What are the prerequisite courses for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program? 
Please visit the admissions requirements Web page for details.
Can I talk to a counselor about my coursework?
We encourage you to view our course equivalency list to determine whether the courses you have taken or plan to take, will satisfy the specified prerequisites. If a course in question is not listed, we encourage you to submit a course acceptability form to inquire about the acceptability of the course.
If you have numerous prerequisite questions, or if you would simply like to lay out your courses to see where you stand, we suggest that you complete the academic worksheet. (Note: You will need Acrobat Reader to view this worksheet. To download a free copy, visit our Plug-Ins page.) Academic Worksheets are only reviewed March through July due application processing. Download and save the worksheet to your desktop. Once you have done this you can type in/edit this form until you close the PDF or your computer is turned off. Complete and print the worksheet by typing in the courses you've taken that you believe will satisfy each prerequisite. By laying out your coursework in relation to our prerequisites, you will be able to determine the courses you may still need to complete. In addition, you will be able to assess your academic performance in the courses (prerequisites) our admissions committee believes are of greatest importance. If upon completion you find that you still have questions, return this worksheet as instructed on the web document. If the course name does not match the prerequisite title, be sure to include a course description for reference. Once you receive our assessment, feel free to contact us with any questions you might have.
Where can I take my prerequisite coursework?
Prerequisite coursework can be taken at any regionally accredited U.S. institution. Courses completed in Canada must be evaluated by an approved foreign coursework evaluation service. U.S. institutions accredited by one of the following agencies will be acceptable for Western University-CVM prerequisite coursework:
| MSA |
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools |
| NASC |
Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges |
| NCA |
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools |
| NEASC-CIHE |
New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. / Commission on Institutions of Higher Education |
| NEASC-CTCI |
New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. / Commission on Technical and Career Institutions |
| SACS-CC |
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools/Commission on Colleges |
| WASC-ACCJC |
Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges |
| WASC-ACSCU |
Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities |
Can I take outstanding prerequisites at WesternU?
At this time, Western University does not offer any undergraduate coursework.
What is considered an upper division/advanced course?
This varies from institution to institution. Check with your undergraduate academic advisor for clarification. Upper division/advanced courses are typically not offered at community or junior colleges and typically require a lower division course to be taken prior to enrollment.
Can I have prerequisite classes in progress at the time of application?
You may have no more than two of the specified prerequisite courses (note courses with a "5" on the admissions requirements page) in progress after the completion of the fall term immediately prior to starting at WesternU-CVM. Prerequisite courses that do not have a "5" may be completed during the spring or summer prior to matriculation.
It is recommended that you complete as many of the prerequisites as possible by the end of the fall term so that those grades can be reviewed by the admissions committee when making interview and admissions decisions.
What constitutes a written communication in science or technology course?
This type of writing course is probably offered at your school, it's just not necessarily titled as such. Essentially this course should cover the basic methodology of writing as pertains to research or to the sciences. Simply doing extensive writing in a course does not make it a science or technical writing course. The key aspect of a science/technical writing course is that you are taught and tested on proper writing techniques specifically for the sciences.
Please view our course equivalency list to determine whether the course you have taken or plan to take, will satisfy the specified prerequisites. If the institution and/or course in question is not listed, we encourage you to submit a course acceptability form to inquire about the acceptability of the course.
Can I substitute life experience for any of the prerequisites?
We believe that prerequisite courses are all essential to an applicant's preparation for veterinary school and future career as a veterinarian. Therefore, we require that you take all of these classes without exception.
Simply satisfying the prerequisite does not ensure the applicant will be admitted. Additionally, stellar completion of these prerequisites does not guarantee that a candidate will be prepared to navigate the curriculum successfully. Application review will be an objective process involving interpretations of all objective and subjective information included in the applications and revealed in the interviews. To this end, the prerequisites have been established to standardize and provide guidance to the applicant pool, and to allow for some degree of objectivity in the evaluation of the applicants.
Do you accept College Level Equivalency Program (CLEP) or Advanced Placement (AP) credit?
We will accept CLEP and/or AP credits that are listed on an undergraduate transcript from an accredited institution. If you choose to use CLEP and/or AP credits you must submit a letter from the school's registrar in which you received those credits. This letter must explain what the CLEP and/or AP credits are earned in (i.e. English, Math, etc.).
How strict are you on the 8-year time limit for specified prerequisites?
We believe that the prerequisite courses in specific, rapidly changing, scientific areas are all essential to an applicant's preparation for veterinary school and future career as a veterinarian. Therefore we require that you take the specified prerequisites (note courses with a "3" on the admissions requirements page) within the past eight years (i.e. courses completed after August 1, 2001 may be used to satisfy prerequisites for the class entering fall 2009).
We must have a basis from which to compare candidates and know that students have up-to-date knowledge in these areas. While you may have the knowledge as a result of experience, we have no way of testing that, except by requiring you to take the prerequisites for a grade.
In rare instances we will consider waive requests. For example: you haven't taken a microbiology course in 15 years, but you have been teaching microbiology for the past two years. In a situation such as this, we would allow the time limit to be waived since you were able to clearly demonstrate how you have kept current in the course material in recent years. If you believe your situation is comparable, please submit a letter detailing your situation for the specific course in question to Melissa Minor (A-E), April Ake (F-L), Terry Ung (M-Q) or Karen Lopez (R-Z) either by fax (909) 469-5425 or by e-mail attachment.
Why do different colleges of veterinary medicine require different prerequisites?
The prerequisite coursework, exams and experience have been designated by the WesternU-CVM admissions committee in order to maximally prepare the pre-veterinary student for the WesternU curriculum and a successful career in veterinary medicine. The prerequisites vary by institution because each college of veterinary medicine has a different admissions committee and curriculum.
WesternU-CVM has a unique student-centered, problem-based learning curriculum and recognizes the importance of graduating veterinarians who are adequately prepared to immediately contribute to the profession. Stellar performance in these prerequisite courses will not guarantee admission nor will it guarantee successful completion of the curriculum; they do however, provide the basis for a student to become a well rounded, scientifically grounded student with the skills and knowledge to participate actively in his or her learning experience at WesternU-CVM.
Do you require any standardized tests?
Applicants must take either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). When choosing a test date, be sure to note score reporting dates to ensure meeting the application deadline of October 2 for direct applications or October 16 for supplemental applications. Score reports may be sent from the GRE/MCAT agency directly to WesternU. The GRE institution code is 4152 and the GRE department code is 0617.
Note: A sealed score report must be included in the supplemental application packet submitted by the applicant or sent directly to the admissions office. Both MCAT and GRE exams must have been taken no more than five (5) years prior to application.
Do you require minimum Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) scores to apply?
No. We do not have any minimum requirements for applicant GRE or MCAT scores.
Note: A sealed score report may be included in the supplemental application packet submitted by the applicant or sent directly to the admissions office. Both MCAT and GRE exams must have been taken no more than five (5) years prior to application. The GRE institution code is 4152 and the GRE department code is 0617.
What are your average GRE & MCAT scores?
The average GRE scores for the class entering in fall 2007 class were:
Verbal: 497 Quantitative: 628 Analytical Writing: 4
If I take the GRE or MCAT more than once, will you consider both sets of scores?
If taken multiple times, all scores will be considered, but more weight will likely be placed on the later score.
Note: A sealed score report must be included in the supplemental application packet submitted by the applicant or sent directly to the admissions office. Both MCAT and GRE exams must have been taken no more than five (5) years prior to application.
Is a bachelor's degree required to apply?
No, it is not required that you have a BA or BS to apply. However, please keep in mind that admission is a highly competitive process and having your undergraduate degree will serve to strengthen your application.
Do you require a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) to apply?
Yes. The minimum overall GPA requirement is a 2.5. You must also achieve a C or higher in all prerequisite coursework (C- or lower will not be accepted). However, please keep in mind that admission is a highly competitive process and that most applicants have between a 3.0 and a 4.0 GPA.
Are students required to have laptop computers?
Yes, students are required to have laptops that meet certain computer specifications that change annually. Computers will be used extensively for accessing information (online databases, journals, texts, etc.), learning concepts (software and Web-based programs in physiology, etc.), communicating with fellow students and faculty, managing schedules for lectures/labs/other experiences, preparing documents, critiquing data (on research projects), test taking, etc. Your experience with the computer during school will allow you to create a valuable, custom tool for immediate use in your professional career upon graduation.
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Doctor of Veterinary Medicine FAQs - Prerequisites
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