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University of Calgary Calendar 2021-2022 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine 4. Program Details 4.1 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
4.1 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Introduction

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Calgary offers a four-year professional degree leading to a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). The first three years of the program follow the regular academic year, while the fourth year is scheduled for 40 weeks, with two additional weeks for assessment, across the entire calendar year (May-April).

The DVM program is accredited by the AVMA-CVMA Council on Education and is based on an integrated core-elective model. The core program provides a comprehensive general veterinary education covering all the major domestic species, including food producing animals, equine and companion animals, and the major exotic animal species. The core program also includes public and ecosystem health, wildlife and conservation medicine, professional and communication skills, research skills and comparative medicine. The core program prepares students for general veterinary practice, with an emphasis on skills for successful practice in rural communities and provides a foundation to pursue all careers in veterinary medicine. The elective programs cover all areas of general veterinary practice and provide enhanced opportunities in four Areas of Emphasis: production animal health, ecosystem and public health, investigative medicine, and equine health.

Admissions

Applicants to the DVM program should refer to the Admissions requirements under 3. Faculty Regulations section. Please consult our website for additional details: vet.ucalgary.ca.

Course Requirements

All courses in the first three years are required, but students have a choice of elective content within some courses. In fourth year, all students are required to take Veterinary Medicine 570 (Laboratory Diagnostics), Veterinary Medicine 580 (General Veterinary Practice) and Veterinary Medicine 590 (Clinical Enrichment).

In fourth year, each student must also choose one of the following elective courses:

Regulations

See 3. Faculty Regulations.

Typical Program Sequence

The following outlines a typical program sequence. The faculty reserves the right to adjust the year in which a particular course is scheduled.

First Year

 

Veterinary Medicine 300: Clinical Presentations I

Veterinary Medicine 342: Pathologic Basis of Disease

Veterinary Medicine 305: Clinical Skills I

Veterinary Medicine 343: Immunology

Veterinary Medicine 307: Professional Skills I

Veterinary Medicine 344: Principles of Epidemiology

Veterinary Medicine 320: Anatomy and Histology

Veterinary Medicine 345: Introduction to Nutrition

Veterinary Medicine 321: Physiology

Veterinary Medicine 360: Introduction to Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary Medicine 322: Behaviour

 

Veterinary Medicine 323: Animals, Health and Society

 

Veterinary Medicine 324: Genetics and Molecular Biology

 

Second Year

Veterinary Medicine 400: Clinical Presentations II

Veterinary Medicine 442: Clinical Pathology

Veterinary Medicine 405: Clinical Skills II

Veterinary Medicine 443: Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology

Veterinary Medicine 407: Professional Skills II

Veterinary Medicine 444: Diagnostic Imaging

Veterinary Medicine 410: Basic Surgical Principles

Veterinary Medicine 450: Selected Topics in Areas of Emphasis I

Veterinary Medicine 420: Health Management

Veterinary Medicine 451: Selected Topics in Areas of Emphasis II

Veterinary Medicine 421: Systemic Pathology

Veterinary Medicine 460: Applied Nutrition

Veterinary Medicine 422: Virology

Veterinary Medicine 461: Outbreak Investigation

Veterinary Medicine 423: Bacteriology

Veterinary Medicine 462: Foreign Animal Disease

Veterinary Medicine 424: Parasitology

Veterinary Medicine 463: Field Experiences in Areas of Emphasis

Veterinary Medicine 440: Public Health and Risk Analysis

 

Third Year

Veterinary Medicine 500: Clinical Presentations III

Veterinary Medicine 540: Food Animal Medicine and Surgery

Veterinary Medicine 505: Clinical Skills III

Veterinary Medicine 541: Theriogenology

Veterinary Medicine 507: Professional Skills III

Veterinary Medicine 542: Emergency and Critical Care

Veterinary Medicine 520: Advanced Health Management

Veterinary Medicine 550: Zoological Medicine

Veterinary Medicine 521: Equine Medicine and Surgery

Veterinary Medicine 551: Laboratory Animal Medicine

Veterinary Medicine 522: Small Animal Medicine and Surgery

Veterinary Medicine 531: Selected Topics in Small Ruminant, South American Camelid and Non-traditional Livestock Production

Veterinary Medicine 523: Anesthesiology and Therapeutics

Veterinary Medicine 530: Selected Topics in Clinical Medicine

 

Fourth Year

Students take four courses in fourth year. The year is scheduled over a total of 40 weeks across an entire year with an additional two weeks for assessment, commencing immediately after completion of third year (May-April). All four courses are comprised of practicum rotations that are also scheduled across the entire calendar year.

Veterinary Medicine 570/571: Laboratory Diagnostics

Veterinary Medicine 580/581: General Veterinary Practice

Veterinary Medicine 590/591: Clinical Enrichment

One of the following elective courses:

Veterinary Medicine 582: Production Animal Health

Veterinary Medicine 583: Ecosystem and Public health

Veterinary Medicine 584: Equine Health

Veterinary Medicine 585: Investigative Medicine