Master of Veterinary Education

The Master of Veterinary Education (MVEd) program is for current DVM faculty or veterinary practitioners who wish to obtain advanced training in the foundations of education to improve the quality of veterinary education through increasing awareness and knowledge of educational research, theory, and evidence-based teaching practices within the veterinary profession.

Master of Veterinary Education Admissions

Policies will follow existing LMU policies for undergraduate and/or master's degree programs, with any differences for this degree program noted in this catalog. Each applicant is evaluated holistically by considering each required element of the application package.

MVEd Required Application Materials

  • Complete the PostbacCAS Application
    • Official Transcripts for all institutions attended
    • Two (2) letters of recommendation
    • One (1) personal essay in response to the following prompt:
      • Explain your motivation for obtaining a Master of Veterinary Education degree, how your background and training have prepared you to earn a graduate degree in education, and how/why this degree will help you in your career goals.
    • Application fee (PostbacCAS fee + LMU Application fee)
  • Full CV
  • Proof of DVM or four-year baccalaureate degree in veterinary-related field

When reviewing application files, the committee looks at numerous applicant criteria, including undergraduate/graduate coursework, letters of recommendation, personal statements, and any other pertinent materials that may be included with the file. Upon acceptance into the graduate program, applicants will receive an official packet of materials including an acceptance letter and any other items than may be deemed necessary. Deadlines regarding program deposits, residential life, immunization records, etc. will be included in the acceptance packet.

Applicants with Foreign Coursework

Applicants to the MVEd program who have completed coursework at an institution external to the United States must complete the standard application procedure outlined above. All data included in the application (essays, demographic information, reference letters, CVs, etc.) must be written in English.

Any transcripts from institutions located outside of the United States must be evaluated by either the World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silney & Associates, Inc. Transcripts and evaluations should be submitted as normal through PostbacCAS.

If English is not the applicant's native language, or if an applicant attended an institution located outside of the United States and did not complete six (6) hours of 100+ English courses*, the applicant must submit one of the following test scores via an official report sent directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to PostbacCAS.

  • iBT (Internet-based TOEFL): minimum score of 61.
  • CBT (Computer-based TOEFL): minimum score of 173.
  • PBT (Paper-based TOEFL): minimum score of 500.

TOEFL scores older than 2 years will not be accepted.

*Applicants who earned a baccalaureate degree (or equivalent) from an American or English-speaking institution are not required to take the TOEFL.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees are subject to change and are determined by LMU main campus. For information regarding tuition and fees, please visit the Student Financial Services webpage here. The MVEd program is billed per credit hour at the same rate as online Master of Education programs.

Please note that some fees may not be specifically listed. Any questions about tuition rates, fees, or financial aid should be directed to the Student Financial Services team.

MVEd Academic Progress, Standards, and Policies

MVEd Program Requirements for Graduation

A minimum of 32 credit hours of graduate coursework and satisfactory completion of all core courses is required for graduation with the Master of Veterinary Education degree. The student must complete the degree program with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.85 or greater to be awarded the degree, unless otherwise required to be higher.

The student bears the ultimate responsibility for effective planning, progression, and completion of all requirements for the chosen degree. The student should review their academic progress on MyLMU by accessing WebAdvisor for students, then Academic Planning, then Program Evaluation to access their academic evaluation. This document also represents the Intent to Graduate form, which is signed and submitted to the Registrar’s Office by the specified due date for participation in the commencement ceremony and conferring of degree.

MVEd Curriculum

The Master of Veterinary Education (MVEd) curriculum is designed for faculty who currently teach in AVMA-COE- or CVTEA-accredited programs and wish to obtain advanced training in the foundations of education to improve the quality of veterinary education through increasing awareness and knowledge of educational research, theory, and evidence-based teaching practices within the veterinary medical professions. MVEd students may enroll with full- or part-time course loads, as defined by the following section.

Enrollment Status as Determined by Credit Hours

Full-time status as an MVEd graduate student is a minimum of seven (7) graduate credits in a Fall or Spring semester. Part-time status is anything fewer than 7 hours. Students may alternate between full- and part-time enrollment. Summer session courses may be available but are not guaranteed. 

Students must be registered for a minimum of six (6) credit hours to qualify for financial aid. Contact the Office of Student Financial Services for more information if necessary.

Attendance

Graduate students in the MVEd program have online courses and are expected to follow the online attendance and participation policies of the program in which they are registered.

Maximum Timeframe for Program Completion

Full-time students (3 courses per semester) can complete their studies within two (2) years after initial registration. Part-time students (1-2 courses per semester) must complete all requirements within four (4) years.

A request for an extension of graduate program completion requires the approval of the Graduate Council and the LMU-CVM Dean.

The student bears the ultimate responsibility for ensuring completion of all graduation requirements.

Degrees and Certificates

Courses

MVE-610: Theories of Learning & Instruction

Credits 3

This course provides the building blocks of understanding for and applications of educational philosophy and theories to the veterinary school classroom. It examines various learning theorists and their theories of learning, the history of learning and learning theories, the current research in education, and evidence-based practices of classroom and clinical instruction.

MVE-611: Educational Technology: Applications and Innovations

Credits 2

This course exposes candidates to hardware and software available for educational management purposes in veterinary education, discusses innovations in veterinary education (new models, technological applications and advances, and instructional innovations), and provides basic information about different types of learning management systems (LMS).

MVE-613: Andragogy and the 21st Century Learner

Credits 3

This course examines the culture of Millennials, Gen Z, and iGen, their educational and social experiences.  Veterinary Education as a professional program is explored.  Also discussed is the adult learner and identifying evidence-based practices used to reach the 21st century adult learner.

MVE-614: Assessing Student Learning in Vet Education

Credits 3

This course explores various manners of assessing student learning, knowledge, and abilities, including but not limited to written and oral exams, group and individual projects, written essays or papers, poster presentations, case presentations, OSCEs, self and peer evaluations.

MVE-615: Research Methods in Education

Credits 3

This course examines research methodologies and basic statistical approaches. Research skills including but not limited to information retrieval, critical evaluation, report organization, and statistical methodology are developed and reflected in formal research proposals.

MVE-617: Educational Leadership in Vet Education

Credits 3

This course explores the traditional definitions of leadership as well as the innate leadership of a veterinarian and how to present this concept to students.  It also delves into the leadership positions of a faculty, both in and out of a classroom setting, as well as positional leadership that comes with serving in an administrative position in a veterinary school. 

MVE-619: Student Services & Mentoring Students

Credits 3

This course examines research methodologies and basic statistical approaches. Research skills including but not limited to information retrieval, critical evaluation, report organization, and statistical methodology are developed and reflected in formal research proposals.

MVE-620: Capstone/Thesis in Veterinary Education

Credits 2

This course serves as a demonstration of the content the student has learned over the duration of the program. The topic of the research project will relate to faculty instruction or student learning; the content of the capstone project will add to veterinary education and be sustainable and/or duplicatable. This happens within a three-month period.

MVE-632: Program Assessment and Accreditation in Veterinary Education

Credits 3

In this course students learn about assessing the assessments, curriculum, facilities, instructional personnel, rotation program, staff, and overall educational program at a veterinary school.  Students will become familiar with the AVMA Accreditation process, both initial and interim terms, and the ongoing reporting required for a CVM to maintain full accreditation.