Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Program Overview

Colorado State University's four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program prepares students for careers as veterinarians, offering a comprehensive curriculum in animal health, disease prevention, and treatment. The program emphasizes animal welfare, ethical practice, and provides opportunities for research and clinical rotations. Graduates are eligible to become licensed veterinarians and pursue diverse career paths in private practice, research, public health, government, and the military.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program at Colorado State University is a four-year professional program designed to prepare students for a career as a veterinarian. The program is offered annually to approximately 156 students, with 142 students admitted to the main campus in Fort Collins and up to 14 students admitted to the CSU-University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) 2+2 DVM program.

Outline:

The DVM program is structured into four years of study, with a specific plan of study grid outlining the courses required for each year. The program includes a variety of courses covering topics such as:

• Veterinary Science: Research and Methods, Immunology, Foundations of Veterinary Medicine, Functional Anatomy, Physiology and Histology, Neurobiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, Bacteriology and Mycology, Parasitology, Virology, Biology of Disease, Food Animal Production and Food Safety
• Clinical Sciences: Surgery, Anesthesia, Theriogenology, Imaging Interpretation, Veterinary Professional Development, Rational Antimicrobial Therapy
• Preventive Medicine: Animal Welfare, Veterinary Pharmacology, Clinical Toxicology
• Practice Tracks: Small Animal Practice, Large Animal Practice, General Practice
• Electives: Students can choose from a variety of elective courses to tailor their education to their interests.

Assessment:

The program includes a series of capstone exams that students must pass to progress through the program. These exams cover material from the previous year's coursework.

• Capstone Exam I: Covers material from the first year of the program.
• Capstone Exam II: Covers material from the second year of the program.
• Capstone Exam III: Covers material from the third year of the program.

Teaching:

The program utilizes a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, labs, clinical rotations, and small group discussions. The faculty consists of experienced veterinarians and researchers who are experts in their fields.

Careers:

Graduates of the DVM program are eligible to become licensed veterinarians and can pursue a variety of career paths, including:

• Private Practice: Small animal, large animal, mixed animal, or specialty practice
• Research: Academia, government, or industry
• Public Health: Zoonotic disease control, food safety
• Government: Animal welfare, wildlife management
• Military: Veterinary Corps

Other:

• The program offers a unique 2+2 DVM program in partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks, providing students with opportunities in small animal sports medicine, rural outreach, conservation, and wildlife medicine.
• The program emphasizes the importance of animal welfare and ethical veterinary practice.
• Students have the opportunity to participate in research and clinical rotations at various locations, including the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital.