Department of Zoology and Physiology
1000 E. University Ave
Aven Nelson, room 114
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: 307-766-4207
Fax: 307-766-5625
Email: zprequest@uwyo.edu
Admission to medical, veterinary or other health professions is highly competitive
and success depends on several criteria. While most professional schools do pay close
attention to an applicant’s score on the profession’s entrance exam and their overall
and science-math GPAs, these are not the only important factors. Professional schools
use holistic admissions, so additional factors that admissions committees consider
essential include evidence of key experiences that professional schools require or
expect and the way a student handles an interview. Since admissions requirements vary,
students should research the experiential and academic requirements of the schools
they are thinking of attending, and we strongly suggest meeting with a pre-health
or pre-vet advisor early and often in the preparatory process (see links below).
At UW, we encourage the study of subjects that expose students to the basic sciences
upon which the health care professions are built, including physiology, biochemistry
and anatomy. It is these subjects that allow students to do well on entrance exams
such as the MCAT; to meet the expectations and requirements of veterinary, optometry,
pharmacy and allied health profession schools; and to determine which profession is
the correct career choice. At UW there is a pre-vet program that prepares students
for a career in veterinary science (see link below).
The BS degree in Physiology is designed to meet many of a student’s pre-professional
goals. Courses considered to be predictors of good MCAT/DAT/OAT scores and good preparation
for the study of the health sciences are built into our program. There is no doubt
that a BS degree in Physiology will provide a stimulating, interesting and relevant
degree for any student considering a career in the health professions.
The courses integral to the Physiology degree (and the health professions) can be
categorized as either biological or non-biological.
Additional information is available on the Physiology Major & Minor webpage and from
the Pre-professional Advising Office.
Additional information about Pre-veterinary medicine can be found at the UW pre-veterinary medicine mentoring center.
The study of life sciences is expanding at a rate that reflects the concern people
have for their health, the health of the animals and plants they depend on, and the
health of the environment that supports life on our planet.
There was a time when the life sciences were descriptive sciences and memorization
of information was the focus of life sciences degrees. This age has passed and biologists,
physiologists, wildlife management biologists, botanists, zoologists, and the larger
group of life scientists including health professionals, increasingly are required
to use quantitative methods to understand their subject areas.
For this reason, abilities in mathematics and in the chemical and physical sciences
are important for those who work in the life sciences. All life sciences students
at the University of Wyoming start their degrees by studying general biology and the
pillar courses of biology (ecology, evolution, genetics) through the Life Sciences
(Biology) Program. Entry into that program requires a minimum ACT score of 21 in Math
(SAT+500).
Students who want to study for a life sciences degree, but who have not met this standard,
should consult with the academic staff of the Department of Mathematics to find out
how they can obtain the necessary skills.
For more information on life science related studies in the Department of Zoology
and Physiology, please visit the webpages for the majors and minors in our departments.
Department of Zoology and Physiology
1000 E. University Ave
Aven Nelson, room 114
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: 307-766-4207
Fax: 307-766-5625
Email: zprequest@uwyo.edu