Curriculum

The UFCVM faculty has developed a strong curriculum of professional study that is designed to prepare the next generation of veterinarians for broad veterinary career paths. The objectives of the curriculum include the following goals:

  • to impart key concepts and skills as well as critical and analytical thinking skills essential for lifelong learning, success and professional growth
  • to provide students with knowledge and experiences that will foster consideration of the full spectrum of career opportunities and prepare interested students for post-graduate education;
  • to provide classroom and clinic environments wherein high moral ethics, professional values, leadership qualities and sensitivity to societal needs are emphasized; and
  • to emphasize the important and central roles of veterinarians in the advancement of animal and human health and the preservation of humane animal care.

The phases of study within the curriculum are based on the study of the normal animal (Phase I), disease processes and therapy (Phase II), and clinical applications (Phase III). Phases I and II are organized on an organ system basis. Phase I (semesters 1-2) occupies the first year of the curriculum and Phase II (semesters 3-4) the second year, after which time students enter the Veterinary Medical Center and embark upon clinical clerkship rotations and advanced classroom education. During Phase III (semesters 5-9), students have two semesters to perform additional didactic course work in an area of focused concentration: small animal medicine and surgery, equine medicine and surgery, food animal medicine, or general (mixed) veterinary medicine and surgery.

The Professional Curriculum

Year 1, Phase I: The Normal Animal – 2 semesters

- Professional Development
- Career Opportunities
- Gross Anatomy
- Animal Systems I – neuroscience, endocrinology, immunology, ophthalmology, integument
- Embryology
- Histology
- Professional Ethics
- Animal Systems II – musculoskeletal, cardiology, respiration, reproduction
- Animal Systems III – hematology, digestion, anatomy, renal
- Molecular Biology
- Parasitology
- Radiological Techniques
- Animal Behavior
- Basic Nutrition

Year 2, Phase II: The Abnormal Animal – 2 semesters

- Microbiology
- General Pathology
- Pharmacology
- Toxicology
- Clinical Pathology
- Ophthalmology
- Diagnostic Radiology
- Cardiopulmonology
- Endocrinology
- Epidemiology
- Systemic Pathology
- Physical Diagnosis
- Critical Care
- Theriogenology
- Clinical Pharmacology
- Urology
- Gastroenterology
- Neurology
- Dermatology
- Fundamentals of Soft Tissue Surgery
- Fundamentals of Orthopedic Surgery
- Anesthesiology
- Preventive and Production Medicine
- Individual Investigation

Years 3 & 4, Phase III: Clinical Clerkships and Focused Area of Concentration – 5 semesters

-          Business and Professional Development
-          Acupuncture
-          Applied Pathology
-          Anesthesiology
-          Cardiology
-          Dermatology
-          Emergency Medicine
-          Food Animal Medicine and Surgery
-          Large Animal Medicine
-          Large Animal Surgery
-          Neurology
-          Oncology
-          Ophthalmology
-          Outpatient Medicine and Dentistry
-          Practice Based Equine Medicine
-          Radiology
-          Shelter Medicine
-          Small Animal Medicine
-          Small Animal Surgery
-          Theriogenology
-          Zoological Medicine

Focused Area of Concentration:

- Small Animal Medicine and Surgery
- Equine Medicine and Surgery
- Production Animal Medicine
- Mixed (General) Veterinary Medicine and Surgery