Program Overview
Building on its experience of more than 17 years of preparing students for a career in clinical veterinary medicine and laboratory animal sciences, Drexel University College of Medicine now offers a post-baccalaureate Veterinary Medical Science (VMS) Certificate program.
The only one in the nation, the VMS Preparatory Program is a one-year post-baccalaureate program designed to strengthen your skills in the basic sciences and enhance your application to veterinary school.
The VMS program is the right choice for you if:
You need to enhance your veterinary school application by strengthening your skills in the basic sciences.
You are interested in a one-year, intensive post-baccalaureate program.
Curriculum
The curriculum has been designed to augment the student’s understanding of the basic sciences which would ensure success in their professional careers as clinical veterinarians.
FIRST YEAR - FALL SEMESTER (VMS program)
| Course Number |
Course Description |
Credits
|
| IMSP 510 |
Medical Biochemistry I |
7.5
|
| IMSP 520 |
Medical Physiology I |
3.5
|
| MLAS 606 |
Clinical Laboratory Techniques and Concepts |
1.0
|
| MLAS 505 |
Microbiology with Laboratory |
4.0
|
| MLAS 525 |
Animal Anatomy |
2.0
|
| |
Total
|
18.0
|
FIRST YEAR - SPRING SEMESTER (VMS program)
| Course Number |
Course Description |
Credits
|
| IMSP 511 |
Medical Biochemistry II
|
0.5
|
| IMSP 521 |
Medical Physiology II |
3.5
|
| MLAS 529 |
Molecular Genetics |
2.0
|
| MLAS 530 |
Epidemiology & Biostatistics |
3.0
|
| MSPP 513 |
Special Topics in Anatomy |
4.0
|
| |
Total
|
13.0
|
Students who successfully complete the VMS program have the option to complete the Master of Laboratory Animal Science (MLAS) degree by taking additional courses for two semesters and performing the summer practicum. These additional courses are as follows:
SECOND YEAR – FALL SEMESTER (MLAS program)
| Course Number |
Course Description |
Credits
|
| MLAS 510 |
Clinical Orientation to Lab Animal Facilites |
1.0
|
| MLAS 523 |
Organizational Management |
3.0
|
| MLAS 536 |
Animal Models in Biomedical Research |
1.0
|
| MLAS 531 |
Embryology |
3.0
|
| MLAS 610 |
Diseases of Laboratory Animals |
3.0
|
| |
Total
|
11.0
|
SECOND YEAR—SPRING SEMESTER (MLAS program)
| Course Number |
Course Description |
Credits |
| MLAS 535 |
Biology and Care of Laboratory Animals |
4.0
|
| MLAS 521 |
Architecture, Engineering and Planning of Animal Facilities |
4.0
|
| MLAS 501 |
Laboratory Animal Seminar |
2.0
|
| MLAS 520 |
Financial Management in Lab Animal Science |
3.0
|
| |
Total
|
13.0 |
SECOND YEAR – SUMMER SESSION (MLAS program)
|
Course Number
|
Course Description
|
Credits
|
| MLAS 801 |
Practicum |
12.0 |
| |
Total
|
12.0 |
The VMS program was designed for individuals who are seeking to improve their credentials to gain admission into Veterinary Schools in the United States. VMS is best suited to (1) students who applied and barely missed being accepted to veterinary schools and wish to improve their credentials before reapplying and (2) students with borderline science GPA but good GRE scores who are planning on applying to veterinary school.
Application Procedures
Candidates for admission must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with a focus on animal science or a related field, such as biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, physiology, microbiology, zoology, or pre-veterinary studies. In addition to the completed application, applicants must submit three letters of recommendation (two from science profressors and one from a veterinarian), a statement of goals, and all official transcripts. Applicants must also submit official scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
The deadline for submission of applications is July 1st of the year the student seeks admission. Note however that we have a rolling admissions policy so it is best to submit completed applications early.
Julian E. Mesina, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Director, Animal Science Programs
245 N. 15th Street, Mail Stop 344
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone: 215-762-4692
Fax: 215-762-7301
E-Mail: jmesina@drexelmed.edu
|