Veterinary Medicine Program

Pre-professional track

Veterinarians care for the health of animals and improve public health through their work. As a vet, you'll diagnose and treat injuries and illnesses of pets, livestock, and other animals. Many veterinarians also conduct care and food safety research and perform livestock inspections. By testing animals and their products for known and novel diseases, vets can help develop vaccines and enforce government safety regulations.

Hamline's pre-veterinary medicine program will prepare you with the knowledge you need to apply to vet school and create a powerful beginning to your career as a veterinarian. We make sure you get hands-on experience in the skills that will set you above the rest of the field, and our mentors and advisors will support your continued education with plans and suggestions tailored to your needs.

Prerequisite coursework

Admission requirements vary by programs. Please check the schools of choice for a detailed list of prerequisite coursework. View a comprehensive list.

Additional information

Students applying to veterinary school must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test for admission.
DVM
A doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) program typically lasts four years and features in-depth training in animal sciences and medical skills, with an emphasis on applying them towards non-human members of the animal kingdom. DVM training provides students with the education and clinical skills they need to diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries in animals, as well as understand the care needed to keep animals healthy. The veterinary school must be part of a four-year university and be accredited by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

DVM/PhD
These programs combine a doctor of veterinary medicine degree with the rigorous research training of the PhD program. DVM/PhD graduates work as leaders of biomedicine and the veterinary profession in academic research, medicine and teaching; government service and public health; and the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

DVM/MPH
This program provides specialty training in veterinary medicine and public health. After completing this program, students receive a doctor of veterinary medicine degree and a master’s in public health and often go on to work with governmental agencies, like the United State Public Health Service, which works to control the transmission of animal-to-human (zoonotic) diseases; the United States Department of Agriculture; National Institutes of Health; Centers for Disease Control, and Food and Drug Administration, in areas including biosecurity, environmental quality, public health, meat inspection, regulatory medicine, and agricultural animal health, or the investigation of disease outbreaks.

Related majors

Biology Biochemistry Chemistry Neuroscience Public health Exercise science Psychology

Contact information

Undergraduate Admission

651-523-2207

800-753-9753

1536 Hewitt Avenue, MS-C1930
Saint Paul, MN 55104
United States

admission@hamline.edu
Pre-Health Program

651-523-2291

1536 Hewitt Avenue, MS-B1807
Saint Paul, MN 55104
United States
Looking for faculty?

See our faculty page.