Why an MBA for Veterinarians?

Veterinary medicine is both a calling and a complex profession. Beyond clinical expertise, veterinarians increasingly navigate responsibilities related to leadership, operations, finance, and long-term planning. An MBA equips veterinarians with the tools to approach these responsibilities thoughtfully and strategically, supporting high-quality care within well-managed and sustainable organizations. 

The MBA/DVM pathway complements veterinary training with a strong foundation in management, finance, strategy, and leadership. Business education enables veterinarians to make informed decisions about practice operations, resource allocation, team leadership, and growth—allowing clinical priorities and professional values to remain at the center of care delivery. Prepare for leadership roles such as medical director, practice manager, or chief veterinary officer by developing skills in organizational leadership, team management, and operational decision-making.  

For many veterinarians, business knowledge becomes a powerful form of advocacy. Understanding how organizations function supports the ability to create practice environments that prioritize patient-centered care, foster team well-being, and build trust with clients. This perspective aligns with a One Health approach by recognizing the interconnectedness of clinical excellence, organizational sustainability, and community impact. The MBA/DVM prepares you to apply your veterinary expertise beyond clinical practice in roles related to industry, innovation, or advisory work, for roles in areas such as animal health, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, consulting, or operations and strategy functions, where veterinary knowledge combined with business acumen is highly valued. 

The MBA also supports long-term career resilience and flexibility. Whether planning ahead as a DVM student or seeking new opportunities as a practicing veterinarian, business training provides a framework for leadership, business ownership, and career growth over time. 

Accelerated MBA/DVM Program Benefits

• Rowan DVM students in good standing are guaranteed acceptance into Rowan University's MBA program. 
• Rowan University’s MBA program accepts 9 graduate elective credits from the DVM program, leaving only 27 graduate credits to complete the MBA. 
  • Courses eligible for transfer credit from DVM programs into the MBA must have been completed with a minimum grade of B and earned from a school accredited by the AVMA Council on Education (COE).  
  • For practicing veterinarians, waivers can be granted on the requirement for DVM courses needing to have been completed within five years of enrollment. 
• DVM students or degree holders can pursue MBA courses at a pace and timing that works best for their academic pathway and career goals. They may complete the MBA in one year (~two semesters/~9 months), taking a full-time course load, or take up to as many as 7 years to complete the MBA. They may pursue the MBA before, during, or after pursuit of the DVM. 

Candidate Logistics

• Candidates must apply and be accepted to the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) (or currently enrolled) and then also apply to the Rohrer College of Business MBA/DVM program. Currently enrolled DVM students should apply for the MBA well before the semester they hope to start the program. 
• Some Foundation courses may be required for the MBA, depending on the student’s academic history. Students may apply and begin the MBA prior to completing all required undergraduate Foundation courses. However, students should complete their Foundation courses early in the MBA program to maintain forward momentum toward degree completion. Students often complete Foundation courses during the summer between the first and second year of DVM studies. Access the Foundation Fact Sheet for the most convenient and cost-efficient options for satisfying these requirements.  
• All DVM students are encouraged to coordinate directly with the MBA Program Team, as well as their DVM Program Director, to help map out the best plan of study. 

Streamlined MBA Application Process

• Apply to the MBA using the Rowan University Application Form. 
  • Waived: application fee, undergraduate transcripts, GRE/GMAT scores, and letters of recommendation 
  • Required: current CV or resume  
• Once you’ve submitted all required components of your MBA application, please send an email to GraduateBusinessStudies@rowan.edu. Include your full name, phone number, student ID, and a statement that you would like to be considered for the expedited review process for the Accelerated DVM/MBA Program. 

Flexible Schedule & Delivery

• MBA/DVM students can choose from course format options including: 
  • on the main campus in Glassboro (Fall and Spring) 
  • online (Fall, Spring, and Summer) 
• Formats and courses offered will vary by year and semester. Students will work with the Graduate Business Studies Office to select an optimal schedule based on preferences and availability. 

MBA/DVM Curriculum

Curriculum Options and Sample Course Sequence for the MBA Program 

Core/Required Courses: 

• MGT 06567 Responsible Leadership: Aligning the Interests of Stakeholders, Profit and Planet (1.5 credits) 
• MGT 06515 Employee Engagement and Performance (1.5 credits) 
• MIS 02501 Information Systems for Managers (1.5 credits) 
• MKT 09511 Marketing Management​ Fundamentals (1.5 credits) 
• ACC 03500 Financial and Managerial Accounting (3 credits) 
• MGT 06629 Managing Organizational Strategy (3 credits) 
• FIN 04500 Financial Decision Making (3 credits) 
• MGT 07550 Operations Analytics (3 credits) 

Elective/Concentration Courses: 

• Concentration/Elective course (3 credits) 
• Concentration/Elective course (3 credits) 
• Concentration/Elective course (3 credits) 

The MBA program typically requires 18 Core/Required credits plus 18 Concentration/Elective credits for a total of 36 credits. However, DVM/MBA candidates may select three courses from the DVM curriculum for the Office of Graduate Business Studies to consider and approve to satisfy 9 credits of the MBA elective requirements. 

Pre-MBA Foundational Business Knowledge 

The Rohrer College of Business requires Foundation courses to ensure all students are equipped with key baseline and foundational knowledge needed for undertaking graduate-level coursework in business. During the application process, Admissions will determine which previous coursework counts toward these requirements. Upon acceptance into the MBA program, students will be alerted to which Foundation courses they will need to complete. After students are accepted into the MBA program, they must begin to satisfy any outstanding Foundation requirements as they proceed through the MBA program. 

Full List of Foundation Courses for the MBA Program 

• Calculus Techniques & Applications 
• Statistics I 
• Foundations of Accounting OR Principles of Accounting I & II 
• Principles of Economics: A Survey OR Microeconomics & Macroeconomics 
• Principles of Marketing 
• Principles of Finance 
• Operations Management 

As noted earlier, students may begin in the MBA program prior to completing all their Foundation requirements. However, these requirements must be satisfied early in the program to maintain forward momentum towards degree completion.  

Foundational coursework may be done in a variety of ways, such as by completing equivalent undergraduate courses, noncredit tests, online courses, and/or community college classes. Review our Foundation Fact Sheet for more on Foundation requirements. Contact our Program Coordinator at GraduateBusinessStudies@rowan.edu for pre-admission academic advising if you'd like help planning your pathway or have questions about Foundation requirements.  

The One Health Approach at Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine 

Rowan Today writers sat down with Dr. John Ekakoro, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, Public Health, and Food Safety at Rowan University’s Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine to get a better understanding of the One Health approach and its growing importance in addressing today’s most complex health challenges. As chair of Shreiber School’s One Health Research Cluster, Dr. Ekakoro shares his insights into the origins of One Health, its relevance to disease prevention and public health, and how Rowan University is uniquely positioned to advance this critical, interdisciplinary framework locally and globally. 

Read the Full Article

Get In Touch

Interested in learning more about the DVM/MBA/DVM Accelerated Pathway? Please send us an email at GraduateBusinessStudies@rowan.edu with any questions you may have. 

We look forward to welcoming and nurturing future leaders in veterinary sciences and business.