What does a veterinarian do? According to Purdue University:
- "Veterinarians take health histories of animals, perform and interpret tests, diagnose problems, prescribe medications, develop treatment plans, and perform surgeries.
- Veterinary medicine is a very large field encompassing many fascinating careers.
- Veterinarians can specialize in large, small, and exotic animal care.
- Areas in need of more veterinarians are food animal safety and laboratory animal health.
- Having a love for animals is important in veterinary medicine, as well as being able to work with people.
- Veterinarians are helping pet owners through difficult times, keeping our food supply safe, and studying diseases that often impact human populations.
- Many veterinarians are also involved in homeland security issues to help prevent bioterrorist attacks and to help protect our populations following one.
- Veterinary medicine is a complex field with many opportunities to work with both animals and people."
Time to degree: Four years
Clinical requirements: One year of clinical rotations
Certification requirements: Successful completion of the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (and possibly an additional state licensing exam)
Minimum GPA: 3.0 (for Purdue University)
Tuition: $147,000–$250,000 (in state), $191,000–$338,000 (out of state)
Exam requirement: GRE
Application deadlines: Early October for fall admission; complete VMCAS application
Median Indiana salary: $82,040
Projected job growth: 36% by 2020
Prerequisite courses (for Purdue University):
Biology I and II with lab | BIOL-K 101 & BIOL-K 103 | |
Genetics with lab | BIOL-K 322 & BIOL-K 323 | |
Microbiology with lab | BIOL-K 356 & BIOL-K 357 | |
Biochemistry | BIOL-K 384 or CHEM-C 384 | |
General Chemistry I and II with lab | CHEM-C 105 & 125, CHEM-C 106 & 126 | |
Organic Chemistry I and II with lab | CHEM-C 341 & 343, CHEM-C 342 & 344 | |
Physics I and II with lab | PHYS-P 201 & PHYS-P 202 | |
Statistics | STAT 30100 or STAT-N 501 or SPEA-K 300 | |
Animal Nutrition | ANSC 22300 | May be taken at Purdue WL or online |
English | ENG-W 131 | |
Communication | COMM-R 110 | |
Three semesters of humanities elective | PSY-B 110, SOC-R 100, or foreign language |
Download Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine prerequisites