Throughout the first three years of their training, students will take the Clinical Skills and Reasoning and Professional Skills courses to help them develop the skills, attitudes, and competencies expected of day-one practice-ready veterinarians.
The first-year curriculum will provide an integrated systems-based foundation of the structure and function of the bodies of healthy domestic and exotic animals. Courses will focus on cell and developmental biology, anatomy, histology, physiology, immunity, homeostasis, and general pathology while emphasizing clinically relevant structures and physiological mechanisms.
The second-year curriculum will focus on the pathogenesis, pathophysiology, prevention, and diagnosis of the most common diseases in domestic and exotic animal species. For example, The Body in Disease course series will integrate systems pathology, clinical pathology, toxicology, bacteriology, virology, parasitology, diagnostic imaging, and pharmacology. In addition, students will take Anesthesiology, Theriogenology, and Population Health.
In the third-year curriculum, student instruction will focus on the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prevention, and management of the most common disorders in domestic and exotic species including dentistry, emergency and intensive care, isolation, and biosecurity.
The fourth-year curriculum will consist of a supervised clinical year where students practice mastery of Entrustable Professional Actives (EPAs) in clinical rotations. USU CVM will utilize a semi-distributive model for these supervised clinical experiences. Students will rotate through student-selected and required rotations at affiliated veterinary instructional partners (AVIPs) with trained preceptors. Students will be evaluated through formative and summative assessments during and after each rotation to ensure competence and mastery.
The curriculum for the second, third, and fourth years of the DVM program is currently in development. The course descriptions provided are intended as examples of what to expect; however, the College of Veterinary Medicine reserves the right to modify the curriculum and course offerings as needed.
DVM Curriculum Overview: 1st year - Healthy Animals. 2nd year - Diseased animals. 3rd year - medicine & surgery. 4th year - clinical clerkships