Information for Prospective Pre-Vet Students

Looking for a program that will prepare you for success in Veterinary Medicine?

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Maryland is the most popular choice for students who wish to pursue veterinary medicine. Two excellent majors not to be missed are housed in the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences. Agricultural and Veterinary Medicine offers a student an accelerated academic path with all recommended courses for veterinary school and the opportunity to apply at the end of the junior year. Sciences/Pre-Professional offers a student a four year academic path with all recommended courses for veterinary school and the opportunity to apply upon receipt of the bachelor of science (B.S.) degree.

Striving for that competitive edge?

The Department of Animal and Avian Sciences faculty members are leaders in state, national and international teaching and research. In fact, the Chronicle of Higher Education ranked the department in the top 10 for faculty productivity. Outside the classroom, our location affords students with amazing internships at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Institutes of Health, the National Zoo and National Aquarium as well as other leading agricultural and animal science organizations. Our students obtain hands-on experience starting in their first semester through our unique campus farm where students can work with domestic animals. Last but not least, 86% of our students are accepted into veterinary schools nationwide – that’s hard to beat!

Interested in applying or learning more?

If you are interested in applying directly to one of the two majors in the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, please select either Agricultural and Veterinary Medicine or Sciences/Pre-Professional on the online application. If you have already submitted your application and you did not select one of these majors, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at or 1-800-422-5867 to request a change in major. For more information about the department, our college has a specific representative, Ms. April Brohawn. Please feel free to contact her if you have questions about the admissions process or your application in the future. If you have question about the options within the major, or the courses and curricula, please visit ansc.umd.edu or contact ansc-undergrad-prog@umd.edu.

Typical Courses

Core Science and Math Foundation…

  • Biochemistry
  • Principles of Biology
  • Calculus
  • General Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Genetics
  • Physics

Additional pre-veterinary courses include:

  • Anatomy of Domestic Animals
  • Animal Genetics and Diseases
  • Animal Nutrition
  • Animal Physiology
  • Applied Animal Behavior
  • Equine Sciences
  • Introduction to Diseases of Animals
  • Introduction to Diseases of Wildlife
  • Vet Med: Options & Opportunities