All candidates considered for admission to Lincoln Memorial University-College of
Veterinary Medicine must meet the following requirements:
Minimum Academic Requirements
At least 43 semester or 65 quarter units from a regionally accredited college or university.
*If a student intends to practice in the state of New York, they require at least
60 semester units.
Minimum overall 2.8 GPA, or higher in all coursework as calculated by VMCAS.
*Students not meeting this criteria, with a GPA of < 2.8, who have demonstrated a
commitment to academic excellence in the last 2 years of study (most recent 40 semester
hours) may be considered on a case by case basis.
Pre-Requisite Coursework
In order to fulfill the prerequisite the coursework must meet the following criteria:
Courses must be completed at a regionally accredited college or university
Courses must be completed with a grade of a “C-” or higher. Final grades for all
prerequisite courses must be verified by LMU-CVM.
Courses for all science prerequisites must have been completed within the last 10
years of application. Science prerequisites include: Biology, Genetics, Biochemistry,
Advanced Science Electives, Organic Chemistry, General Chemistry and Physics
In Progress or Planned Courses: Prerequisite courses can be “in progress” or “planned” at the time you submit your
application, however official transcripts reflecting successful completion of those
prerequisites must be submitted to LMU by the published deadlines.
Advanced Placement (AP) credits: AP credits will be accepted for pre-requisite courses if they appear on an official
college transcript with the subject and number of credits received and are equivalent
to the appropriate college-level coursework. A generic listing of “AP credit” or “transfer
credit” without the specific subject and number of credits will not be accepted.
LMU-CVM Prerequisite
Semester Units
Quarter Units
Biology
8
12
General biology series; Lecture & lab
Genetics
3
4
Lecture; Animal Breeding/Reproduction courses must be approved on a case-by-case basis
Biochemistry
3
4
Lecture
Advanced Science Electives
8
12
Lecture Courses must be 300 level or higher
Examples may include Anatomy, Cell Biology, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology,
Physiology, or Virology, depending on your school's course numbering.
Organic Chemistry
6
9
Lecture & lab
General Chemistry
6
12
Lecture & lab
Physics
3
4
Lecture (Algebra or calculus based acceptable)
English
3
4
Social Sciences
3
4
Potential courses include but are not limited to: Anthropology, Economics, Geography,
Philosophy, Political Science or Sociology. Also included: Ethics, Critical Thinking,
Cultural Diversity, Social Responsibility, One Health, & Human-Animal Bond
Minimum
43
65
Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
Applicants are required to take the GRE General Test. The GRE must have been taken
within five years of application and prior to the September 15th deadline.
GRE scores will be sent directly to VMCAS. Use the code 7576 when ordering your test
scores.
Veterinary Experience
Applicants must demonstrate experience and knowledge of the veterinary profession.
There is not a minimum number of hours applicants must complete.
Technical Standards
The LMU-CVM Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree indicates that the graduate is a
veterinarian who is competent to practice veterinary medicine and is able to apply
for and maintain veterinary medical licensure. During their curriculum, all LMU-CVM
students are required to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to
provide safe and effective veterinary medical care. Thus, each candidate for admission
must possess and maintain the skills, qualities and attributes required to practice
direct patient care regardless of his or her intended career pathway.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, LMU-CVM requires that students
meet and maintain the ability to meet the following technical standards, with or without
reasonable accommodation as a condition of participation in the veterinary medical
educational program. Reasonable accommodations include those assistive devices and
strategies that do not change the: essential requirements of the curriculum and/or
the standards of performance judged to be acceptable. Assistance strategies that use
trained intermediaries to obtain and interpret data from patients or owners on behalf
of the student will not be accepted as reasonable.
Standard 1 – OBSERVATION
Students must be able to observe a patient accurately (at a distance and nearby),
acquire information from written documents, actively participate in instructional
activities, observe patients for signs of disease, and to interpret visual diagnostic
tests (examples: electrocardiograms, diagnostic imagining, and microscopic evaluation).
Students must have sufficient use of the senses necessary to accurately and safely
observe and react to a patient at a distance and nearby. The student must be able
to perform these procedures in potentially stressful circumstances and in a timely
manner across the wide range of veterinary clinical circumstances.
Such observation and information acquisition is typically accomplished through the
use of visual, auditory, and somatic sensation while being enhanced by the functional
use of other sensory modalities, including smell. In any case where one’s ability
to observe or acquire information through typical physical senses is compromised,
the student is expected to acquire and effectively use approved auxiliary aids and
services. All students are held to the same standards regardless of ability.
Standard 2 – COMMUNICATION
Students must be able to relate reasonably to patients and establish sensitive, professional
verbal relationships with clients, patients, faculty, and staff. They are expected
to personally communicate the results of the history and examination to the client,
peers and faculty with accuracy, clarity, efficiency and communicate effectively in
oral and written form. Students must be proficient in both communicative and receptive
aspects of the English language. The student must also be able to understand and interpret
patients’ clinical presentations in order to obtain clinical history, describe changes
in behavior, activity and posture, and perceive non-vocal communications. Students
must also be able to respond effectively in a timely manner during emergency situations.
Standard 3 – MOTOR
Students must perform basic diagnostic and medical procedures including but not limited
to; complete physical examinations, animal restraint, and basic surgical procedures.
Standard 4 – INTELLECTUAL, CONCEPTUAL, INTEGRATIVE and QUANTITATIVE ABILITIES
Students must be able to observe, measure, calculate, and utilize information to engage
in: critical thinking, data analysis/assimilation, and problem solving in both individual
and group contexts that are essential to the function of a veterinarian. Students
are expected to be able to display good judgment in the assessment and treatment of
patients. They must be able to respond with prompt and appropriate action in clinical
situations.
Standard 5 – BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL ATTRIBUTES
Students must accept criticism and respond with appropriate modification of their
behavior. Students must possess the perseverance, diligence, and consistency necessary
to complete the veterinary school curriculum. They must demonstrate professional and
ethical demeanor, exhibit inter-personal skills and exemplary behavior in all dealings
with peers, faculty, staff, clients, and patients. Compassion, integrity, concern
for others, honesty and law abiding ethical behavior is essential for LMU-CVM students.
Standard 6 – PROFESSIONAL INTERACTIONS
The student must conduct themself with integrity, respect, compassion, tolerance and
acceptance of others in their interactions with patients, owners, peers, faculty and
other members of the LMU-CVM community at all times, including under stress and after
limited and/or interrupted sleep. The student must be able to quickly respond to demands
within the clinical setting and be able to demonstrate flexibility with the requirements
of the curriculum.
Standard 7 – GENERAL HEALTH
The student must have sufficient physical and mental stamina to perform strenuous
workloads for long periods. A student who has a disease that poses a risk of eminent
or serious harm to the student, other students, faculty, staff, clients, or patients
or that prevents the student from safely performing the clinical duties required by
the LMU-CVM curriculum will not be admitted or permitted to continue in the program.
Students with allergies need to be aware that they will have sustained contact with
multiple species of animals and the environments in which they are housed and treated.
During such contact, the individual must be able to carry out routine medical care
on such animals irrespective of physical discomfort resulting from allergic reactions
with hair, dander, skin, or bodily fluids.
