Amber McNamara, DVM, MHS
Certificate Director
Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
amber.mcnamara@uky.eduVeterinary shortages are present in multiple sectors of veterinary medicine. While these issues are nationally recognized, they are especially impactful in Kentucky's rural communities. This certificate will provide current UK students with the opportunity to learn about the different areas of veterinary service, network within the veterinary community, and broaden their career outlooks.
Pre-veterinary students should be prepared for the magnitude, possibilities, and rigors of veterinary school programs and career options. This preparation includes developing critical skills such as communication, collaboration, decision-making, and financial literacy. This certificate aims to support pre-veterinary students by equipping them with the tools needed to prepare their most competitive veterinary school application and to contribute to the ever-changing veterinary medical community.
Must be a current UK student, have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and have earned at least 30-credit hours at the time of application. To complete the Pre-veterinary Medicine certificate, students must complete a minimum of 14 credit hours. All certificate students must take PVM 201, PVM/ASC 209, PVM 390, and PVM 490, one elective course from the Professional Preparation category, and one elective course from the Specialty Area Exploration category.
This course provides students with an overview of the veterinary medical profession, including veterinary applications and timelines, variations in veterinary school formats and costs, and an introduction to the extent of career options in veterinary medicine. Students will investigate the importance of non-medical attributes such as professionalism, teamwork, and communication in various aspects of veterinary medical careers. The course will also address concerns that affect the profession, including student debt, compassion fatigue, mental health, and more. (3 credits) Prerequisite: none
This course will cover veterinary medical terminology including word roots, prefixes, suffixes, and animal-specific terminology involving companion animals, food animals, and others. Veterinary case studies will allow students to apply these fundamentals in practical situations. Appropriate for pre-veterinary focused students or any students interested in animal health and care. (3 credits) Prerequisite: none
The purpose of this course is to document one or more pre-veterinary field-based learning experience(s) in an area of veterinary medicine for completion of Pre-veterinary Medicine Undergraduate Certificate requirements. Students must complete 100 contact hours under the supervision of a veterinarian and submit related assignments to fulfill requirements for this course. (0 credits) Prerequisite: PVM 201 with a C or better
This course provides students with an opportunity to explore and investigate challenges within the ever-changing field of veterinary medicine. Students will integrate, reflect on, and utilize what they have learned during their multi-disciplinary certificate study and major coursework to develop investigative strategies, identify collaboration potentials, and foster creative solutions. (3 credits) Prerequisite: PVM 201 and PVM/ASC 209 (both with a C or better)
Students must complete one elective each from the Professional Preparation and Specialty Area Exploration categories.
Current University of Kentucky Students ONLY
Amber McNamara, DVM, MHS
Certificate Director
Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
amber.mcnamara@uky.eduMartin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food & Environment
S123 Ag Science – North
Lexington, KY 40546-0091
859-257-3469
