Pre-Veterinary Medicine at Augustana

	Nicole DiGiacomo '01 Age: 30 Hometown: Villa Park, IL High School: Willowbrook Major: Biology (Pre-Vet) Graduate Study: Doctoral in Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, 2005 Current Work: Veterinarian, DuPage Animal Hospital, Villa Park, Illinois Then Nicole was drawn to Augustana because of its strong programs in the sciences. But it was the people behind those programs that made the greatest impact on her life as she completed her studies and competed on the Vikings volleyball team. "I always felt like if there was something that wasn't going the right way I had a person I could approach. I knew exactly who to find. That gave me the confidence to take on all those activities and leadership roles. I always knew there was someone I could turn to if I needed help." Now Nicole is a veterinarian at DuPage Animal Hospital in Villa Park, Illinois. She also serves on the admissions board at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Why Augustana? "I felt like, in the classroom, I had such a good foundation. The one-on-one personal interaction I had with teachers was so important for laying that foundation. In professional school, the amount of material is overwhelming. If I hadn't had that foundation, it would have been easy to fall behind."
	More Information Dr. Darrin Good

Augustana College is the only college with a guaranteed and 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 to graduate at Augustana, then finish the remaining three years of vet school (seven total years). This is not restricted to Illinois residents.

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 of studies.

Pre-Veterinary Program Outline

(If elective spaces exist due to AP credit or fulfillment of foreign language, General Zoology may be taken during the first year)

The following courses should be completed by the end of the first year:

• Chemistry 121, 122, 123 (General Chemistry)
• Math 219 (Calculus) - Optional (not required by most vet schools)
• Foreign Language 101, 102, 103 if needed (less than 4 years of high school language)
• First-Year Liberal Studies Courses
• LS 100 (College Writing)
• Greek and Latin for Science (CL 111) - Only offered spring term (1 credit)

The following courses should be completed by the end of second year:

• Chemistry 311, 312, 313 (Organic Chemistry)
• Biology 200 (General Zoology) - Any term
• Biology 210 (Cell Biology) - Any term
• Biology 370 (Genetics)
• English 201 (The Writing Process) - 2nd writing course is required by many vet schools

The following courses should be completed by the end of the third year:

• Physics 101, 102, 103
• Biology 220 (Botany)
• Biology 343 (Microbiology)
• Biology 360 (Comparative Physiology)

The following courses should be completed by the end of the fourth year:

• Chemistry 411 (Biochemistry) - Must be taken fall term (3rd or 4th year)
• Biology 455 (Cadaver Dissection) - Can petition to take 3rd year if you are admitted early
• Biology - Four other courses of your choosing to complete the biology major

Additional courses currently needed for some veterinary schools:

• Biology 337 (Parasitology)
• Biology 358 (Histology)
• Psychology 100 (Intro. to Psychology)
• Psychology 240 (Intro. to Statistics and Experimental Design) - "Psych Stats"
  - Prerequisites: Psych 100 and Permission of Instructor
  Speech course that includes oral advocacy skills or public speaking

Recommended: not required, but very helpful in vet school

• Biology 263 (Nutrition), Biology 354 (Neuroanatomy), Biology 373 (Developmental Biology)
• Internship - 4 credits (160 hours) or 8 credits (400 hours)
• "Social Sciences" - several vet schools require a minimum number of credits - defined somewhat differently at each vet school
• "Humanities"- several vet schools require a minimum number of credits

Pre-Veterinary 3:4 Coordinated Degree Program

Coordinated Degree Program at Augustana with College of Veterinary Medicine at University of Illinois; NOTE: Requires a 3.50 gpa, 3.50 Science gpa for residents of ANY state

Required Courses - The following courses should be completed by the end of the first year:

• Chemistry 121, 122, 123 (General Chemistry)
• Foreign Language 101, 102, 103 if needed (less than 4 years of high school language)
• Liberal Studies Courses - Three are required
• LS 100 (College Writing)
• Biology 200 (General Zoology) - Any term

The following courses should be completed by the end of second year:

• Chemistry 311, 312, 313 (Organic Chemistry)
• Biology 210 (Cell Biology) - fall term (or in spring of first year)
• Biology 220 (Botany)
• Biology 370 (Genetics)

The following courses should be completed by the end of the third year:

• Chemistry 411 (Biochemistry I) - Only fall term
• Physics 101, 102, 103
• Biology 343 (Microbiology)
• Biology 360 OR 362 (Comparative OR Human Physiology)
• Biology - Two other courses of your choosing (excluding Immunology, Neuroanatomy,
  Histology)
• You must also complete all of your ‘General Education' courses during your three years.

The above course work totals 105 credits, thereby requiring 9 credits of overload, summer school or AP credit from high school. However, if the foreign language requirement has been satisfied, only 96 credits in specific courses are required. A minimum of 90 credits at Augustana 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. A major in Chemistry would require a total of 116 credits or 107 if the foreign language requirement has been satisfied.

Additional courses to consider if you have time: Strongly recommended:

• Psychology 100 (Intro. to Psychology)
• Psychology 240 (Intro. to Statistics and Experimental Design) - "Psych Stats - prerequisites: Psych 100 and Permission of Instructor Recommended: not required, but helpful in vet school
• Biology 337 (Parasitology)
• Biology 255 (Human Anatomy)
• Biology 455 (Cadaver Dissection)
• Biology 373 (Developmental Biology)