Bachelor of Science Degree
in Animal and Nutritional Sciences
As a pre-professional program, the B.S. in Animal and Nutritional Sciences provides students with the opportunity to acquire the necessary background in agricultural biochemistry, chemistry, mathematics, and physics. The program prepares students not only for professional schools of veterinary medicine, but also human medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, or graduate study in fields such as agricultural biochemistry, animal breeding, animal physiology, and nutrition.
Graduates with a B.S. in Animal Science who are not interested in attending veterinary or other professional schools are qualified to hold various positions in the Department of Agriculutre, specifically Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service. Positions include Animal Health Technician with a starting salary of $25,000-$45,000.
Each year, the Pre-Veterinary Medicine Pre-Professional Program gives West Virginia residents the opportunity to meet the academic requirements for entry into professional schools or colleges of veterinary medicine. West Virginia University has agreements with Ohio State University and with the Southern Regional Education Board. Applicants for admission to these colleges of veterinary medicine must present at least 78 semester hours of acceptable credit.
For a detailed
description of the available contract seats and the educational path most
students take, see the article regarding
Education of West Virginia Residents for Careers in Veterinary Medicine.
Requirements for Admission to West Virginia Veterinary Contract Schools
| College | Ohio State* | Tuskegee | Georgia** |
| Number of Contract Seats | 5 | 2 | up to 6 |
| English | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Chemistry (Inorganic) | 8 | - | 8+ |
| Chemistry (Organic) | 4 | 4+ | 8+ |
| Biological Science | 6-8 | - | 8+ |
| Advanced Biology | - | 9 | 8 |
| Genetics | 3-4 | - | - |
| Microbiology | 4 | - | - |
| Physics | 6-8 | 8 | 8+ |
| Mathematics | 4-6 | 6 | - |
| Biochemistry | 3-4 | 4+ | 3 |
| Animal Nutrition | - | 3 | - |
| Animal & Poultry Science | - | 6 | - |
| Humanities, Social Science | 14 | 6 | 14 |
| Electives | 6-8 | 8 | - |
| Liberal Arts | - | 6 | - |
| Minimum Grade Point | 3.00 | 2.70 | 3.00 |
* OSU will accept a waiver of one class to be taken during the Spring term before Fall Matriculation. Minimum GRE score of 1500.
** UGA requires a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater or a combined quantitative/verbal GRE score of 1200 or greater. Applicants must meet one or the other to be considered, they do not have to meet both. All required courses must be completed by the end of the Spring Term before Fall Matriculation.
+ with laboratory