<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?>
<!--XBRL document created by RR Donnelley IM Processor 4.0.0.0 using Fujitsu Interstage XWand-->
<schema targetNamespace="http://www.jackson.com/20120910" elementFormDefault="qualified" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:cvst1="http://www.jackson.com/20120910" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xbrli="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance" xmlns:nonnum="http://www.xbrl.org/dtr/type/non-numeric">
  <annotation>
    <appinfo>
      <link:linkbaseRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="cvst1-20120910_pre.xml" xlink:title="Presentation Links, all" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationLinkbaseRef" xlink:arcrole="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink/properties/linkbase" />
      <link:linkbaseRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="cvst1-20120910_cal.xml" xlink:title="Calculation Links, all" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/calculationLinkbaseRef" xlink:arcrole="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink/properties/linkbase" />
      <link:linkbaseRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="cvst1-20120910_def.xml" xlink:title="Definition Links, all" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/definitionLinkbaseRef" xlink:arcrole="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink/properties/linkbase" />
      <link:linkbaseRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="cvst1-20120910_lab.xml" xlink:title="Label Links, all" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/labelLinkbaseRef" xlink:arcrole="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink/properties/linkbase" />
      <link:roleType roleURI="http://www.jackson.com/role/DocumentDocumentandEntityInformation" id="DocumentDocumentandEntityInformation">
        <link:definition>000000 - Document - Document and Entity Information</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
      </link:roleType>
      <link:roleType roleURI="http://www.jackson.com/role/DocumentRiskReturnSummaryUnlabeledCurianDynamicRiskAdvantage-AggressiveFund" id="DocumentRiskReturnSummaryUnlabeledCurianDynamicRiskAdvantageAggressiveFund">
        <link:definition>000011 - Document - Risk/Return Summary {Unlabeled} - Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage - Aggressive Fund</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
      </link:roleType>
      <link:roleType roleURI="http://www.jackson.com/role/ScheduleShareholderFeesCurianDynamicRiskAdvantage-AggressiveFund" id="ScheduleShareholderFeesCurianDynamicRiskAdvantageAggressiveFund">
        <link:definition>000012 - Schedule - Shareholder Fees - Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage - Aggressive Fund</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
      </link:roleType>
      <link:roleType roleURI="http://www.jackson.com/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpensesCurianDynamicRiskAdvantage-AggressiveFund" id="ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpensesCurianDynamicRiskAdvantageAggressiveFund">
        <link:definition>000013 - Schedule - Annual Fund Operating Expenses - Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage - Aggressive Fund</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
      </link:roleType>
      <link:roleType roleURI="http://www.jackson.com/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposedCurianDynamicRiskAdvantage-AggressiveFund" id="ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposedCurianDynamicRiskAdvantageAggressiveFund">
        <link:definition>000014 - Schedule - Expense Example {Transposed} - Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage - Aggressive Fund</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
      </link:roleType>
      <link:roleType roleURI="http://www.jackson.com/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleNoRedemptionTransposedCurianDynamicRiskAdvantage-AggressiveFund" id="ScheduleExpenseExampleNoRedemptionTransposedCurianDynamicRiskAdvantageAggressiveFund">
        <link:definition>000015 - Schedule - Expense Example, No Redemption {Transposed} - Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage - Aggressive Fund</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
      </link:roleType>
      <link:roleType roleURI="http://www.jackson.com/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsCurianDynamicRiskAdvantage-AggressiveFundBarChart" id="ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsCurianDynamicRiskAdvantageAggressiveFundBarChart">
        <link:definition>000016 - Schedule - Annual Total Returns - Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage - Aggressive Fund [BarChart]</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
      </link:roleType>
      <link:roleType roleURI="http://www.jackson.com/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualTotalReturnsTransposedCurianDynamicRiskAdvantage-AggressiveFund" id="ScheduleAverageAnnualTotalReturnsTransposedCurianDynamicRiskAdvantageAggressiveFund">
        <link:definition>000017 - Schedule - Average Annual Total Returns {Transposed} - Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage - Aggressive Fund</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
      </link:roleType>
      <link:roleType roleURI="http://www.jackson.com/role/DocumentRiskReturnDetailUnlabeledCurianDynamicRiskAdvantage-AggressiveFund" id="DocumentRiskReturnDetailUnlabeledCurianDynamicRiskAdvantageAggressiveFund">
        <link:definition>000018 - Document - Risk/Return Detail {Unlabeled} - Curian Dynamic Risk Advantage - Aggressive Fund</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
      </link:roleType>
      <link:roleType roleURI="http://www.jackson.com/role/DisclosureRiskReturnDetailDataElementsCURIANVARIABLESERIESTRUST" id="DisclosureRiskReturnDetailDataElementsCURIANVARIABLESERIESTRUST">
        <link:definition>000019 - Disclosure - Risk/Return Detail Data {Elements} - CURIAN VARIABLE SERIES TRUST</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
      </link:roleType>
      <link:roleType roleURI="http://www.jackson.com/role/DocumentRiskReturnSupplementUnlabeledCURIANVARIABLESERIESTRUST" id="DocumentRiskReturnSupplementUnlabeledCURIANVARIABLESERIESTRUST">
        <link:definition>000010 - Document - Risk/Return Supplement {Unlabeled} - CURIAN VARIABLE SERIES TRUST</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
      </link:roleType>
    </appinfo>
  </annotation>
  <import namespace="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance" schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-instance-2003-12-31.xsd" />
  <import namespace="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd" />
  <import namespace="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2012-01-31" schemaLocation="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2012/dei-2012-01-31.xsd" />
  <import namespace="http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/2012-01-31" schemaLocation="http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/2012/rr-2012-01-31.xsd" />
  <import namespace="http://www.xbrl.org/dtr/type/non-numeric" schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/dtr/type/nonNumeric-2009-12-16.xsd" />
  <element name="S000035573Member" id="cvst1_S000035573Member" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <element name="C000108984Member" id="cvst1_C000108984Member" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <element name="S000035568Member" id="cvst1_S000035568Member" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <element name="S000035579Member" id="cvst1_S000035579Member" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <element name="S000035587Member" id="cvst1_S000035587Member" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <element name="S000035588Member" id="cvst1_S000035588Member" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <element name="S000035589Member" id="cvst1_S000035589Member" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <element name="S000035590Member" id="cvst1_S000035590Member" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <element name="S000035591Member" id="cvst1_S000035591Member" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <element name="S000037896Member" id="cvst1_S000037896Member" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <element name="S000037897Member" id="cvst1_S000037897Member" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <element name="S000035592Member" id="cvst1_S000035592Member" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <element name="S000035593Member" id="cvst1_S000035593Member" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <element name="S000035569Member" id="cvst1_S000035569Member" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <element name="S000035570Member" id="cvst1_S000035570Member" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <element name="S000035571Member" id="cvst1_S000035571Member" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <element name="S000035572Member" id="cvst1_S000035572Member" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <element name="S000035574Member" id="cvst1_S000035574Member" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <element name="S000035576Member" id="cvst1_S000035576Member" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <element name="S000035581Member" id="cvst1_S000035581Member" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <element name="S000037900Member" id="cvst1_S000037900Member" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <element name="S000037899Member" id="cvst1_S000037899Member" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <element name="S000035586Member" id="cvst1_S000035586Member" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <element name="SupplementTextBlock" id="cvst1_SupplementTextBlock" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
</schema>
