PRE-VETERINARY MEDICINE

Act 1259 of the Arkansas General Assembly authorized funds for education in veterinary medicine. The State Board of Higher Education is the designated agent for the State of Arkansas and the Student Loan Authority is authorized to administer the program. Terms and conditions prescribed by the Student Loan Authority are as follows for each year of practice in Arkansas one year's loan and accrued interest will be converted to a scholarship grant. Loans will cover only out-of-state tuition and the student will pay his or her own fees and expenses.

Contracts have been negotiated with the Board of Control for Southern Regional Education for education in veterinary medicine at Louisiana State University (LSU) and at Tuskegee University. Arrangements have also been made with the University of Missouri and Oklahoma State University. Under the provisions of the legislation only citizens of Arkansas are eligible. They must enroll in and complete the pre-veterinary medicine curriculum to satisfy the admission requirements of the colleges of veterinary medicine.

The pre-veterinary medicine program at the University of Arkansas is administered in the Departments of Animal or Poultry Science of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. There are several full-time veterinarians on the staff in these departments who help counsel and advise the students in regard to their pre-veterinary medicine program. They also provide some insight into the practice of veterinary medicine and are knowledgeable about many of the problems encountered in establishing a practice upon graduation. Some of these veterinarians have been in private practice; others have been involved in research full-time since graduation from veterinary medicine and graduate school. Because there is a wide cross-section of experience among these faculty, students find their counsel valuable in planning their future in veterinary medicine. All students in the pre-veterinary program at the University of Arkansas will have a veterinarian assigned as their adviser.

While it is possible to complete requirements for admission to some colleges of veterinary medicine in two years, most students take three years or more to complete the requirements and some complete B.S. degrees before being admitted. Students who carefully plan their work may complete a B.S. degree by transferring hours completed in the first two years in an accredited college of veterinary medicine back to the University of Arkansas, provided they complete certain degree requirements at the University prior to entering a school or college of veterinary medicine. These students must complete 102 or 103 hours of a 132-hour program of prescribed courses. This will require three years and one or two 6-week summer terms for most students. Degrees may be earned in this manner in four majors in the Departments of Animal and Poultry Science. Students should indicate early to their adviser that they wish to be in a degree program.

The Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences is always ready to assist students in fulfilling their pre-veterinary medicine requirements whether they desire to complete them in a two-year span or over three or four years. The supporting departments at the University, including chemistry, English, and those in the biological sciences, all offer quality courses which give the student an excellent background for the pursuit of a degree in veterinary medicine.

To earn the professional degree, a student must complete the pre-veterinary medicine requirements and the four-year prescribed curriculum in one of the colleges of veterinary medicine.

Required Examinations

Students seeking admission to LSU may take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) or the Graduate Record Examinations on one of the two national testing dates in the spring or early fall of the year before they wish to enter LSU. Applications to take the test must be made 30 days in advance. The examination must be taken before application is made in October for September admission to LSU. MCAT applications are available from the Departments of Animal or Poultry Science, U of A, Fayetteville.

Students who wish to apply for admission to either Tuskegee University or the University of Missouri must take the VAT. This test is given in November each year at the University of Arkansas. Application to take the test must be made at least 30 days in advance. Applications are available from the Departments of Animal or Poultry Science.

Students applying for admission to Oklahoma State University (OSU) must take the general test and the biology test of the G.R.E. prior to submitting their applications in December of the year before they wish to begin their studies at OSU. The tests are given on campuses every other month beginning in February each year. Application for the test must be made at least thirty days in advance. The last date the test may be taken for OSU would be in October each year with a September deadline for application to take the test.

Applications

Applications to LSU, Tuskegee University, the University of Missouri, and OSU can be obtained in the fall by contacting the school directly. After completion, they should be returned to the school. The Arkansas Student Loan Authority should be notified of your intentions.

All students should contact the Coordinator of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science Building, 103E, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701 about 18 months in advance of the time for which they will be seeking admission to a college of veterinary medicine. This is the office where test applications may be obtained. The telephone number is (479) 575-4351. Dr. Ed Piper is the coordinator.

Pre-Professional Requirements

The pre-professional curriculum of 60 to 69 semester credit hours must be completed at an accredited institution, but such courses and credits must be evaluated at the institution to which the student seeks admission before candidacy can be determined. A student must have a grade-point average of at least 2.50 (2.80 at some schools), based on a 4.00 system, in the required pre-professional courses in order to be considered. However, a grade-point average higher than the minimum is needed to be competitive. A grade of less than "C" in a required course will not be considered acceptable.

The courses listed below will meet the requirements for admission to the College of Veterinary Medicine at Louisiana State University. It is not expected that the courses listed below will be completed in two years. When spread over three years, it will be possible to complete courses in areas that will fulfill degree requirements as explained above. Students who complete 102 to 103 hours of designated courses may receive a B.S. degree from the University of Arkansas upon transferring the first two years of work in veterinary medicine back to the University. The courses as presented below illustrate how the minimum requirements at Louisiana State University can be met.

First Year

Second Year

The courses listed below will meet the requirements for admission to the School of Veterinary Medicine at Tuskegee University. It is not expected that the courses listed below will be completed in two years. When spread over three years it will be possible to complete courses in other areas that will fulfill degree requirements as explained above. Students who complete 102 to 103 hours of designated courses may receive a B.S. degree from the University of Arkansas upon transferring the first two years of work in veterinary medicine back to the University. The courses as presented below illustrate how the minimum requirements at Tuskegee University can be met.

First Year

Second Year

The courses listed below will meet the requirements for admission to the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oklahoma State University. It is not expected that the courses listed below will be completed in two years. When spread over three years, it will be possible to complete courses in other areas that will fulfill degree requirements as explained above. Students who complete 102 to 103 hours of designated courses may receive a B.S. degree from the University of Arkansas upon transferring the first two years of work in veterinary medicine back to the University. The courses as presented below illustrate how the minimum requirements at Oklahoma State University can be met.

First Year

Second Year

¹Accepted as an elective but not required by LSU. Required of all freshman students in agriculture, including pre-veterinary medicine students, at the U of A.

²Students who wish to pursue a degree while completing their pre-veterinary requirements should take AGEC 1103 and/or 2103, COMM 1313, ANSC 2143 and 3123, and ENGL 3053.

³A different animal sciences course or a course in biology may be substituted for this course to satisfy LSU requirements.

⁴MATH 1203, College Algebra and 1213, Trigonometry are recommended.