Why the VMD/MBA Degree Program?
For specially motivated students whose career goals are both veterinary medicine and business, the School of Veterinary Medicine and the Wharton School offer a combined course leading to the VMD/MBA degrees. The close geographical association of the two schools in the University of Pennsylvania and the interchange of knowledge between their faculties make such a unique educational venture possible. This joint program involves five or six years of study.
There is a growing need for individuals with backgrounds in both veterinary medicine and business. This is especially true of the animal food producing industry. In this area the veterinarian's basic responsibility is the diagnosis, prevention, control, and treatment of disease. In an ever-increasing fashion, however, the veterinarian also must become involved with agroeconomic concerns, i.e., working with farmers to achieve more economical production of meat, dairy, poultry, and animal fiber products. This requires a solid grounding in business methods and some reasonable level of understanding of the national economy.
A veterinarian who operates an animal hospital must provide efficient healthcare at an affordable level and strive to develop sound financial judgement. Usually lacking the services of a hospital administrator, veterinarians generally act as their own business agents.
The veterinary profession is also in need of individuals who, on a consultant or full-time basis, have a broad understanding of both professional and business problems. This is true in many areas: academic, industrial, research, service laboratories, and publication services. New developments in veterinary medicine and frequent changes in the economy demand the attention of veterinarians with a business background.
Students already enrolled in either the Veterinary School or the Wharton School may apply for the joint program during their first year. This may be done by completing a regular application for the School in which they are not enrolled. Students making initial application to the Wharton School or the Veterinary School may apply simultaneously for the joint VMD/MBA program. Regular applications must be completed for each School.
Requirements for entering the School of Veterinary Medicine or the Wharton School are the same as those for students applying for the regular degree course (VMD or MBA). Acceptance into either School is independent of acceptance in the joint program.