The Science Department at Alvernia University provides oversight and guidance for students who are interested in the veterinary field. While medical doctors generally choose a specialty area in which they practice on one species, veterinarians work with many species and specialties. For example, a veterinarian could provide obstetric, geriatric, and surgical care to three species – all in one day.
Students who are working toward acceptance to veterinary school enjoy a wide range of opportunities at Alvernia. With hundreds of community connections in Greater Reading and beyond, pre-veterinary students get valuable real-world experience in the field before graduation. Most students who are planning to attend medical or professional school choose to major in the sciences (most often biology or biochemistry), since these majors allow them to meet the necessary prerequisite courses.
It is possible to choose other majors if desired, but additional coursework will be needed to meet the prerequisites. Students have the opportunity to meet with a Pre-Health Professions Advisor starting in their first year, and they are encouraged to meet with the advisor regularly each year after that. These meetings help students to learn how to prepare for medical/professional school applications, and allow them to plan their time and experiences at Alvernia accordingly.
