University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine – Overview
The University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine opened its doors in 1946. The college offers a four-year professional program – The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. Most applicants have a B.S. or B.A. degree, but the college also admits those who have completed prerequisite courses.
The college’s mission is to educate and train exceptional clinicians and scientists regardless of their background. It also aims to generate new knowledge and engage stakeholders to promote economic growth. They do all these things to ensure they promote the health and welfare of animals and people.
The College of Veterinary Medicine Missouri has four strategic goals: Teach, Heal, Discover, and Serve. Besides that, the college is determined to promote diversity and an environment where inclusion, mutual respect, and open expression thrive.
The DVM professional program has a unique structure that offers the students about two years of hands-on training in the college’s facilities. The first and second years of training focus more on instruction. They conduct these classes in computer-based classrooms and high-tech labs.
On the other hand, they focus on clinical education during the third and fourth years. The college is a national leader in comparative medicine. Its researchers team up by sharing innovations, discoveries, and treatments for animals and humans.
As a result, the National Institute of Health has funded the comparative medicine research at the institution for over four decades. Besides that, the college runs the only nationally accredited Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory in Missouri. The lab handles more than 51 000 diagnostic cases annually.
Above all, the American Veterinary Medical Association accredits the college. Also, veterinary graduates can apply for licensure in any state as long as they meet any additional state-specific requirements. Read on to find out what studying at the University of Missouri College of Vet Med is like.
Studying at the University of Missouri College of Vet Med
The University of Missouri Vet School offers outstanding undergraduate programs that prepare students for the veterinary curriculum. You will find many reasons why you should study at the college. For instance, you will love the location, academics, and financial considerations.
Veterinary students can access financial aid in terms of loans and scholarships. However, if the college admits you to the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and you have not completed the 72 undergraduate hours, you cannot qualify for the federal student loans.
Besides that, the college allows CVM students to apply for Missouri residency once they complete their first year. If the college approves your residency status, you pay nonresident tuition in year 1. After that, you will pay lower in-state tuition fees in years 2 through 4. The Missouri University Residency Office determines your residency status.
The university also expects students to conduct themselves with decorum. When you join, you will receive a Student Handbook, which will help you meet your responsibilities as a member of the college and profession.
Some details contained in the Student Handbook include technical standards, college regulations and guidelines, student dress and behavior, and honor code, among other essential information. Besides that, you will also benefit from Student Organizations. These groups will help you have a better experience at the institution.
University of Missouri Vet School Requirements and Info
Location
The university’s location is between two metro areas- Kansas City and St. Louis. Its neighboring rural areas provide a substantial caseload in food animal species, equine, and companions.
The University of Missouri Veterinary Medicine Complex has five buildings on the southeast corner of the Columbia MU campus. The buildings include Connaway Hall, The Veterinary Health Center, the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, the Veterinary Medicine Building, and Veterinary Medical Science Building.
The college also runs Middlebush Farm. It is here that the students get large animal medicine practical experience.
How Many Students are Accepted Per Year
The University of Missouri Vet School admitted 120 new students for the 2022 class. Fifty-five are from Missouri, while the 65 come from out of the state. Some of the students come from as far as Washington State and Puerto Rico.
During the admission cycle, the college received 122 applications from Missouri residents. Overall, the college received over 1000 applications. However, it accepted the application of 120 students only. They based the selection process on individual merit, as demonstrated in academic and non-academic areas.
Admission Criteria for U.S. Students
The university requires all applicants to submit their applications through the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS).
Before you apply, you must meet all the academic requirements regardless of your degree. Among the requirements is a cumulative GPA of 3.00. When submitting your application, you must include the following:
- Official transcripts from all institutions of higher learning you’ve ever enrolled in. This consists of any courses you took while enrolled in high school.
- If you use credit by examination, the college registrar must submit your score breakdown to VMCAS.
- You also need three letters of recommendation, and one should be by a veterinarian.
Course Prerequisites for the DVM Program
All DVM program applicants must complete 60 semester hours. This includes the required courses outlined below. Moreover, applicants should complete these courses at a regionally accredited institution that the U.S. Department of Education recognizes.
If you get a grade of D or F in a mandatory course, you will have to repeat to earn at least a grade of C- or higher. You can only have two of the prerequisite courses pending before matriculation. On the other hand, if you take any course on the P/F or S/U grading system, the college will not consider them for admission to the College of Veterinary Medicine.
The college also allows students to use credit by examination like A.P. or CLEP to substitute for the pre-veterinary requirements. This only applies if their institution accepts those credits instead of a specific mandatory course.
The course perquisites for the DVM program:
| Course | SemesterCredit Hours |
| Composition or Courses in Communication Skills | 6 |
| College Algebra or More Advanced Mathematics | 3 |
| Biochemistry (Organic Chemistry Prerequisite) | 3 |
| Physics (You must complete sequences I & II) | 5 – 10 |
| Biological Sciences (Such as Genetics, Physiology, Anatomy, Microbiology) | 10 |
| Social Sciences and/or Humanistic Studies (Including History, Economics, Literature, Political Science, Philosophy, Mythology, Psychology, Sociology, Foreign Languages) | 10 |
NB:
- Multiply the quarter credits by 0.67 to convert the semester credits.
- You can select Biology Department courses from zoology, botany, or foundation courses for a biology major requirement.
- Animal Sciences courses don’t qualify for the ten prerequisite hours in Biological Sciences. Only those that both departments cross-reference or an equivalent arrangement that the College of Veterinary Medicine determines will count.
Besides the prerequisite courses, the College of Veterinary Medicine faculty encourages applicants to include as many elective courses as possible. Having a background in these courses ensures you don’t struggle with anatomy and physiology.
The elective courses include
- Animal Reproduction
- Animal Nutrition
- Physiology
- Anatomy
- Psychology
- Animal Husbandry
- Business or Accounting
- Cell Biology
- Statistics
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Any Biomed
The college does not accept problems, readings, seminars, or research for admission purposes.
Suppose you have college credits you gained outside the U.S., ensure they are credited with grades and semester credit hours on a transcript from a college or university that the U.S. Department of Education approves.
The college will include any course to meet requirements for a technical degree like veterinary technology in the cumulative GPA computation. But, the college does not accept limited enrollment in specialized courses as part of the minimum course requirements.
Apart from that, the college also expects all applicants to spend at least 40 hours observing veterinarians actively engaged in their typical work environment. You can obtain these hours by working as a volunteer, observer, or employee.
Moreover, you must observe as a third party, not as a client. If you can manage more than 40 hours of observation, your application will be more competitive.
High School Preparation is Important
Your preparation for application to the College of Veterinary Medicine Missouri should begin in high school. The selection criteria look at your academic and non-academic standards.
On the academic front, it would help if you focused on taking four years of mathematics and English (grammar and composition). You should also take two years of biology and as much physics and chemistry as possible. Basic computer skills are also valuable.
Your involvement in extracurricular activities like clubs, athletics, band, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and church activities will boost your application. Just ensure you participate in activities that require teamwork and interpersonal skills.
The college also expects you to have had experiences with different animals. Some of this experience must be from observing veterinarians in their actual practice. If you are a High School student interested in Veterinary Medicine, consider seeking such opportunities.
Non-Academic Evaluation
Non-academic factors will constitute 60% of your admissions score. Here are some of the things the Admissions Committee evaluates:
- Enthusiasm and perception of the veterinary medicine profession
- Research (medical or biomedical) and public health experience
- Communication skills
- Leadership skills
- Extracurricular activities
- Work experience
- Diversity and life experience
- General impression, including letters of reference
The college also runs Pre-Veterinary Medical Scholars and AgScholars programs which provide early assurance of admission to the Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. This is usually after the prospective students complete the undergraduate and program requirements.
Additionally, the program entails students working with advisers based at the college and observing qualified veterinarians at work.
Admission Criteria for Foreign Students
If you are applying through the regular admission process, you must have completed sixty semester hours of prerequisite courses. Moreover, it would help if you had done the studies at a regionally accredited institution that the U.S. Department of Education recognizes.
Once the college notifies you of admission, you must meet the eligibility criteria to get a student visa certificate that the M.U. International Center will issue. Additionally, special programs that the University of Missouri has negotiated with other international institutions may have different criteria.
Educational Opportunities
The University of Missouri Vet School offers prospective students a wide range of educational opportunities. They include
- MPH/Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
- Masters of Public Health Degree Program (MPH)
- BS. in Veterinary Technology
- BS in Animal Sciences and Doctor of Veterinary Program
- BS in Microbiology Degree
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Studies
- Veterinary Pathobiology Graduate Studies
- Veterinary Medicine & Surgery Graduate Studies
- Online Graduate (Masters) Degree Program
- Online Undergraduate Courses in Biomedical Science
- Veterinary Technician Training Programs
Other Educational Opportunities
The University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine offers internship programs. Interns are veterinarians with licenses pursuing an extra year of training after earning their DVM degree.
The internship provides the doctors with more detail about a particular segment of veterinary care than they could in their four years of the professional veterinary curriculum. Moreover, the interns can perform any duties of a veterinarian. But, at the teaching hospital, the interns manage clinical cases under the close supervision of experienced faculty veterinarians.
The university also allows its graduates to work as residents. Residents are veterinarians with licenses pursuing extra training in a particular field of specialty medicine. The resident aims to become a board-certified specialist.
The residents are usually those that have completed their veterinary degree and internship training. Some residents have also done some private practice. Once they complete the residency program, the veterinarians take strict examinations to demonstrate their expertise in their particular field. Eventually, they become board-certified specialists.
What Else Do They Offer Other Than Education
The M.U. also runs a Veterinary Health Center that offers specialized diagnoses and specialty treatment. Veterinarians all over the Midwest refer their animal clients to this renowned clinic.
Examples of the specialty treatment the facility offers include emergency medicine and critical care, dentistry, soft tissue surgery, neurology, ophthalmology, dermatology, and oncology. Others are orthopedic surgery and cardiovascular medicine and surgery.
The center also offers community medical services. The services focus on preventive medicine, dentistry, and regular small animal outpatient services. Besides that, the center runs the College’s Shelter Medicine Program. This program increases the opportunities for students to perfect their hands-on skills as they help the communities.
The College also runs a Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. This is the only nationally certified diagnostic laboratory in Missouri. The laboratory handles over 51000 diagnostic cases annually. Moreover, it serves all the 114 counties in Missouri and surrounding states.
Reports from the lab reveal that it handles about 167000 diagnostic tests per year. The facility offers toxicology, serology, histopathology, molecular biology, bacteriology, and virology diagnostic laboratories.
The lab also provides veterinary medical students the opportunity to receive instruction in diagnostic laboratory medicine.
Besides that, the College runs a Veterinary Health Center at Wentzville that offers radiation therapy, diagnostic services, dermatology services, and clinical trials. It provides these services in the St. Louis area.
There is also a Veterinary Health Center in Kansas City, which provides emergency services during after-hours. The staff at the center has licenses and works overnight, including during weekends and holidays. All these institutions provide the students with the right environment to study.
Departments/Centers/Institutes
The college has three main academic departments:
Biomedical Sciences
This department commits itself to the university’s mission by ensuring excellence in teaching. It also gives preeminence in scholarship and research and is enthusiastic about effective leadership in professional service and an inclusive environment.
It achieves these goals through daily contact with experienced graduate students. The connection comprises instructive lectures, individual mentoring, and group interactions. Moreover, it offers DVM, M.S., and Ph.D. graduates.
Veterinary Pathology
The Department of Veterinary Pathology is a critical component of the College of Veterinary Medicine. It provides a special and vital link between basic and clinical sciences.
The department’s mission is to gain, advance, and disseminate knowledge in various fields. The fields of interest include parasitology, pathology, microbiology, comparative medicine, immunology, genetics, and other related fields.
The aim is to have improved diagnosis, control, and prevention of animal and human diseases. At the same time, the department ensures that it generates the next crop of researcher scientists.
The department’s sub-disciplines of instruction include pathology, virology, immunology, genetics, and comparative medicine. Furthermore, the department offers B.S. in Microbiology at the undergraduate level.
Veterinary Medicine and Surgery
The Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery is where you will find the Veterinary Health Center. You can find specialty training, residency, internship, and technical intern programs at the department.
The department also engages in Veterinary Medicine Research in different areas. Examples of the research in this department include comparative internal medicine, comparative oncology, epigenetics laboratory, and comparative neurology laboratory.
BIOMED Online
The college also offers Veterinary Online Programs that allow graduate veterinary technicians to continue their education. After the courses, they will earn university credits. Moreover, the certificates and degrees they earn help them advance the knowledge of graduate veterinary technicians.
These courses will not offer you the initial training skills to become a registered veterinary technician.
Things to do in Missouri
CVM Outreach Activities you can get involved in are:
Dog Jog
Veterinary students at the College of Veterinary Medicine Missouri organizes an annual fun run and walk. The event is open to the entire community, and the students use it to raise funds for the Central Missouri Humane Society.
Extension Veterinary Service
The faculty usually travels across Missouri to teach Food and Drug Administration, veterinary feed instructions, and biosecurity in poultry and swine farms. These activities help to promote the responsible use of antibiotics for food-producing animals.
The service also helps prevent the spread of diseases within and between farms. In the end, it fosters animal agriculture. This is a great program to take part in to improve your experience as a veterinarian.
Mule Club
The Mule Club takes care of the Missouri Mule Team, the mascots of the MU CVM. The team usually travels to about 50 events across Missouri annually to educate the public. Their focus is mainly on the unique role the mule plays in the economic and cultural development of the state.
Open House
Every year, Open House assembles around 3000 people at the College of Veterinary Medicine on a particular Saturday in April. The event has over 50 exhibitors, and it attracts families, prospective students, clients of the Veterinary Health Center, and the general public.
The college uses this event to educate the public on animal and public health. Veterinary students run the program with the support of faculty and staff. You should take part in this event to increase your public relations skills.
Paige Laurie Endowed Program in Equine Lameness
This program enabled the M.U. faculty to develop the Lameness Locator, a commercially thriving body-mounted inertial sensor system that detects and evaluates lameness in horses. This is another excellent program for you to participate in.
Pet-Assisted Love and Support Pet Therapy Group
While at the college, consider joining the Pet-Assisted Love and Support (PALS). This is a volunteer student club with staff, faculty, and community participation. Volunteers visit senior citizen homes and hospitals with their pets.
This exercise significantly impacted those who visited and formed empathetic veterinary students. Reports reveal that some students have developed similar programs in the communities they go to serve.
Raptor Rehabilitation Project
This program offers medical care to owls, hawks, vultures, and eagles injured in the wild. After caring for them, the team allows the raptors to return to the wild.
The group also offers educational programs at schools and other places. Additionally, the program saves wild animals and educates the public about the role of raptors in the state’s ecosystem.
TigerPlace Pet Initiative
This initiative holds weekly animal visitations they call PAWSitive Visits. During the visits, they bring different species of animals to TigerPlace, and they give the residents a tutorial about the animal.
The program also offers pet matching or adoption services for older adults. Additionally, they offer pet care assistants who bathe pets and transport pets that need treatment to the Veterinary Health Center. They also provide monthly pet house calls by a CVM faculty veterinarian and a student.
Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Research Seminar
The college holds weekly Resident-Intern Seminar Series. You will learn more about veterinary medicine and surgery if you attend the seminars. Moreover, the workshops are open to veterinary technicians, veterinarians, and RACE-approved continuing education providers.
The program is an excellent place for Missouri veterinary professionals to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in medicine and surgery. Therefore, if you are interested in pursuing surgery as your specialty area, this is a must-attend seminar.
VHC Equine Ambulatory Service and Longmeadow Rescue Ranch
This program offers the best standard of medical and surgical care to equine patients in the Columbia area. Some of the services include vaccinations and routine preventive care, dental issues, lameness problems, and caring for breeding mares and new foals.
Clinicians usually offer seminars and Q&Q sessions to various saddle clubs and horse-related organizations. The clinicians also provide their services as volunteers in the Large Animal Rescue Team.
The team also visits the Longmeadow Rescue Ranch, a branch of the Saint Louis Humane Society, quarterly to offer preventive care. They also provide lameness care and handle many other health issues.
VHC Shelter Medicine
The VHC Shelter Medicine program offers preventive medicine and neuter services to about 130 shelter animals every month. The service helps to save the lives of animals by preventing disease outbreaks. At the same time, it also provides expanded hands-on learning experiences to veterinary students.
VHC Equine Emergency and Critical Care Service
This program provides 24/7 access to tertiary emergency and critical care for horses and ponies. While studying, ensure you participate in these services to help improve your hands-on skills when dealing with animals. It will also give you the public relations experience you need in your professional career.
Key Take-Aways
The College of Veterinary Medicine Missouri is one of the best veterinary schools in the U.S. The university operates on four main pillars: Teach, Heal, Discover and Serve. Moreover, it offers educational services that enhance diversity and inclusivity.
Admission to the college is very competitive; therefore, you must prepare well before applying to make your application competitive. This guide offers you the details of what you need to qualify for admission, including prospective international students.
Additionally, the college offers many programs and community activities that make the learning process more engaging. It also has a community of professional staff that offer the best training for the students.
So, if you are passionate about working with animals and their health, consider taking a course in veterinary medicine. In this regard, The University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine is an excellent choice.