If you’re passionate about animals and their welfare, our program in pre-veterinary medicine may be just what you are looking for. UMW’s experienced advisors will help you plan your courses; they know what veterinary schools want in prospective students. We have an active pre-veterinary club, state-of-the-art labs, research opportunities, and partnerships with regional veterinarians who welcome students as volunteers and interns.
Internships
Veterinarians in the Fredericksburg area provide internship and volunteer opportunities to UMW students. In addition there are out-of-state internships available, including many offered across the U.S. through the Rochester Institute of Technology.
“The biology program at UMW was the perfect stepping-stone on my way to veterinary school. The professors and other faculty were so encouraging to me and my peers, and having small classes where I could know them personally made that relationship all the more meaningful. I got a solid education and felt very prepared for my entrance into a professional school.”
– Alexis Pennings ’14, student, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
Honors
Students may pursue honors in their major course of study. To receive honors in biology you must have a 3.0 grade-point average overall and 3.25 in the major. You’ll complete a research project, write an honors thesis, and deliver an oral presentation to department faculty.
Requirements
Most pre-vet students pursue a biology degree, but other degrees majors work, too. Most veterinary schools require a rounded undergraduate curriculum including classes in English, biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, math, and humanities. For more guidance on required classes, visit Guide to UMW’s Pre-veterinary Program
Scholarships
The Department of Biology presents several scholarships and awards annually to outstanding biology majors.