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 |
| ղѰ910 |
Careers in Veterinary Medicine |
1 |
| ղѵ911 |
Veterinary Anatomy I |
5 |
| ղѵ912 |
Introduction to Clinical Problem Solving in Veterinary Practice |
2 |
| ղѵ913 |
Veterinary Physiology and Microanatomy I |
5 |
| ղѵ914 |
Histology and Cytology |
2 |
| ղѰ914 |
Group Communication in Veterinary Medicine |
1 |
| ղѱ910 |
Infection and Immunity 1 |
3 |
| ղѱ916 |
Health Maintenance and Animal Production I |
1 |
| Hours | 20 |
| Spring Semester |
| VMB920 |
Small Group Problem Solving in Veterinary Medicine |
1 |
| VMB921 |
Veterinary Comparative Anatomy |
4 |
| VMB923 |
Veterinary Physiology and Microanatomy II |
4 |
| VMC927 |
Introduction to Companion Animal Behavior |
2 |
| ղѱ916 |
Health Maintenance and Animal Production I |
1 |
| VMP920 |
Infection and Immunity 2 |
4 |
| VMP921 |
Problem Solving for Cases in Infectious Diseases and Immunity 1 |
2 |
| VMC937 |
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. 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 |
| VMC996 | Advanced Exotic Animal Medicine | 2 | |
| VMC959 | Advanced Primate Medicine | 2-4 | |
| VMC958 | Advanced Prosimian Medicine | 2 | |
| VMP975 | Advanced Topics in Veterinary Anatomic Pathology | 1-6 | |
| VMB977 | Clinical Anesthesia Rotation | 2 | |
| VMC998 | Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation Medicine | 2 | |
| VMC972 | Clinical Small Animal Veterinary Cardiology | 2 | |
| VMB978 | Clinical Behavior & Nutrition | 2 | |
| VMC995 | Clinical Conference | 1 | |
| VMP978 | Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | 2 | |
| VMB962 | Clinician Scientist Research Experience | 1-10 | |
| VMC983 | Dermatology | 2 | |
| VMP979 | Epidemiology | 2 | |
| VMC966 | Equine Emergency and Critical Care | 2 | |
| VMC978 | Equine Lameness and Imaging | 2 | |
| VMC979 | Equine Medicine | 2 | |
| VMC968 | Equine Orthopedic Surgery and Lameness | 2 | |
| VMC949 | Equine Primary Care | 4 | |
| VMC993 | Equine Special Topics | 2 | |
| VMC975 | Equine General Surgery | 2 | |
| VMC988 | Exotic Animal Medicine | 2 | |
| VMC946 | Extramural Business Management Experience | 2 | |
| VMC955 | Extramural Experiences in Lab An Med | 2 | |
| VMP994 | Extramural Experience in Pathology | 1-4 | |
| VMC994 | Small Animal 4th Year Extramural Studies | 1-6 | |
| VMC963 | Extramural Experience in Zoological Medicine | 2 | |
| VMP971 | Food Animal Diagnostics for Disease Diagnosis, Control, and Population Surveilla | 2 | |
| VMP976 | Food Animal Pharmacology | 2 | |
| VMP977 | Autopsy/ Clinical Pharmacology | 2 | |
| VMP974 | Food Supply Veterinary Medicine | 2 | |
| VMC939 | Small Animal Primary Care | 2 | |
| VMC981 | Lab Animal Medicin | 2 | |
| VMC974 | Equine Dentistry and Podiatry | 2 | |
| VMC986 | Adv Com An Int Med | 2 | |
| VMC971 | Comp Animal Med II | 4 | |
| VMC954 | Companion Animal Medicine for Food Animal Students | 2 | |
| VMC984 | Intro Clin Neuro | 2 | |
| VMC980 | Vet Medical Oncology | 2 | |
| VMC982 | Ophthalmology | 2 | |
| VMP982 | Poultry Health Management I | 2 | |
| VMP983 | Poultry Health Management II | 2 | |
| VMC948 | Clinical Rotation in Veterinary Radiation Oncology | 2 | |
| VMB976 | Radiology Rotation | 2 | |
| VMC997 | Raptor Medicine and Rehabilitation | 2 | |
| VMC930 | Rehabilitation and Mobility Clinical Rotation | 2 | |
| VMP970 | Ruminant Health Management I | 2 | |
| VMP972 | Ruminant Health Management II | 2 | |
| VMP987 | Ruminant Topics | 2 | |
| VMC950 | Sea Turtle Medicine and Rehabilitation | 2 | |
| VMC960 | Small Animal Emergency Service | 2 | |
| VMC973 | Small Animal Surgery (Topics Include: Small Animal General Surgery; Small Animal Orthopedic Surgery) | 2 | |
| VMP973 | Special Topics in Epidemiology | 2 | |
| VMC941 | Special Topics in Theriogenology | 2 | |
| VMP984 | Swine Health Management I | 2 | |
| VMP985 | Swine Medicine & Production II | 2 | |
| VMC940 | Clinical Theriogenology | 2 | |
| VMB976 | Radiology Rotation (Ultrasound) | 2 | |
| VMC976 | Veterinary Critical Care | 2 | |
| VMP999 | Extramural in Vet International Programs | 2 | |
| VMC989 | Zoological Medicine | 4 | |
| VMC947 | Practice Management: Evaluating the workflow, services, and financial performance of a hospital | 2 | |
| VMP990 | Extramural Experiences - Large Animal (Topics include: Extramural Experiences in Equine; Extramural Experiences in Food Animal/Mixed Animal) | 2 | |