Pre-Veterinary
Program Description
Pre-professional programs are designed to meet the admission requirements of professional schools, such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, etc.
These programs are very competitive, so students should plan their program, allowing them the option of completing an undergraduate degree if admission into the professional program is denied or delayed.
Transfer depends on proper course selection, credit hours completed, grade point average (GPA), and other requirements. The minimum stated GPA is often not enough because of the competition to enter a program.
University of Saskatchewan
The Veterinary Medicine Program is offered through the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. To be considered for admission, students must complete a minimum of two years (60*) of pre-professional university level coursework and have a high grade point average (GPA). The Veterinary Medicine Program at the University of Saskatchewan is competitive and has an enrollment quota. They accept a maximum of 20 Alberta students per year.
Students should meet all of the Pre-Veterinary requirements, but also design their program so that a Bachelor of Science degree a can be completed.
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary offers a Veterinary Medicine program, which began in the fall of 2008. To be considered for admission, students must complete a minimum of two academic years of full time study (minimum four courses per semester for a minimum 16 half course equivalents (HCE) in university coursework. Students will be assessed on their best two full academic years (as defined in the previous sentence), performance in their most recent year of undergraduate study, and completion of required courses. Applicants will be considered if they have attained an average of a 3.00 (B, or its equivalent) over the best two full academic years and in their final year of undergraduate study. Applicants must also attain an average of 3.00 (B, or its equivalent) or above on the following pre-requisite courses. In each of the required courses the applicant must have received a grade of 2.30 (C+ or its equivalent) or higher to count the course as meeting the program admission requirements.
Admission Requirements
Program Outcomes
Graduates from the program will be able to:
- Transfer into second year BSc programs at universities in Alberta and across Canada
- Understand and apply fundamental knowledge in areas of the sciences and social sciences.
- Apply the scientific method to the investigation of the natural world.
- Interpret, analyze and organize scientific data in the forms of graphs, tables and lab reports.
Program Structure
This program of study is based on the curriculum from the University of Alberta. Students intending to transfer to other institutions should consult the receiving institution as curriculums may vary.
Required Pre-Professional courses (Years I and II) | |
University of Saskatchewan | |
6 credits English or Literature |
6 credits Physics |
6 credits General Chemistry |
6 credits Math or Statistics |
6 credits Biochemistry |
6 credits Biology |
3 credits Organic Chemistry |
3 credits Genetics |
3 credits Introductory Microbiology |
15 credits Options |
Required Pre-Professional courses (Years I and II) | |
University of Calgary | |
3 credits Organic Chemistry |
3 credits Statistics |
6 credits General Chemistry |
3 credits Biochemistry |
6 credits General Biology |
3 credits Genetics |
3 credits English |
3 credits Ecology |
Suggested Pattern:
Year 1 |
||
Term I (September - December ) |
||
Course |
Course Title |
Credits |
3 | ||
Introductory University Chemistry I |
3 | |
Literary Analysis |
3 | |
Elementary Calculus I |
3 | |
3 credits options (towards a BSc program) |
3 | |
Term II (January – April) |
||
Course |
Course Title |
Credits |
3 | ||
Introductory University Chemistry II |
3 | |
Organic Chemistry I |
3 | |
Literature in Historical Perspective |
3 | |
Introduction to Applied Statistics I |
3 | |
Year 2 |
||
Term I (September - December ) |
||
Course |
Course Title |
Credits |
Molecular Genetics and Heredity |
3 | |
Organic Chemistry I |
3 | |
Introduction to Motion |
3 | |
6 credits options (towards a BSc program) |
3 | |
Term II (January – April) |
||
Course |
Course Title |
Credits |
Principles of Ecology |
3 | |
Introductory Biochemistry |
3 | |
General Microbiology |
3 | |
Fluids, Fields and Radiation |
3 | |
3 credits options (towards a BSc program) |
3 | |
Transferability
Students intending to transfer to other institutions should consult the receiving institution as standards may vary.
Transfer information on each course is available at the Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfers.