The academic professional program calls for two phases of education: a preclinical three-year phase and a clinical phase in the fourth year of training. The first through the third years of the professional program are concerned with a gradual progression from a basic science presentation to a more clinical application of veterinary science. Two summer-vacation periods are allowed in the first three years of the professional program.
The clinical program at NC State Veterinary Medicine provides a heavy emphasis for actual “hands-on” clinical practice and is demanding both physically and mentally. Students select “focus areas” to increase their depth of training in their intended area of post-graduate activity, while still retaining a broad based veterinary education. There are ten focus areas from which to choose:
- Clinician Scientist
- Epidemiology, Public Health, and Public Policy
- Equine Practice
- Food Animal
- Laboratory Animal Medicine
- Mixed Animal Practice
- Pathology
- Small Animal Practice
- Small and Exotic Animal Medicine
- Zoological Medicine
In the first year, a DVM student will be able to describe the evolution, development, function and identification of normal microscopic and gross anatomy, explain the physiological and biochemical basis for common tests used in the diagnostic process, and learn how to effectively communicate in small groups in a professional veterinary context.
Plan of Study Grid
| First Year |
|---|
| Fall Semester |
|---|
| VMC 910 |
Careers in Veterinary Medicine |
1 |
| VMB 911 |
Veterinary Anatomy I |
5 |
| VMB 912 |
Introduction to Clinical Problem Solving in Veterinary Practice |
2 |
| VMB 913 |
Veterinary Physiology and Microanatomy I |
5 |
| VMB 914 |
Histology and Cytology |
2 |
| VMC 914 |
Group Communication in Veterinary Medicine |
1 |
| VMP 910 |
Infection and Immunity 1 |
3 |
| VMP 916 |
Health Maintenance and Animal Production I |
1 |
| | Hours | 20 |
| Spring Semester |
|---|
| VMB 920 |
Small Group Problem Solving in Veterinary Medicine |
1 |
| VMB 921 |
Veterinary Comparative Anatomy |
4 |
| VMB 923 |
Veterinary Physiology and Microanatomy II |
4 |
| VMC 927 |
Introduction to Companion Animal Behavior |
2 |
| VMP 916 |
Health Maintenance and Animal Production I |
1 |
| VMP 920 |
Infection and Immunity 2 |
4 |
| VMP 921 |
Problem Solving for Cases in Infectious Diseases and Immunity 1 |
2 |
| VMC 937 |
Introduction to Physical Examination Skills- Small Animal |
1 |
| | Hours | 19 |
| | Total Hours | 39 |
Fourth-year students must complete required and elective rotations that vary depending on the students’ selected focus area. Students must complete 43 credits in the senior year: 40 credits of clinical rotations and three credits in Clinical Conference. The clinic year consists of 24 blocks, two-to-three weeks in length, with up to four vacation blocks and three extramural experiences (Clinician Scientist, Epidemiology, & Food Animal Focus Areas have different extramural requirements). A total of 168 credit hours are required for graduation. Clinical Conference presentations are required of each senior.
The clinic scheduling process begins in fall of third year with information sessions with senior clinicians and/or clinical coordinators, Academic Affairs, and Students Services.
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours | Counts towards |
| VMC 996 | Advanced Exotic Animal Medicine | 2 | |
| VMC 959 | Advanced Primate Medicine | 2-4 | |
| VMC 958 | Advanced Prosimian Medicine | 2 | |
| VMP 975 | Advanced Topics in Veterinary Anatomic Pathology | 1-6 | |
| VMB 977 | Clinical Anesthesia Rotation | 2 | |
| VMC 998 | Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation Medicine | 2 | |
| VMC 972 | Clinical Small Animal Veterinary Cardiology | 2 | |
| VMB 978 | Clinical Behavior & Nutrition | 2 | |
| VMC 995 | Clinical Conference | 1 | |
| VMP 978 | Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | 2 | |
| VMB 962 | Clinician Scientist Research Experience | 1-10 | |
| VMC 983 | Dermatology | 2 | |
| VMP 979 | Epidemiology | 2 | |
| VMC 966 | Equine Emergency and Critical Care | 2 | |
| VMC 978 | Equine Lameness and Imaging | 2 | |
| VMC 979 | Equine Medicine | 2 | |
| VMC 968 | Equine Orthopedic Surgery and Lameness | 2 | |
| VMC 949 | Equine Primary Care | 4 | |
| VMC 993 | Equine Special Topics | 2 | |
| VMC 975 | Equine General Surgery | 2 | |
| VMC 988 | Exotic Animal Medicine | 2 | |
| VMC 946 | Extramural Business Management Experience | 2 | |
| VMC 955 | Extramural Experiences in Lab An Med | 2 | |
| VMP 994 | Extramural Experience in Pathology | 1-4 | |
| VMC 994 | Small Animal 4th Year Extramural Studies | 1-6 | |
| VMC 963 | Extramural Experience in Zoological Medicine | 2 | |
| VMP 971 | Food Animal Diagnostics for Disease Diagnosis, Control, and Population Surveilla | 2 | |
| VMP 976 | Food Animal Pharmacology | 2 | |
| VMP 977 | Autopsy/ Clinical Pharmacology | 2 | |
| VMP 974 | Food Supply Veterinary Medicine | 2 | |
| VMC 939 | Small Animal Primary Care | 2 | |
| VMC 981 | Lab Animal Medicin | 2 | |
| VMC 974 | Equine Dentistry and Podiatry | 2 | |
| VMC 986 | Adv Com An Int Med | 2 | |
| VMC 971 | Comp Animal Med II | 4 | |
| VMC 954 | Companion Animal Medicine for Food Animal Students | 2 | |
| VMC 984 | Intro Clin Neuro | 2 | |
| VMC 980 | Vet Medical Oncology | 2 | |
| VMC 982 | Ophthalmology | 2 | |
| VMP 982 | Poultry Health Management I | 2 | |
| VMP 983 | Poultry Health Management II | 2 | |
| VMC 948 | Clinical Rotation in Veterinary Radiation Oncology | 2 | |
| VMB 976 | Radiology Rotation | 2 | |
| VMC 997 | Raptor Medicine and Rehabilitation | 2 | |
| VMC 930 | Rehabilitation and Mobility Clinical Rotation | 2 | |
| VMP 970 | Ruminant Health Management I | 2 | |
| VMP 972 | Ruminant Health Management II | 2 | |
| VMP 987 | Ruminant Topics | 2 | |
| VMC 950 | Sea Turtle Medicine and Rehabilitation | 2 | |
| VMC 960 | Small Animal Emergency Service | 2 | |
| VMC 973 | Small Animal Surgery (Topics Include: Small Animal General Surgery; Small Animal Orthopedic Surgery) | 2 | |
| VMP 973 | Special Topics in Epidemiology | 2 | |
| VMC 941 | Special Topics in Theriogenology | 2 | |
| VMP 984 | Swine Health Management I | 2 | |
| VMP 985 | Swine Medicine & Production II | 2 | |
| VMC 940 | Clinical Theriogenology | 2 | |
| VMB 976 | Radiology Rotation (Ultrasound) | 2 | |
| VMC 976 | Veterinary Critical Care | 2 | |
| VMP 999 | Extramural in Vet International Programs | 2 | |
| VMC 989 | Zoological Medicine | 4 | |
| VMC 947 | Practice Management: Evaluating the workflow, services, and financial performance of a hospital | 2 | |
| VMP 990 | Extramural Experiences - Large Animal (Topics include: Extramural Experiences in Equine; Extramural Experiences in Food Animal/Mixed Animal) | 2 | |