DVM in Veterinary Medicine
- Curriculum
- Preceptorships
- Licensing Examination
Objectives and Summary of the Professional Curriculum
The primary objective of the DVM curriculum is to provide students with the knowledge and technical skills necessary to be competent entry level veterinarians. We prepare our students for general veterinary practice, for entry into graduate or specialty training programs, or for careers in regulatory medicine. The overall objective of the first two years of the curriculum is to provide students with a solid foundation in basic biomedical sciences. The courses in the preclinical professional curriculum include anatomy, physiology, cell and molecular biology, pathology, pharmacology, microbiology, virology, and toxicology. The fundamentals of the clinical disciplines are also taught during this time and include anesthesiology, clinical pathology, radiology, public health, medicine and surgery.
The organizational scheme of the professional curriculum differs from that of other schools in that the first two academic years are divided into eight-week instructional periods and our academic year runs from August through June. The students have a summer break between the first and second years and second and third years of instruction that is approximately seven weeks in duration. The overall objective of the clinical curriculum is to solidify basic knowledge and practice clinical skills in the Veterinary Health Center, VMDL, and external preceptorships. This portion of the curriculum is organized into 12 clinical blocks that begin in October of the third year of professional instruction. These clinical blocks are six to eight weeks in duration and may be divided into 1, 2, or 3 clinical courses. The required clinical rotations are listed below and organized by duration:
Required Clinical Rotations
Full Block Rotations: Food Animal Medicine and Surgery; Equine Medicine and Surgery; Diagnostic Pathology and Special Species Medicine.
Third Block Rotations: Theriogenology; Ophthalmology; Small Animal Internal Medicine; Oncology; Soft Tissue Surgery; Orthopedic Surgery; Neurology and Neurosurgery
Half Block Rotations: Clinical Radiology; Clinical Anesthesia; Small Animal Community Practice; Shelter Medicine; Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care
Note that students are required to complete four credit hours (four weeks) of external evaluated preceptorships as part of the required curriculum. Students also select 10 credit hours of elective rotations (cardiology, nutrition, production medicine, special imaging, etc.). In addition to required and elective blocks, students are allotted two blocks as "free time." Most students utilize their free time to study for licensing examinations, complete preceptorships at practices, or interview with prospective employers. A total of 154.5 semester credit hours are required for graduation. Most students accumulate a higher number of credit hours as a result of enrollments in extra didactic or clinical elective courses.
| VM-1 Required Courses (Instructional Periods 1-4) | ||
Instructional Periods 1 and 2; August - December | ||
| V_BSCI 5500 | Veterinary Anatomy with Laboratory | 4 |
| V_BSCI 5502 | Veterinary Microscopic Anatomy with Laboratory | 3 |
| V_BSCI 5504 | Veterinary Physiology | 5 |
| V_BSCI 5506 | Veterinary Molecular and Cellular Biology | 4 |
| V_BSCI 5100 | Veterinary Neuroscience | 2 |
Instructional Period 3; January - February | ||
| V_BSCI 5011 | Veterinary Anatomy | 3 |
| V_BSCI 5020 | Developmental Anatomy | 0.5 |
| V_BSCI 5503 | Veterinary Microscopic Anatomy | 2 |
| V_BSCI 5051 | Veterinary Gastrointestinal Physiology | 2 |
| V_M_S 6005 | Clinical Skills | 0.5 |
| V_M_S 6140 | Nutrition with Laboratory | 1.5 |
Instructional Period 4; March - April | ||
| V_BSCI 5012 | Veterinary Anatomy with Laboratory | 3 |
| V_BSCI 5021 | Developmental Anatomy | 0.5 |
| V_BSCI 5052 | Veterinary Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology | 2 |
| V_PBIO 5511 | Veterinary Immunology | 1.5 |
| V_M_S 6006 | Clinical Skills | 0.5 |
| VM-2 Required Courses (Instructional Periods 5-9) | ||
Instructional Period 5; May - June | ||
| V_PBIO 5512 | Veterinary Immunology | 1.5 |
| V_PBIO 5552 | Veterinary Bacteriology with Laboratory | 3 |
| V_PBIO 5575 | Veterinary Pathology with Laboratory | 3 |
| V_PBIO 5579 | Veterinary Genomics | 1 |
| V_M_S 6135 | Foundations of Financial Success | 1 |
Instructional Period 6; August - October | ||
| V_PBIO 5553 | Veterinary Bacteriology II | 2.5 |
| V_PBIO 5554 | Veterinary Virology | 2.5 |
| V_PBIO 5557 | Veterinary Parasitology with Laboratory | 3 |
| V_PBIO 5576 | Veterinary Systemic and Special Pathology with Laboratories | 3 |
Instructional Period 7; October - December | ||
| V_BSCI 5507 | Veterinary Pharmacology with Laboratory | 3 |
| V_PBIO 5558 | Veterinary Public Health | 2 |
| V_PBIO 5555 | Epidemiology and Biostatistics with Laboratory | 2 |
| V_PBIO 5577 | Veterinary Systemic and Special Pathology II with | 3 |
Instructional Period 8; January - February | ||
| V_BSCI 5508 | Veterinary Pharmacology | 2 |
| V_PBIO 5578 | Veterinary Clinical Pathology with Laboratory | 3 |
| V_PBIO 6010 | Laboratory Animal Medicine | 1.5 |
| V_M_S 6020 | Veterinary Radiology with Laboratory | 2 |
| V_M_S 6130 | Fundamentals of Veterinary Business Management | 1 |
Instructional Period 9; March - April | ||
| V_BSCI 5509 | Veterinary Toxicology | 3 |
| V_M_S 6030 | Veterinary Anesthesiology with Laboratory | 2 |
| V_M_S 6040 | Companion Animal Medicine with Laboratory | 4 |
| V_M_S 6060 | Small Animal Surgery with Laboratory | 2 |
| VM-3 Courses (Instructional Periods 10-11) | ||
Instructional Period 10; May - June Required Courses | ||
| V_M_S 6050 | Small Animal Medicine | 2.5 |
| V_M_S 6071 | Small Animal Surgery | 2 |
| V_M_S 6073 | Fundamental Surgery Laboratory | 1 |
| V_M_S 6081 | Food Animal Medicine and Surgery | 2.5 |
| V_M_S 6151 | Equine Medicine and Surgery | 2 |
Instructional Period 10; May - June Electives | ||
| V_M_S 6072 | Optional Surgery and Anesthesia Laboratory | 1 |
Instructional Period 11; August - October | ||
| V_M_S 6082 | Food Animal Medicine and Surgery | 2 |
| V_M_S 6090 | Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care with Laboratory | 1 |
| V_M_S 6110 | Theriogenology | 3 |
| V_M_S 6120 | Veterinary Ophthalmology | 1 |
| V_M_S 6152 | Equine Medicine and Surgery | 1.5 |
Instructional Period 11; August - October Elective Courses | ||
| V_PBIO 5991 | Introduction to Avian Medicine | 1 |
| V_M_S 6986 | Advanced Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery | 1 |
| V_M_S 6987 | Problem-Based Learning Clinic Preparation | 1 |
| V_M_S 6988 | Small Animal Clinical Nutrition | 1 |
| V_M_S 6989 | Advanced Oncology of Animals | 1 |
| V_M_S 6990 | Zoological Medicine | 2 |
| V_M_S 6991 | Advanced Equine Lameness with Laboratory | 1 |
| V_M_S 6993 | Advanced Veterinary Anesthesia | 1 |
| V_M_S 6994 | Advanced Techniques in Small Animal Surgery with Laboratory | 1 |
| V_M_S 6995 | Clinical Cardiology | 1 |
| V_M_S 6996 | Advanced Dermatology | 1 |
| V_M_S 6997 | Food Animal Diagnostic Exercises | 1 |
| V_M_S 6998 | Small Animal Behavioral Medicine | 1 |
| V_M_S 6999 | Food Animal Surgery Laboratory | 1 |
| VM-3 and VM-4 Required Clinical Rotations (October - Graduation) | ||
| V_M_S 6010 | Evaluated Veterinary Preceptorship | 2-12 |
| V_M_S 6400 | Food Animal Medicine and Surgery I | 6 |
| V_M_S 6411 | Small Animal Internal Medicine | 2 |
| V_M_S 6412 | Small Animal Primary Care/Community Practice | 3 |
| V_M_S 6414 | Shelter Medicine | 3 |
| V_M_S 6420 | Equine Medicine and Surgery I | 6 |
| V_M_S 6432 | Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery | 2 |
| V_M_S 6434 | Small Animal Orthopedic Surgery | 2 |
| V_M_S 6436 | Veterinary Neurology/Neurosurgery | 2 |
| V_M_S 6441 | Clinical Radiology I | 3 |
| V_M_S 6442 | Clinical Anesthesiology I | 3 |
| V_M_S 6450 | Theriogenology I | 2 |
| V_M_S 6460 | Clinical Ophthalmology I | 2 |
| V_M_S 6490 | Small Animal Specialty Medicine I | 2 |
| V_M_S 6820 | Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care | 3 |
| V_PBIO 6647 | Pathology and Laboratory Diagnostics | 8 |
Elective Clinical Rotations | ||
| V_M_S 6001 | Topics in Veterinary Medicine | 2-6 |
| V_M_S 6413 | Wentzville Specialty Service Elective Rotations | 2 |
| V_M_S 6700 | Food Animal Medicine and Surgery II Elective | 2-6 |
| V_M_S 6710 | Small Animal Medicine II Elective | 2-6 |
| V_M_S 6711 | Small Animal Internal Medicine Elective Clinical or Research Rotation | 2 |
| V_M_S 6712 | Private Practice Small Animal Internal Medicine Elective | 2 |
| V_M_S 6714 | Shelter Medicine Clinical Elective | 2-6 |
| V_M_S 6720 | Equine Medicine and Surgery II Elective | 2-6 |
| V_M_S 6732 | Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery II Elective | 2 |
| V_M_S 6733 | Small Animal Surgical Oncology Elective Rotation | 2 |
| V_M_S 6734 | Small Animal Orthopedic Surgery II Elective | 2 |
| V_M_S 6736 | Veterinary Neurology/ Neurosurgery-Elective | 2 |
| V_M_S 6741 | Clinical Radiology II Elective | 2-6 |
| V_M_S 6742 | Clinical Anesthesiology II Elective | 2-6 |
| V_M_S 6743 | Radiology - Special Imaging Elective | 2-3 |
| V_M_S 6750 | Theriogenology II Elective | 2-6 |
| V_M_S 6751 | External Food Animal Service and Theriogenology Teaching Program | 2-6 |
| V_M_S 6760 | Small Animal Nutrition | 2 |
| V_M_S 6800 | Clinical Ophthalmology II Elective | 2-6 |
| V_M_S 6810 | Cardiology II Elective | 2 |
| V_M_S 6821 | Small Animal Emergency Critical Care Elective | 2 |
| V_M_S 6830 | Food Animal Production Medicine | 6 |
| V_M_S 6850 | Clinical Oncology | 2-6 |
| V_PBIO 6676 | Laboratory Animal Medicine and Management Elective | 4-6 |
| V_PBIO 6678 | Epidemiology and Community Health | 2-6 |
| V_PBIO 6679 | Diagnostic Pathology and Special Species Medicine | 2-6 |
| V_PBIO 6684 | Research Techniques in Veterinary Pathobiology | 2-6 |
Preceptorships
Missouri students are encouraged to use free blocks for preceptorships to increase exposure to veterinary practice and to meet the requirements of the Missouri Veterinary Medical Practice Act. The University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine does not have the authority to approve the use of student free block time or the veterinarians with whom they gain experience to meet state requirements.
Approved preceptorships may be found by contacting the Office for Student and Academic Affairs.
Preceptorship requirements and forms required by the Missouri State Veterinary Medical Board can be found at their website: https://pr.mo.gov/veterinarian.asp
The level of supervision required by preceptors is detailed at: https://pr.mo.gov/boards/veterinary/VetSupervisionChart.pdf
The Missouri State Veterinary Medical Board preceptorship form may be found at: https://pr.mo.gov/veterinarian-application-forms.asp
Licensing Examination
Professional Licensing Information
In addition successfully completing a professional veterinary education, most states require state and national licensing examinations to meet requirements to practice. Please visit the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA) and the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) websites for further information.