Pre-Veterinary Medicine course catalog
2024-25 catalog edits in-progress
Advisor
TIMOTHY MUIR, Professor of Biology
B.A., Kalamazoo College; M.S., Ph.D., Miami University (Ohio)
KIMBERLY MURPHY, Associate Professor and Chair
B.A., Winona State; Ph.D., Washington State
Although most of our students attend vet school through the traditional route (after four years of undergraduate), Augustana College is one of only three colleges with an early acceptance agreement with the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine.
Students are accepted at the beginning of their second year at Augustana and must maintain a minimum grade-point average. Our agreement is not only an early admission program, but also a 3-4 program, meaning students can enter the vet school after their third year at Augustana. After their first year of veterinary school, they return for graduation at Augustana, then finish the remaining three years of vet school (seven total years). Application to this program is open to all Augustana students, regardless of residency.
Students also may participate in clinical rotations during the school year at various veterinary clinics in the Quad-City area to obtain the clinical experience necessary for successful competition for admission into schools of veterinary medicine.
Students interested in veterinary medicine should consult with the advisor early in their first year of study to plan an appropriate schedule.
Pre-Veterinary program outline
The following courses should be completed by the end of the first year:
CHEM-131, CHEM-132 (General Chemistry)
First-Year Inquiry (FYI) 101 and 102
First-Year J Term Course
Foreign Language 101, 102 if needed (less than four years of high school language)
Biology 130 (Molecules to Cells)* or Biology 140 (Organisms to Ecosystems)*
The following courses should be completed by the end of second year:
CHEM-321, CHEM-322 (Organic Chemistry)
BIOL-130 (Molecules to Cells)* or Biology 140 (Organisms to Ecosystems)* (whichever one was not taken during the first year)
Biology 250 (Genetics)* – BIOL 130 and BIOL 140 are prerequisites
Reasoned Examination of Faith (REF) course
The following courses should be completed by the end of the third and fourth year:
Physics 151, 152
Biology 250 (Genetics)* (if was not taken during the second year) – BIOL 130 and BIOL 140 are prerequisites
Biology 360 (Comparative Physiology) or Biology 362 (Human Physiology)
Chemistry 441 (Biochemistry I)
Senior Inquiry Course - in Biology or another major; if done in a different major, then replace with another biology elective
Biology - Three other courses of your choosing to complete the biology major
*Denotes a core course that each Biology major must complete prior to beginning Senior Inquiry.
Additional useful courses:
BIOL-310 (Evolutionary Biology)
BIOL-335 (Entomology)
BIOL-343 (Microbiology)
BIOL-345 (Immunology)
BIOL-351 (Human Anatomy)
BIOL-354 (Neuroanatomy)
BIOL-373 (Developmental Biology)
BIOL-375 (Molecular Genetics)
BIOL-386 (General Ecology)
BIOL-387 (Aquatic Biology)
BIOL-455 (Human Gross Anatomy Lab)
English 200 (Writing Process) - 2nd writing courses is required by many vet schools
Math 219 (Calculus) - suggested by some vet schools
Psychology 100 (Intro to Psychology)
Psychology 240 (Statistics) - required by some vet schools
Communication Studies 101 or 250 (Public Speaking or Health Communication)
Classics 290 (Greek and Latin Roots for Science; 2 credit)
"Humanities" & "Social Sciences" - several vet schools require a minimum number of credits
Internship - 4 credits (160 hours) or 8 credits (400 hours)
Pre-Veterinary 3-4 Coordinated Degree Program
Coordinated Degree Program at Augustana with the College of Veterinary Medicine at University of Illinois; NOTE: Requires a 3.50 GPA, 3.50 Science GPA. This program is for all students, regardless of residency, completing all their pre-veterinary coursework at Augustana College.
Required courses
The following courses should be completed by the end of the first year:
Chemistry 131, 132 (General Chemistry)
First-Year Inquiry (FYI) 101 and 102
First Year J-Term
Foreign Language 101, 102 if needed (less than 4 years of high school language)
BIOL 130 (Molecules to Cells)* or Biology 140 (Organisms to Ecosystems)*
The following courses should be completed by the end of second year:
Chemistry 321, 322 (Organic Chemistry)
Biology 130 (Molecules to Cells)* or Biology 140 (Organisms to Ecosystems)* (whichever one was not taken during the first year)
Biology 250 (Genetics)* – BIOL 130 and BIOL 140 are prerequisites
Reasoned Examination of Faith (REF) course
The following courses should be completed by the end of the third year:
Chemistry 441 (Biochemistry I)
Physics 151, 152
BIOL-360 or BIOL-362 (Comparative or Human Physiology)
Biology – One other course (not Immunology, Neuroanatomy, or Histology)
Senior Inquiry - in Biology
*Denotes a core course that each Biology major must complete prior to beginning Senior Inquiry.
You also must complete all of your 'General Education" courses during your three years.
The above course work totals 110 credits, thereby requiring 8 credits of overload, summer school or AP credit from high school. However, if the foreign language requirement has been satisfied, only 102 credits in specific courses are required.
Note, a student wishing to earn an Augustana degree, should AVOID taking any of the following courses at Augustana: Immunology, Neuroanatomy, Histology. These courses, when taken at U. of Illinois, will fulfill the last of the requirements for your Biology Major at Augustana.
Students must take ALL the Illinois CVM prerequisite courses at Augustana. After being accepted into the 3-4 program, all science courses must be taken at Augustana. Only non-science courses can be transferred into Augustana and only if absolutely necessary.
Additional useful courses
PSYC-100 (Intro. to Psychology)
PSYC-240 (Statistics)
Biology 310 (Evolutionary Biology)
BIOL-310 (Evolutionary Biology)
BIOL-335 (Entomology)
BIOL-343 (Microbiology)
BIOL-345 (Principles of Immunology)
BIOL-351 (Human Anatomy)
BIOL-373 (Developmental Biology)
BIOL-375 (Molecular Genetics)
BIOL-386 (General Ecology)
BIOL-387 (Aquatic Biology)
BIOL-455 (Human Gross Anatomy Lab; 2 credits)
Grade Point Average Notation: All courses listed in the catalog as required courses for any major and/or minor, including those courses outside of the department or with a different subject coding, are considered part of the major and will count in the grade point average. Recommended supporting courses that are optional and not required may also count in the major depending on the program. For more information see your department chair or the degree requirements for Bachelor of Arts and information on Majors/Minors.