College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Professional Curriculum in Veterinary Medicine

The professional curriculum in veterinary medicine is a four-year program. During the first three years, classes are scheduled on a semester basis. The fourth-year curriculum consists of 30 weeks of Basic Core Rotations, 12 weeks of elective clinical rotations or career alternative electives, 4 weeks of externship and 2 weeks of vacation. The fourth-year curriculum allows students to choose a species directed career, i.e., large animal or small animal, mixed animal or a career alternative elective.

FIRST YEAR

Semester 1 (Th-Pr) Cr   Semester 2 (Th-Pr) Cr
VIBS 910 Gross Anatomy I (2-6) 4   VIBS 912 Gross Anatomy II (1-8) 4
VIBS 911 Microscopic Anatomy I (2-6) 4   VIBS 913 Microscopic Anatomy II (2-6) 4
VMID 912 Clinical Correlates I (0-2) 1   VMID 913 Clinical Correlates II (0-2) 1
VMID 981 Professional Development (1-0) 1   VTPB 911 Microbiology II (3-2) 4
VTPB 910 Microbiology I (3-2) 4   VTPP 912 Physiology II (5-2) 6
VTPP 910 Physiology I (5-2) 6     (11-20) 19
  (13-18) 20        

SECOND YEAR

Semester 3 (Th-Pr) Cr   Semester 4 (Th-Pr) Cr
VIBS 950 Public Health Clerkship (0-2) 1   VIBS 930 Public Health III (4-0) 4
VMID 921 Clinical Correlates III (1-2) 2   VMID 923 Surgery/Anesthesiology (3-2) 4
VMID 950 Nutrition (2-0) 2   VMID 924 Radiology (2-2) 3
VTPB 920 Parasitology (3-4) 5   VTPB 923 Pathology II (5-2) 6
VTPB 922 Pathology I (5-2) 6   VTPP 925 Pharm./Toxicology II (2-2) 3
VTPP 924 Pharm./Toxicology I (4-2) 5   VTPP 926 Pharm./Toxicology III (2-1) 2
  (15-12) 21     (18-9) 22

THIRD YEAR

Semester 5 (Th-Pr) Cr   Semester 6 (Th-Pr) Cr
VLCS 954 Large Animal Medicine (5-4 1 ) 6   VLCS 930 Adv. Equine Med. and Surgery (3-0) 3
VMID 935 Surgery I (2-4) 3   VLCS 931 Adv. Ruminant Medicine and Surgery (2-0) 2
VMID 952 Clinics I 2 (0-4) 1   VLCS 932 Adv. Ruminant Herd Health and Production (2-0) 2
VSCS 954 Small Animal Medicine I (5-4) 6   VMID 922 Clinical Correlates IV (1-2) 2
VSCS/VLCS 953 Clinical Skills 3 (0-4) 1   VMID 936 Surgery II 5 (1-2) 2
(Dept) 948 Elective (1-0) 1   VMID 943 Practice Management (2-0) 2
  Variable 4     VMID 952 Clinics I 2 (0-4) 1
        VSCS 955 Small Animal Medicine II (6-4) 6
        VSCS/VLCS 953 Clinical Skills (0-4) 1
        (Dept.) 948 Elective (1-0) 1
          Variable 6  
       
minimum of 17 credit hours
NOTES:
  1. There will be one 4 hour lab per week. This lab will be shared equally between the VLCS 954 and VSCS 954 courses.
  2. Students will spend one month per semester in required clinical rotations. During that month they will spend 8 hours per week for a total of 32 contact hours for the month. Additional elective clinic rotations (maximum of 2 additional) may be completed in the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital or with local practitioners on a space available basis.
  3. Students will spend one month per semester in required skills modules (one each SA and LA). During that month they will spend 4 hours multiplied by one day per week for a total of 16 contact hours.
  4. 13 hours lecture–4 hours lab for a minimum of 17 core credit hours. Additional hours may be taken in the form of electives (1 credit hour each) or elective clinic rotations (1 credit hour each). A minimum of 15 hours of electives must be taken by the end of the third year.
  5. Surgery II will run for half the semester with remaining time used for electives or clinic rotations.
  6. 10 hours lecture–5 hours lab for a minimum of 15 core credit hours. Students are required to take VSCS 955. VLCS 930/931/932 are optional; if taken, these hours count towards the required minimum of 15 hours of electives.

FOURTH YEAR

The fourth-year curriculum consists of 30 weeks of basic core rotations, 12 weeks of elective clinical rotations or career alternative electives, 4 weeks of externship and 2 weeks of vacation for 46 credit hours. The fourth-year curriculum allows students to choose a species directed career, i.e., large animal, small animal, mixed animal or an alternative career elective.

BASIC CORE ROTATIONS* AVAILABLE ROTATIONS*
   
Small Animal Clinic (10 weeks)
Small Animal Medicine
Small Animal Medicine and Surgery I and II Dermatology
Medicine 5 (Community Practice) Internal Medicine/Cardiology
Surgery 1 (General) Internal Medicine/Oncology
Small Animal Emergency/Critical Care Internal Medicine/Canine
  Internal Medicine/Feline
Large Animal Clinic (10 weeks)
 Community Practice
Food Animal Medicine and Surgery Neurology/Neurosurgery
Equine Medicine and Surgery I and II Small Animal Behavior
Field Services Zoological Medicine and Surgery
Large Animal Emergency/Critical Care  
 
Small Animal Surgery
Anesthesiology (4 weeks)
 General
Large Animal Orthopedic
Small Animal Soft Tissue
  Ophthalmology
Radiology (2 weeks)
  
Large Animal
Large Animal Clinic
Small Animal Food Animal Medicine and Surgery
  Equine Medicine
Laboratory Services (4 weeks)
 Equine Surgery
Clinical Pathology/Necropsy Food Animal Theriogenology
Clinical Microbiology and Parasitology Equine Theriogenology
  Food Animal Field Service
  Equine Field Service
  TDCJ (Prison Rotation)
  Zoological Medicine and Surgery
   
 
Anesthesiology
   
 
Radiology
   
 
Laboratory Services
   
 
Alternative Career Electives on or off
Texas A&M campus
   
 
Externship
   
 
Vacation

* All rotations are two weeks.