course 

Math 101: Calculus I  (required for biochemistry, chemistry, economics, mathematics, physics majors)

Note: some veterinary schools also require a semester of statistics

Math 141: Statistics  (required for bioinformatics, business/management, economics, neuroscience, psychology majors)

Two English courses 

Eng 101: Writing
One English class:  200-level or above

Veterinary (DVM) Curricular Path (pdf)

Pre-Health Faculty Advising

Working with a dedicated Pre-Health Faculty Advisor, students interested in pre-health can expect individualized curricular sequencing guidance, career advice and coaching, and pre-application support for graduate and medical schools. Pre-health career students can also access a wide array of internship and shadowing opportunities that are regularly shared by the Pre-Health Faculty Advisor.

Students applying to pre-health graduate programs receive graduate school selection guidance and support, personal statement guidance, interview preparation, feedback on application materials, and testing guidance and testing preparation for GRE/MCAT/DAT/PCAT.

Medical school applicants are supported at Wheaton College through the Pre-Health Advisor and the work of an interdisciplinary committee of staff and faculty. Wheaton College’s Pre-Health Advisor is Hilary Gaudet, Ph.D.