Admission Requirements – Doctor of Veterinary Medicine – D.V.M. Program

Admission Requirements

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Admission requirements include prerequisite courses and letters of recommendation.

Prerequisite courses

Candidates applying for admission to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program at CSU must complete the following prerequisite courses:

A single course may only count toward one prerequisite. You must identify a unique course for each prerequisite requirement.

Online courses are accepted if they are taken for credit with a grade and show as completed on an official transcript. Courses taken at vocational and proprietary schools will not be accepted.

Biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, and systems physiology must have been taken within the last ten years. All other prerequisite courses are recommended to have been taken within ten years. A recent demonstration of an ability to handle an upper-division biomedical science curriculum is strongly encouraged.

All prerequisite courses – including in-progress courses – must be included in the VMCAS application at submission. Courses must be matched to prerequisites in the VMCAS application. This includes completed, in-progress, and future courses you plan to take. If a course is not matched to a prerequisite in an application, it will be assumed you have not and do not intend to take the required prerequisite.

Candidates may apply before completing all required courses and can be admitted under provisional admission. If provisionally admitted, final transcripts must be received by July 15 of the year you matriculate. Provisional admission may be granted for the following in-progress prerequisites: biochemistry, biology lab, cell biology, chemistry lab, genetics, physics, statistics, and systems physiology.

Once the VMCAS and CSA are closed, you cannot modify your application. Please do not send application materials or transcripts outside the application; only what is included in your application will be reviewed.

List of prerequisite courses

The course description, content level, prerequisites, number of credits, and a grade of C- or above must meet these requirements. For examples of courses that meet each requirement, please see our list of sample course descriptions.

If after reviewing our list of prerequisite courses and sample course descriptions you are still not sure if a particular course will meet our prerequisite requirement, you can submit a course substitution request (must be submitted by September 1).

Biological sciences

Biological sciences laboratory - 1 credit

Any biology course with a lab will fulfill this requirement. Lab grade does not need to be separate from lecture grade. Please use the entire course to meet the this prerequisite.

Genetics - 3 credits

To fulfill the genetics prerequisite, an equivalent course must have a title that indicates it is primarily a genetics course, and it must be the equivalent of 3 semester credits or more.

Cell Biology - 3 credits

To fulfill the cell biology prerequisite, an equivalent course must have a title that indicates it is primarily a cell biology course, and it must be the equivalent of 3 semester credits or more. It must cover the following topics: organelles, organelle function, cell signaling, cell energy use, cell division, cell adaptation, cell mutation and environmental response, membrane structures and transport. Neither introductory/general biology courses that include a segment on cell biology nor microbiology courses will meet the requirements for this course. This course must be predominantly focused on cellular function.

Systems Physiology or Anatomy and Physiology I and II - 3 credits

To fulfill the systems physiology prerequisite, an equivalent course must have a title that indicates it is primarily a physiology course covering normal physiologic function of animals or humans, and it must be the equivalent of 3 semester credits or more. Physiology can be awarded for a single general human physiology or animal physiology course that is comprehensive and includes the following body systems: cardiovascular, digestive, endocrine, musculoskeletal, neurological, renal, reproductive, and respiratory. Your institution may require that you take two general physiology courses to cover all systems. Alternatively, you may take a two-part, combined anatomy and physiology series (2 quarters/semesters; must complete both courses to fulfill the requirement. Lab is not required. This option not available at CSU).

Additional upper-division "biomedical science" courses - 9 credits

Completing upper-division “biomedical science” courses – beyond the specifically required credits in biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, and systems physiology – is essential to strengthening an application, because it demonstrates a strong foundation and can be an indicator of success in veterinary school. Note that “biomedical science” indicates a general type of foundational science course and does not indicate a specific departmental or college prefix. Candidates who have completed at least 9 credits of upper-division “biomedical science” courses with a grade at the time of application will be given preferred consideration.

  • Includes: Junior-level undergraduate courses or higher-level courses in anatomy, cancer biology, developmental biology, endocrinology, epidemiology, histology, immunology, infectious disease, metabolism, microbiology, molecular biology, necropsy, neurology/neuroscience, nutrition, organ physiology, parasitology, pathology, pharmacology, toxicology, virology. Graduate courses of similar content are also acceptable.
  • Does not include: Courses in animal disease prevention/management, behavior, biometry, communication, conservation biology, dairy/beef systems, ecology, equine/livestock management, equine science, evolution, herpetology, human-animal interactions, ichthyology, insemination, lab animal science, mammalogy, oceanography, ornithology, poultry science, small animal science, swine science, vet laboratory principles, welfare, and zoology.

Additional upper-division “biomedical science credits” – beyond the specifically required credits in biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, and systems physiology – will count toward this 9-credit requirement. For example, if you take a genetics course that fulfills the genetics requirement and then take another advanced genetics-based course, those additional credits may be applied to the 9-credit requirement.

Physical Sciences

Chemistry laboratory - 1 credit

Any chemistry course with a lab will fulfill this requirement. Lab grade does not need to be separate from lecture grade. Please use the entire course to meet the this prerequisite.

Biochemistry - 3 credits

To fulfill the biochemistry prerequisite, an equivalent course must be considered upper division at your institution, it must require organic chemistry (either one semester or two) as a biochemistry prerequisite, the title must indicate it is primarily a biochemistry course, and it must be the equivalent of 3 semester credits or more.

Physics with laboratory - 4 credits

To fulfill the physics prerequisite, an equivalent course must have a title that indicates it is primarily a physics course, it must have a laboratory component, and it must be the equivalent of 4 semester credits or more including the lab. Only one physics course with lab is required. The second course of a two-part physics series is not required.

Math

Statistics - 3 credits

To fulfill the statistics prerequisite, an equivalent course must have a title that indicates it is primarily a statistics course and it must be the equivalent of 3 semester credits. Calculus courses will not substitute.

Liberal Arts

English Composition - 3 credits

Completion of a four-year degree (i.e. a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts) will fulfill the English composition requirement. No course substitution request form is required for this substitution. English Literature does not qualify. AP English Composition (not AP English Literature) will fulfill the English composition requirement.

Arts and Humanities/Behavioral and Social Sciences - 12 credits

Courses must fall into one or more of the following categories: art, dance, English, humanities, foreign language, music, philosophy, speech, theater, anthropology, economics, geography, history, political sciences, psychology, sociology.

Other

Electives - 15 credits

Any class that isn’t already fulfilling another prerequisite can be used in the elective category. No specific electives are required.

Letters of recommendation

Candidates must submit three letters of recommendation with their VMCAS application. We highly recommend one be written by a veterinarian and suggest selecting an academic and employment source for the remaining two. Overall you should select recommenders with whom you are most comfortable.

Ensure the people you choose to write your letters of recommendation really know who you are, and share your educational and career goals with them. Ask them well in advance so they have time to prepare a genuine recommendation. Recommendations that can speak to both academic and non-academic experiences will provide valuable insights (for example, from faculty, advisors, or supervisors).

Learn more about the letters of recommendation requirement in the VMCAS application.

How we review applications

We use a holistic approach in the review of every application. Learn more about evaluation factors, our diversity statement, and tips for creating a strong application.

Ready to apply?

View required materials, application process and timeline, information for transfer students, and resources.