Students: Undergraduate Programs
Pre-Professional Programs
The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences pre-professional programs allow you to prepare for professional school while earning a degree in an existing field of agricultural and environmental science.
About CAES Pre-Professional Programs
What pre-professional programs do you offer?
The College of Agricultural and Environmental Science's pre-professional programs include pre-law, pre-medicine, pre-veterinary medicine, pre-pharmacy and pre-dentistry. Within these programs, you can major in a scientific discipline that is relevant to your future career. You will also be able to perfect the skills you will need in your advanced degree program.
What major do I choose for my pre-professional program?
If you are interested in pre-professional program, choose a major that is relevant to your desired advanced degree. For example, if you’re interested in veterinary medicine, you can choose to major in animal science, animal health, dairy science, avian biology, poultry science, applied biotechnology, entomology or biological sciences. For each program we offer, suggested majors are listed with program information.
Since the University of Georgia does not offer a degree with a major specifically related to pre-law or pre-medicine, if you are interested in either, you should contact Terence Centner, who is the CAES pre-law adviser, or Karl Espelie, who is the pre-med advisor. These advisors will help you choose a specific degree and major.
Pre-Veterinary Medicine
Additional Resources
Admission to the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine requires a rigorous program of undergraduate study in the basic sciences. You are encouraged to plan your program of undergraduate study carefully so that you will receive a baccalaureate degree whether or not you are later admitted to the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Students in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences are given the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with live animals through classroom and laboratory studies. In addition, students are encouraged to have work experience in a veterinary practice before or during college. Curriculum in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences allow students to gain hands-on experience that will be needed for veterinary school.
Most students pursuing a pre-veterinary medicine program of study choose animal health, animal science or biological science as their major. However, pre-veterinary medicine study may also be completed by enrollment in several other related majors such as:
- Animal Health (BSA)
- Animal Science (BSA)
- Applied Biotechnology (BSAB)
- Avian Biology (BSA)
- Biological Science (BSA)
- Dairy Science (BSA)
- Entomology (BSES)
Food Animal Veterinary Incentive Program
The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences has designed a special program to meet the increasing need for food animal veterinarians. The Food Animal Veterinary Incentive Program (FAVIP) is open to any current UGA freshman who is a CAES student and Georgia resident. For more information, visit the FAVIP web page or call 706-542-1611.
Pre-Medicine
In almost all cases, baccalaureate degrees are required for admission to medical schools. At the University of Georgia, “pre-med” is not a major, so students who plan to attend medical school should select a major and follow the regular degree program. It is critical that you choose science courses that will help you get good scores on standardized admissions tests and that will meet course prerequisites for admission to the medical school to which you are interested in applying. In addition to meeting with your academic advisor, you will need to visit with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences pre-med advisor. Contact the Office for Academic Affairs at 706-542-1611 or discover@uga.edu for that information after being enrolled.
For university-wide information on pre-medicine, visit UGA's Premedical Studies Program website.
Because of the stringent science requirements applied to different majors within our college, students may pursue several different majors to earn their undergraduate degree while applying to medical school. These may include:
- Animal Health (BSA)
- Applied Biotechnology (BSAB)
- Biological Science (BSA)
- Entomology (BSES)
- Environmental Chemistry (BSES)
- Food Science (BSA)
Pre-Law
Additional Resources
Most law schools suggest exposure to other disciplines that are useful in practicing and studying law, therefore students should incorporate functional courses from existing undergraduate programs of study into their schedules. Through the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, students can major in a relevant career-oriented scientific discipline while learning skills that will assist them in law school.
The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences' pre-law program gives you the opportunity to prepare for law school while earning a degree such fields as
- Agribusiness (BSA)
- Agricultural & Applied Economics (BSA)
- Environmental Chemistry (BSES)
- Environmental Economics & Management (BSES)
Students also have the opportunity to receive a minor in Environmental Law.
Pre-Pharmacy
Additional Resources
Need more info?
Contact your current advisor to help you select classes that meet the pre-pharmacy criteria
Pharmacy is more than counting pills, it's helping people improve the quality of their lives through medicines. A pre-pharmacy program at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences will help prepare you for pharmacy school and for a future full of helping others. Through our science-heavy programs, you will gain the foundation you need to succeed as a pharmacist.
The need for pharmacists is growing. Be in high demand, start your future career in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Most students pursuing a pre-pharmacy program of study choose Applied Biotechnology or Biological Science as their major. However, pre-pharmacy study may also be completed by enrollment in several other related majors such as:
- Applied Biotechnology (BSAB)
- Biological Science (BSA)
- Environmental Chemistry (BSES)
- Food Science (MS)
Pre-Dentistry
Additional Resources
Need more info?
Contact your current advisor to help you select classes that meet the pre-dentistry criteria.
Teeth and the mouth are incredibly important parts of the body. By completing your core requirements for dental school at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, you'll be prepared to help people keep their smiles beautiful and more disease free. Pre-dental programs prepare you for study at the Medical College of Georgia, the only dental school in the state and one of only 56 in the nation.
Most students pursuing a pre-dentistry program of study choose Applied Biotechnology or Biological Science as their major. However, pre-dentistry study may also be completed by enrollment in several other related majors such as: