What Bachelor Degree is Needed for Veterinary School?

What education is required to be a veterinarian? When it comes to how to become a veterinarian, the first step is enrolling in an undergraduate program. Although becoming a licensed vet takes years of post-secondary schooling, if you hope to attend one of the 33 accredited schools in the U.S., as identified by the American Association of Veterinary Colleges, you’ll first need to earn a bachelor’s degree. 

This begs the question, “What bachelor's degree is needed for veterinary school?”

In theory, you can use any bachelor’s degree to apply to vet school, as long as you meet the necessary prerequisite courses through electives. In fact, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) notes that successful vets have majored in everything from English to math.

That said, some degrees can provide you with particular skills and knowledge that can make you a more attractive applicant to veterinary education programs and help you get to the top of the class once you’re admitted. Below, we’ll take a look at the top undergraduate degrees to consider before applying to vet school.

Biology 

Biology is the science of life and living things. As such, a biology program can provide you with a foundational understanding of the animals you’ll be working with as a veterinarian. 

When pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology, you’ll likely take courses such as:

• Animal Behavior – An understanding of how animals act and interact with their environment is crucial to successfully practicing veterinary science. 
• Animal Physiology – Undergraduate biology courses can acquaint you with the inner workings of animals. You’ll learn about the biological functions and processes that sustain them. 
• Genes and Genomics – Veterinarians rely on a deep understanding of how genetic traits and conditions are passed through generations of animals in assessing and diagnosing illness and disease. 
• Infectious Disease – An understanding of how diseases manifest and circulate among animal groups is an integral part of safely and successfully treating animals. 

Chemistry 

A chemistry degree is another excellent springboard for getting into your top-choice veterinary program. This is because a thorough understanding of chemistry is necessary for practicing veterinary science, especially when it comes to prescribing medications. 

Typical courses in a chemistry program include:

• General Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Chemical Analysis

Biochemistry 

For a healthy dose of both of the above fields, you can pursue a biochemistry degree. Biochemistry covers chemistry and biology in equal measures, which can give future vets a solid understanding of the chemical interactions within living things—an essential aspect of veterinary science. 

What’s more, a solid background in biochemistry can help you gain a better understanding of how animals:

• Metabolize food
• Behave when they’re healthy
• Behave when they’re sick 

Pre-Veterinary Medicine 

A pre-veterinary program is tailored explicitly toward future vets, making it an excellent choice for those wanting to apply to veterinary school. A specialized pre-vet program explores the following topics with veterinary school in mind:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Communications (written and verbal)

Depending on the pre-veterinary medicine program, you may be able to choose an educational focus that most appeals to you and aligns with your long-term career goals. Pre-veterinary medicine students specialize in areas like environmental biology, marine biology, and wildlife conservation, among others according to Inspira Advantage.