Why study Pre-Vet / D.V.M. at MC?
Biological Sciences with a Pre-Veterinary Sciences Track/Veterinary Medicine
B.S./D.V.M.: Maryville College and the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Senior Year in Absentia
The program of study leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences with a Pre-Veterinary Sciences track from Maryville College and to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine consists of three academic years at Maryville followed by four academic years at UTCVM. This program offers an alternate track for earning a B.S. from Maryville College in which requirements for the senior year of study are completed at UTCVM as part of the first year of veterinary school. All general education, major, and major-related courses specified to be taken at Maryville College must be completed by the end of the junior year at Maryville College. During the junior year, the student makes application to the UTCVM; admission is determined by the UTCVM. Students admitted to the UTCVM Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program can be awarded the B.S. in Biological Sciences with a Pre-Veterinary Sciences Track upon completing enough hours at UTCVM to bring the total in the program to 128, including Clinical Correlations & Ethics I & II, Application Based Learning Exercise I & II, and at least 17 hours in Anatomy, Physiology, Infection & Immunity, and/or epidemiology.
Any student interested in pursuing the dual-degree option in Biological Sciences with a Pre-Veterinary Sciences Track is urged to consult the Dual-Degree Coordinator in the Division of Natural Sciences as early in the first year as possible. The program consists of 105 semester hours completed at Maryville College, including a total of 63 hours of science courses (Chemistry, Biology, and Physics) and 42 hours in general education credits. The program is highly structured and most of the courses are part of a sequence; thus, one’s course of study must be carefully planned to ensure that all general education and major requirements are met during the three years spent at Maryville. This program is designed for students entering with a math ACT score of 24 or higher.
Meet a Current Scot
Mackenzie Pope
Hometown: Maryville, Tennessee
Mackenzie knew she wanted to pursue veterinary medicine as a career and said that MC’s three-year accelerated pre-vet program proved too enticing to pass up. “The opportunity to reach grad school quickly and efficiently was very appealing.” Also appealing was the opportunity to continue the extracurriculars she loves: equestrian sports and playing cello.
Between lab work and courses that meet veterinary school requirements, Mackenzie feels confident that she’s building a strong foundation for the D.V.M. program. Over the past two summers she has worked at Blackford Veterinary Surgery Referral in Knoxville under the supervision of alumna Dr. Callie Blackford-Winders ’19. “I assisted in both soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries, which gave me invaluable hands-on experience and confirmed my passion for veterinary medicine.”
Meet a Recent Grad
Kelsey Birchfield ’21
Currently: Veterinarian with Tri-County Veterinary Clinic in Sevierville, Tennessee
Wanting to be a veterinarian her entire life, Kelsey majored in Biology and worked in veterinary clinics while a student at MC. Over time, she became passionate about helping people gain knowledge about their pets’ proper healthcare and disease prevention. She graduated from UTCVM in May 2025.
MC, through its rigorous science program, prepared Kelsey for vet school. “I was taught critical thinking and independent learning in labs, which sculpted my ability to think for myself and work through difficult situations under a time crunch,” she said. “The various courses I took trained not only my practical laboratory skill set, but also my molecular knowledge to better understand how and why certain medications and procedures are prescribed.”
