Prerequisite Course Requirements
Updated requirements beginning the 2025-2026 Admissions Cycle
- Applicants can have no more than 4 science and math prerequisites planned or in-progress at the time of submitting their application
- All prerequisites must be completed by the end of the spring semester of the year you begin the veterinary medical program.
- Organic Chemistry I and II with labs must be completed at the time of application.
Course Description |
Semester(s) |
|---|---|
| General (Inorganic) Chemistry with lab I | 1 |
| General (Inorganic) Chemistry with lab II | 1 |
| Organic Chemistry with lab I | 1 |
| Organic Chemistry with lab II | 1 |
| Biochemistry+ (upper division) | 1 |
| General Biology with lab I (diversity, developmental, cell structure) | 1 |
| General Biology with lab II (diversity, developmental, cell structure) | 1 |
| Genetics | 1 |
| Microbiology (general or medical) with lab | 1 |
| Physics with lab I | 1 |
| Physics with lab II | 1 |
| Statistics | 1 |
| English Composition | 1 |
| Communication (interpersonal, persuasion, or speech/public speaking) | 1 |
| Humanities (foreign language, cognitive sciences, and social sciences) | 3 |
| Careers in Veterinary Medicine (if available) | 1 |
All labs must be completed onsite at an institution. Online lectures are permitted.
*Due to the COVID-19 crisis, many higher education institutions around the country are opting for a Pass/Not Pass grading option and online instruction, therefore, the following changes are in effect:
- We will accept a grade of "P" (pass) for any prerequisite courses taken during these terms.
- Spring 2020
- Summer 2020
- We will accept online lecture and lab courses taken during these terms.
- Spring 2020
- Summer 2020
- Fall 2020
- Spring 2021
- Summer 2021
- Fall 2021
- Spring 2022
- Summer 2022
Core subjects may vary as to the number of semesters required depending on the overall design and content of the core courses on a particular campus (e.g. 1 semester vs. 2 semesters.) Please consult with your undergraduate academic advisor and refer to the course descriptions on the VMCAS web site.
+This course should be a complete upper-division course; half of a 2-semester sequence will not satisfy this requirement.
Purdue pre-veterinary students should follow their undergraduate programs of study regardless of minimums indicated.
Other recommended courses:
- Accounting
- Animal sciences (including nutrition)
- Biochemistry laboratory
- Business
- Business/technical writing
- Chemistry
- Economics
- Embryology
- Immunology
- Leadership
- Personal finance
