Pre-Veterinary Medicine Program

The pre-veterinary medicine program at North Dakota State University provides you the opportunity to complete all of the requirements for admission to any of the veterinary colleges in the United States.

The Program

The pre-veterinary medicine program is not a degree-granting program. It is important, therefore, to identify an appropriate major early in your college career that does grant a degree. There are several reasons for committing to a degree-granting program. Although the pre-veterinary medicine requirements can be met in three years, most veterinary colleges give extra credit for a degree when you apply. Additionally, a significant number of students make changes in career goals while at NDSU. Therefore, identifying a degree-granting program early often saves time later. We strongly encourage you to explore alternative careers by taking survey courses in various departments, by enrolling in career planning courses and by taking full advantage of the Career Library located in Ceres Hall. Survey courses related to potential majors are found in many areas including microbiology, animal science, biology, veterinary technology, chemistry, biochemistry, zoology, botany, food safety and food science.

Veterinary School Preparation

The pre-veterinary medicine program prepares students for admission to all veterinary colleges in the United States, Canada and selected foreign countries. Most North Dakota residents, however, prepare for admission to the veterinary colleges in Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, Washington, Oregon or California because of contractual or Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education (WICHE) admission agreements with these states. Pre-veterinary students who are North Dakota residents must register with the State Board of Higher Education, (701) 328-4114, in the year of their application, in order to establish eligibility for contract seats with veterinary colleges. These contract seats allow accepted North Dakota residents to attend participating veterinary colleges for in-state tuition.

It is important for you, especially if you are not a resident of North Dakota, to identify early in the pre-veterinary medicine program those veterinary colleges to which you will most likely apply. A course catalog from that college is helpful when planning your pre-veterinary medicine program and in answering specific questions. It will be up to you to write or call for a catalog. In addition, your adviser should be a valuable resource on admission procedures. Application for veterinary school can be completed on the Veterinary Medical College Application System (VMCAS) website: http://www.vmcas.org

The Department of Veterinary and Microbiological Sciences

The Department of Veterinary and Microbiological Sciences is housed in Van Es Hall, located on the west end of the NDSU campus adjoining Centennial Boulevard. Faculty in the department are involved with teaching and research. In addition, the department is closely associated with the North Dakota State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, through which about 10,000 cases are examined each year.

All faculty are available for advice and consultation. Pre-veterinary medicine students are assigned an official adviser; however, we encourage contact with other faculty members to derive the benefit of different experiences, backgrounds and advice.

All undergraduate microbiology courses can be taken by pre-veterinary medicine students. We encourage all students interested in any aspect of veterinary medicine to enroll in VetS.150 - Introduction to the Veterinary Profession.

The Pre-Vet Club

The Pre-Vet Club at NDSU is open to any student interested in veterinary medicine. Students from Minnesota State University Moorhead, Concordia College, and University of North Dakota have been members of the club in past years. The club provides for exploration of various career options within the veterinary profession through guest speakers, films, videos and field trips. Some students attend the National Pre-Veterinary Symposium each year. The club provides an excellent opportunity to interact with other students with common career goals. Social activities also are an important part of the club's programs. Specific information about the Pre-Vet Club is available from departmental advisers.

Scholarships

Several scholarships, including the Dr. Sidney S. Bjornson Scholarship, Agnes and Axel Kongslie Scholarships, Gertrude Ostby Memorial Scholarship and Dr. Peter B. Molitor Scholarship, are available annually to pre-veterinary students. Information about these scholarships is available from the pre-veterinary advisers at the departmental address on this fact sheet. Scholarship applications also are available from the department.

Also, pre-veterinary students are eligible to apply for scholarships awarded through the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources. Each year students enrolled in the college receive more than $100,000 from the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources Scholarship Program. A booklet that contains a complete listing of the scholarships is available directly from the college. To receive a copy of the scholarship booklet, contact the Office of the Dean, College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources, NDSU, Morrill Hall 315, Fargo, ND 58105.

Contact Information

Department of Veterinary and Microbiological Sciences
North Dakota State University
Van Es 150
Fargo, ND 58105

Tel: (701) 231-7667
Fax: (701) 231-9692
E-mail: Neil.Dyer@ndsu.edu
            Douglas.Freeman@ndsu.edu        
Web: http://vetmicro.ndsu.nodak.edu

Office of Admission

North Dakota State University
124 Ceres Hall
Fargo, ND 58105

Tel: (701) 231-8643
Fax: (701) 231-8802
Email: NDSU.Admission@ndsu.edu
Web: http://www.ndsu.edu/prospective/students/

(12/08)