Alvernia's Science and Mathematics Department provides oversight and guidance for students who are interested in veterinary field. The life of a veterinarian is versatile to say the least. 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 University. With hundreds of community connections in Greater Reading and beyond, pre-veterinary students get valuable real-world experience in the field before they graduate. 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. 

Undergraduate Programs

Getting Started

Where You Can Get A Degree

The pre-veterinary program is available at the following Alvernia University campus:

Preparing for Veterinary School

Students interested in attending veterinary school should contact the Alvernia Pre-Professional Program Advisors as soon as possible upon enrollment at Alvernia. It is the responsibility of the student to research pharmacy schools in which they are interested. Pharmacy schools will have their own admission requirements, and students should take courses needed for those specific programs. The Alvernia Pre-Professional Program Advisors guide pre-veterinary students to choose the best major and courses, so they have the best chance for acceptance to pharmacy schools.

Application Instructions

Through a rolling admission process, prospective undergraduate students — including first-year, transfer, and international students — may apply via the Alvernia web portal or The Common Application. To learn more about how to complete your application, please visit our application page.

Financing Your Education

There are options to assist in financing your education and making the tuition affordable. Visit our Student Financial Services page for a detailed overview of the process, including a link to complete the FAFSA application, as well as more information about tuition, the tuition payment plan and the tuition deferment program we offer. Alvernia’s Title IV code for the FAFSA is 003233. The Office of Student Financial Services is available to help with any questions you may have. Call 610-796-8201 or email sfs@alvernia.edu.

Alvernia Veterinary
Learn More
For more information about the pre-veterinary program, contact the Admissions Office (1-888-ALVERNIA or admissions@alvernia.edu) or reach out directly to:

Ondra Kielbasa, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology
610-230-5701
Ondra.kielbasa@alvernia.edu


Program Overview

Curriculum

Most veterinary schools require the following coursework for admission to a graduate program:
 

Chemistry: 2 Semesters

  • General Chemistry I
  • General Chemistry II


Organic Chemistry: 2 Semesters

  • Organic Chemistry I
  • Organic Chemistry II


Biology: 2 Semesters

  • Principles of Biology I
  • Principles of Biology II


Physics: 2 Semesters

  • Physics I
  • Physics II


Math: 2 Semesters

  • Calculus I
  • Calculus II


English: 2 Semesters

Biochemistry: 1 Semester


Some veterinary schools require the following coursework for admission to a graduate program:


Humanities/Social Sciences

  • Requirements vary


Upper-Level Sciences

  • Genetics
  • Cell Biology
Pre-Professional Program Advisors

Ondra Kielbasa, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology
610-230-5701
Ondra.kielbasa@alvernia.edu


Eric Recktenwald, Ph. D.
Associate Professor of Biology
610-796-8247
eric.recktenwald@alvernia.edu


Office of Admissions
610.796.8269 | 1.888.ALVERNIA
admissions@alvernia.edu

Career Outlook

There is no greater time than now to become a veterinarian. While most veterinarians work in private practice, veterinary professionals work in many settings including laboratories, zoos and farms. Veterinarians are in demand in many areas. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for veterinarians is expected to increase 19 percent from 2021 to 2031 which is much faster than average. The median salary for a veterinarian is $100,370.

Experiential Learning

With hundreds of community connections in Greater Reading and
beyond, pre-professional students can complete internships in a variety
of healthcare settings. Recently, pre-professional students have complete
internships with:

  • Lehigh Valley Zoo
  • Lehigh Valley Animal Hospital
  • Philadelphia Zoo
  • Berks Animal Emergency and Referral Center
  • Humane Society of Berks County
  • Red Creek Wildlife Center
  • SPCA Brandywine
Pre-Health Professions Club

The Pre-Health Professions Club provides a setting in which students working toward careers in health professions can share information, learn more about health professions, and develop friendships with students with similar interests. Past club activities include autopsy observations, health fairs, free health screening services and visits to local healthcare organizations.