Improve the lives of animals by giving them treatment, care, and kindness!

If you aspire to serve the health and welfare needs of animals – not to mention helping the animals’ owners feel more at ease knowing their beloved pet is in good hands – then a pre-veterinary degree program could be exactly what you need. A pre-veterinary degree program can make a difference in your career and in the lives of the creatures you serve by preparing you for veterinary school. Our pre-vet program will give you the skills you need for a rewarding role in the veterinary field. This program can also open the door to a variety of different careers in the world of natural science.   

Anchor: Stats

By the Numbers

$100,370

Average Salary

19%

Industry Growth

1 in 5

Students Make the Dean's List

96%

Receive Financial Aid
Anchor: Programs & Requirements
Programs & Requirements

Programs & Requirements

* The credit hours listed on this page only reference the specific program requirements and is not reflective of the total hours necessary to receive your degree. Cumberlands requires all students obtain a minimum of 60 hours for an associate’s degree and a total of 120 hours for a bachelor’s degree. Transfer and prior learning credits may be counted toward those totals.

To learn more about our General Education Requirements, please visit the page referenced below or explore our Academic Catalog

General Education Requirements

Bachelor of Science with a Major in Biology

This track gives you depth in your knowledge of biology especially. The pre-vet program at UC will prepare you for your advanced veterinary science studies by giving you a well-rounded undergraduate foundation. In addition to biology courses, you’ll work with knowledgeable professors and take classes in general subjects, including English, mathematics, social sciences and the humanities. This program enriches pre-vet students with general studies that have emphasis on natural sciences that will give you the tools you need to thrive in a veterinary school program!  

Note: For Registrar purposes, this program is officially titled a Bachelor of Science with a Major in Biology - Pre-Professional Emphasis.

Course Requirements

BIOL 111      Becoming a Successful Biologist  

BIOL 113     Introduction to Population Biology Laboratory  

BIOL 114     Introduction to Cellular Biology Laboratory  

BIOL 133     Introduction to Population Biology  

BIOL 134     Introduction to Cellular Biology  

BIOL 210     Introduction to Biological Literature 

BIOL 246     Biodiversity  

BIOL 340     Genetics  

BIOL 495     Senior Seminar OR BIOL 498 Senior Thesis  

MATH 132     College Algebra (or higher math course)  

CHEM 132     General College Chemistry I  

CHEM 111     General College Chemistry I Laboratory  

CHEM 232     General College Chemistry II  

CHEM 211     General College Chemistry II Laboratory

Selected from the following:  

PHYS 241     Physics I  

PHYS 242     Physics II  

PHYS 137     Physical Science  

PHYS 117     Physical Science Laboratory  

BIOL 231     Environmental Science  

BIOL 116     Environmental Science Laboratory  

Minimum of 18 hours required, selected from the following:

BIOL 331     Vertebrate Embryology  

BIOL 342     Parasitology  

BIOL 345     Microbiology*  

BIOL 346     Biochemistry*  

BIOL 436     Medical Biochemistry  

BIOL 441     Immunology  

BIOL 442     Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy*  

BIOL 443     General Physiology*  

BIOL 445     Molecular Biology  

BIOL 446     Cell Biology in Health and Disease  

BIOL 447     Histology  

*Students interested in applying to medical, dental, or veterinary school are strongly encouraged to complete these courses. It is important to review the admissions requirements for each program to which you will apply because the prerequisites for admission may be slightly different among professional schools. 

A Bachelor of Arts degree requires completing the same courses as a Bachelor of Science with the addition of completing one foreign language sequence through the intermediate level.

FREN 131        Elementary French I

FREN 132        Elementary French II

FREN 231        Intermediate French I

FREN 232        Intermediate French II

 

SPAN 131        Elementary Spanish I

SPAN 132        Elementary Spanish II

SPAN 231        Intermediate Spanish I

SPAN 232        Intermediate Spanish II

Bachelors of Science with a Major in Chemistry

This option is recommended for students entering a “blended” area such as pre-professional medically related areas (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physician assistant, physical therapist, etc.), chemistry/business, and chemistry/biology. The pre-vet program at UC will prepare you for your advanced veterinary science studies by giving you a well-rounded undergraduate foundation. Additionally, this program enriches pre-vet students with general studies that have emphasis on natural sciences that will give you the tools you need to thrive in a veterinary school program! 

Note: For Registrar purposes, this program is officially titled a Bachelor of Science with a Major in Chemistry - Pre-Professional Emphasis.

Course Requirements

CHEM 132     General College Chemistry I  

CHEM 111     General Chemistry Laboratory I  

CHEM 232     General College Chemistry II  

CHEM 211     General Chemistry Laboratory II  

CHEM 331     Organic Chemistry I  

CHEM 321     Organic Chemistry Laboratory I  

CHEM 332     Organic Chemistry II  

CHEM 322     Organic Chemistry Laboratory II  

CHEM 336     Analytical Chemistry  

CHEM 328     Analytical Chemistry Laboratory  

CHEM 441     Physical Chemistry I lab included (4 hours) 

CHEM 434     Inorganic Chemistry  

CHEM 490     Senior Research Project, Capstone in Chemistry (2 hours required)  

CHEM 491     Selected Topics or BIOL 346 Biochemistry  

NOTE: MATH 140, MATH 240, PHYS 241, and PHYS 242 are prerequisites for some upper-level chemistry courses. 

A Bachelor of Arts degree requires completing the same courses as a Bachelor of Science with the addition of completing one foreign language sequence through the intermediate level.

FREN 131        Elementary French I

FREN 132        Elementary French II

FREN 231        Intermediate French I

FREN 232        Intermediate French II

 

SPAN 131        Elementary Spanish I

SPAN 132        Elementary Spanish II

SPAN 231        Intermediate Spanish I

SPAN 232        Intermediate Spanish II

Anchor: Mission & Goals

Program Mission

The purpose of the pre-veterinary program is to prepare students to have a successful veterinary education and reach their career goals. We’re here to prepare you for higher education so you can begin helping animals through your career.

Develop your knowledge of natural science and necessary mathematics.
Grow in your appreciation of animals and nature.
Build a strong foundation of scientific inquiry, research, and study skills.
Master key concepts of biology, anatomy, and physiology.
Graduate with a well-rounded college degree, prepared for veterinary school.
Anchor: Career Outcomes

Pre-Veterinary Careers & Outcomes

All stats from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Veterinarian: $103,700

Veterinarian: $103,700

Care for the health of animals and work to protect public health. 

Veterinarian Technician: $36,850

Veterinarian Technician: $36,850

Veterinary technologists and technicians do medical tests that help diagnose animals’ injuries and illnesses. 

Animal Care Worker: $28,730

Animal Care Worker: $28,730

Animal care and service workers attend to or train animals. They are employed in a variety of settings, including kennels, zoos, stables, animal shelters, pet stores, veterinary clinics, and aquariums. 

Natural Sciences Manager: $137,900

Natural Sciences Manager: $137,900

Natural sciences managers supervise the work of scientists, including chemists, physicists, and biologists. 

Livestock Handler: $29,680

Livestock Handler: $29,680

Agricultural and livestock workers maintain crops and tend livestock. Agricultural workers usually do their tasks outdoors in all kinds of weather. Most work full-time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. 

Medical Service Manager: $101,340

Medical Service Manager: $101,340

Medical and health services managers plan, direct, and coordinate the business activities of healthcare providers. 

Anchor: FAQs

Common Questions

Whether you hope to heal animals or drive life-saving discoveries through research, there are many rewarding careers to choose from. From becoming a traditional vet working with mostly dogs and cats, to working with farm animals, to doing research, to performing lab tests, there are many options within the veterinary field! You may work in an office, clinic, lab, zoo, aquarium, or somewhere else entirely. The possibilities are endless! 

Yes! There are lots of options within the field of veterinary medicine that don’t involve directly treating animals, such as performing research in a laboratory or becoming a biology professor. A pre-vet degree can also open the door to careers in other areas of natural science. 

Some important skills for those who aspire to treat animals include strong communication skills, problem-solving ability, compassion, manual dexterity, decision-making skills, adaptability, and an ability to stay calm and collected under stress. The world of veterinary medicine is vast, so having a broad range of abilities is beneficial. Cumberlands does its best to prepare you with not only the book knowledge you need, but also the chance to practice skills like these. 

Earning a pre-vet degree helps you prepare for advanced studies in your areas of interest that can, ultimately, build momentum toward a rewarding career. Benefits of pursuing your pre-vet degree at University of the Cumberlands include expanded career opportunities, dedicated advisors, and the chance to meet your pre-veterinary school requirements. 

As stewards of God’s creation, it’s important that we do our part to take care of the world around us. This includes taking care of animals. Animals are a vital part of our world and of how we experience it. They can provide joy and enrichment to our lives, and some even help accomplish important tasks, such as on farms or as trained service animals. Veterinary medicine is vital because it allows us to provide care for animals in need – remembering that animals also help humans in our times of need. 

All programs at University of the Cumberlands are offered at some of the lowest rates in the nation – and we even include free textbooks through our One Price Promise! For more information on how affordable this program would be for you, visit our Financial Aid page.

Anchor: Faculty

Faculty Experts in Pre-Veterinary Science

Learn more about the pre-veterinary science professors you will interact with. 

Emily Garland

Adjunct Professor
Biology

Emily Garland

Contact Information

emily.garland [at] ucumberlands.edu
Correll Science Center

Emily Brown

Adjunct Professor
Biology

Emily Brown

Contact Information

emily.brown [at] ucumberlands.edu
Remote
Dr. Leif Deyrup

Dr. Leif Deyrup

Assistant Professor
Biology

Dr. Leif Deyrup

Contact Information

leif.deyrup [at] ucumberlands.edu
Correll Science Complex B116

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