Admissions Requirements & Standards
Fall 2026 Start
Applications for matriculation in Fall 2026 are open October 17, 2025, through May 10, 2026. The admissions committee will review applications completed and verified in that window in early April 2026. Interviews will be conducted early-mid April 2026, with decision notifications delivered late April through late May 2026.
Complete and verified applications received after the posted deadline may be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on seat availability in the program.
Spring Start
Unfortunately, we are no longer offering a Spring start for the MS VBMS program. Please reach out to the CVM Admissions team with any questions.
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Application Status & Review Requirements
Only complete and verified applications will be reviewed.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to monitor the status of their PostbacCAS application and ensure delivery of all application materials by the deadline for their desired start date. Applications that are incomplete or unverified will not be evaluated.
A complete application has all letters of recommendation, transcripts, and essays received through PostbacCAS.
All materials should be submitted through PostbacCAS. The Office of CVM Admissions is not responsible for transcripts, letters, or essays that were submitted outside the PostbacCAS system. Sending materials outside of PostbacCAS may delay or prevent the evaluation of an application.
Click here for the PostbacCAS application cycle due dates. Any applications that are not verified by the end of the cycle will be required to resubmit. The admissions committee will not consider unverified applications.
Required Application Materials
To apply to the MS VBMS program, the following must be completed and/or submitted:
- PostbacCAS Application
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended
- Foreign transcripts, including those from previous DVM programs, must be evaluated by World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silney & Associates, Inc. before submission.
- Transcripts from Ross University’s DVM program can be ordered directly from the institution without a transcript evaluation service
- All final grades on foreign transcripts will be included in final GPA calculations
- Two (2) letters of recommendation from the applicant’s instructors, a veterinarian, or a health professions advisory committee with knowledge of the applicant’s work and ability, and can, therefore, evaluate their potential for success in this graduate program
- One (1) personal statement that professionally articulates a response to the following prompt: How will the MS VBMS program help you achieve your career goals?
- Application fees (PostbacCAS)
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Applicants Previously Enrolled in a DVM Program:
Any applicant to the MS VBMS program who has been enrolled in a DVM program must submit the following in addition to the standard application materials:
- Official transcript(s) reflecting DVM coursework from institution
- Recommendation Questionnaire from the Dean or Administrator at the CVM where they attempted or began coursework.
Any applicant who has attempted or completed DVM-level coursework before or concurrent with their application to the MS VBMS program must disclose that fact in their application materials. Failure to disclose enrollment in a DVM program on the MS VBMS application may result in immediate dismissal from the MS VBMS program.
Applicant Eligibility Requirements
All applicants to the MS VBMS program must:
- Hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution (or verified international equivalent)
- Have an overall minimum cumulative GPA of 2.80+
- Have completed all prerequisite coursework with a C- or better per course
- Applicants may apply while still completing prerequisite coursework and must submit final transcripts once the coursework is complete to remain eligible for admission.
Applicants Previously Enrolled in a DVM Program
Any applicant who has attempted DVM-level coursework prior to applying to the DVM program at LMU-CVM must demonstrate a cumulative GPA of 2.0+ in their professional coursework and request a Recommendation Questionnaire from the Dean or Administrator at their previous CVM. Applicants who fail to meet this standard and/or do not receive a recommendation from their past CVM Dean/Administrator do not qualify for admission to the DVM program at LMU-CVM. To access the Recommendation Questionaire, please email: veterinaryadmissions@lmunet.edu
Failure to disclose enrollment in a DVM program in their PostbacCAS application may result in immediate dismissal from the MS VBMS program.
Applicants must complete the following coursework before beginning the MS VBMS program. All prerequisites must be completed with a C- or better.
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Prerequisite
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Semester Units
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Quarter Units
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Notes
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English
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6
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9
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Reading or Comprehension can count toward this total
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|
Mathematics
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6
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9
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Probability and Statistics can count towards this total
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General Biology
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8
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12
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With labs
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Upper-Level Biology
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8
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12
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300-level coursework with labs
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Organic Chemistry
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6
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9
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Lecture and labs
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General Chemistry
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6
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9
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Lecture and labs
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Physics
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3
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4.5
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Algebra or Calculus-based with lab
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Biochemistry
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3
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4.5
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|
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Probability and Statistics
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Can be counted toward the mathematics requirement
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|
Molecular Genetics
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Can be counted toward the general or upper-level biology requirements
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Applicants with unfinished prerequisite coursework may still apply; however, official transcripts must be provided to the CVM Admissions office upon completion of the coursework.
