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Pre-Veterinary Medicine

  • Cooperative
  • Erie, Pennsylvania
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  • GU Possibilities
    • Gannon University offers a diverse group of competitive affiliation programs with professional schools to provide qualified students with an advantage over students at other colleges at the time of application. A number of these affiliation programs allow the student to complete the undergraduate phase of the program in three years rather than four, although the majority of students choose to complete a bachelor’s degree prior to attending professional school.   
    • Gannon offers a veterinary affiliation program with Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM).  
    • Gannon graduates have pursued veterinary degrees at the following institutions: Tufts University, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, Oregon State University, University of Missouri, Ohio State University, University of Tennessee, Michigan State University, Purdue University and Ross University.  

    You Will Learn

    Veterinarians are health professionals whose primary role is to provide health care for pets, livestock and other animals. They perform examinations, prescribe treatments or medications, and order and interpret tests used to diagnose illness in animals. Our small class sizes, high-quality academics and customized curricula collectively create a strong foundation for students preparing to apply to veterinary school. Students are able to complete the necessary prerequisite coursework and major in a degree of their choosing (most commonly biology, chemistry or biochemistry). Students are provided with expert advising and numerous resources as they work toward becoming a competitive professional school applicant.

    You Will Experience

    Gannon University’s pre-veterinary students have the opportunity to become well-rounded leaders both in and out of the classroom. Their involvement in service and scholarship activities helps to prepare them for a career in the health professions. Pre-veterinary students are eligible to participate in:

    • Gannon faculty-led research.  
    • Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), a program sponsored by the NSF.  
    • shadowing opportunities coordinated by the Career Exploration and Development Office.  
    • workshops reviewing the application process, personal statements, interviewing, etc.  
    • Gannon University Pre-Veterinary Club.  
    • Health Professions Theme Community, a residency enrichment program located in North Hall.  

    You Will Achieve

    There are many specific career paths stemming from veterinary medicine. Such opportunities include, but are not limited to, the following:

    • animal welfare  
    • animal behavior  
    • emergency and critical care  
    • preventative medicine  
    • theriogenology  
    • veterinary anesthesia and analgesia  
    • veterinary research  
    • veterinary toxicology  
    • zoological medicine       

    You Will Earn

    Estimates show that the job outlook will continue to increase faster than average for veterinarians (nine-percent growth) through 2024. The median annual salary for these healthcare professionals in 2015 was:

    • Veterinarian: $88,490  
    All salary information is compiled from data gathered from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov) and/or PayScale (payscale.com).  

    You Will Study

    Example Course Descriptions

    Gannon University has a long history of helping a number of qualified and motivated students successfully achieve acceptance into veterinary school. Students may pursue a major of their choice in which they will receive expert advising. They take a balanced and rigorous course load that includes the fundamental science and math courses veterinary schools require as prerequisite coursework.

    Curriculum highlights include hands-on laboratory experiences for most biology and chemistry courses, which are conducted in small interactive group settings of 20-30 students. Some of these courses include:

    BIOL 302: Animal Behavior  

    A study of the mechanisms and evolution of behavior in a variety of animal taxa. The course examines interactions among the environment, genetics, the endocrine system and the nervous system in the development of behavior. It also addresses the current adaptive value of various behaviors and considers how natural selection may have altered behaviors in the past.

    BIOL 368 and BIOL 369: Animal Physiology and Lab 

    This course deals with the normal functioning of the body (primarily human body) and its component parts. The course focuses on physiological mechanisms involved in neuronal and chemical signaling, movement, metabolism, respiration, circulation, excretion, etc. The principles and concepts learned in the lecture class are reinforced through hands-on experience in the lab.

    CHEM 366: Structural Biochemistry 

    This course focuses on a systematic study of the biologically important compounds including the amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids, enzymes, carbohydrates and lipids. Emphasis is placed upon the structure, properties, syntheses, reactions and functions of these compounds.

    Liberal Studies Core

    The Liberal Studies Core Curriculum is one reflection of Gannon University's commitment to its Catholic identity. The Core's design offers students a defined, integrated, shared experience as the foundation for their undergraduate program.

  • Receive hands-on learning through real-world courses, projects and valuable internship experiences that prepare you to become a professional in the field.
  • 13:1Enjoy a personalized experience inspired by Gannon’s faculty experts and a low student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1.
  • Apply for generous financial aid packages and scholarship awards.

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