Prerequisite courses
Candidates applying for admission to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program at CSU must complete the following prerequisite courses:
- with a grade of C- or above
- by July 15 before matriculation
- at an institution accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
All prerequisite courses – including in-progress and future courses – must be included in the VMCAS application at submission. Coursework you intend to use to fulfill a prerequisite must also be matched in the “prerequisite” section of 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 and your application will not be further reviewed.
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.
Prerequisite matching
A single course may only count toward one prerequisite. You must identify a unique course for each prerequisite requirement.
We use a factor of .67 to convert quarter credits to semester credits. 4 quarter credits will fulfill the requirement for statistics, biochemistry, genetics, cell biology, and systems physiology.
Online courses
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.
AP credit
AP courses must appear on an official transcript. AP coursework can be used to fulfill the following prerequisites: biology lab, chemistry lab, English composition, physics with lab, and statistics.
Pass/fail grading
While CSU has always assessed prerequisites based on conventional A-F grades, we understand that many academic institutions may have applied pass-fail or satisfactory-unsatisfactory grading scales to courses moved to online platforms due to COVID-19. To ensure that no applicants are disadvantaged by these changes, CSU will accept pass-fail or satisfactory-unsatisfactory grading for Spring/Summer/Fall 2020 courses and Spring/Summer 2021 courses even if there is a letter grade option. Prerequisites taken in Spring/Summer/Fall 2020 or Spring/Summer 2021 must be completed for credit with a C- or better, or a “pass” or “satisfactory” equivalent. CSU will not accept pass-fail grading for Fall 2021 and beyond prerequisite courses.
Older coursework
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.
In-progress coursework
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.
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 evaluation 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. 4 quarter credits will fulfill this requirement. The genetics course should cover these topics: structure of genes and genomes, DNA replication, transcription, translation, and regulation of gene expression, mutation and expression of phenotypes, environmental effects on gene function/expression, and inheritance.
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. 4 quarter credits will fulfill this requirement. 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. 4 quarter credits will fulfill this requirement. 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 (two quarters/semesters; must complete both courses to fulfill the requirement. Lab is not required). A single anatomy and physiology course does not fulfill the requirements.
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. Independent studies, topics courses, and research credits also do not count.
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. 4 quarter credits will fulfill this requirement.
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. 4 quarter credits will fulfill this requirement. 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 evaluation 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 and tips for creating a strong application.
Ready to apply?
View required materials, application process and timeline, information for transfer students, and resources.