Customized Learning Pathways
Course Structure
Our curriculum consists of approximately 70% foundation courses (required) and 30% distribution courses (elective).
This balance ensures that you receive a solid foundation in biomedical and clinical sciences through the foundation courses, while also enjoying significant flexibility to explore your interests with more than 80 distribution courses to choose from.
Distribution courses are typically taken during the spring semester of your first, second, and third years.
Clinical Pathways
At the end of your second year’s spring semester, you will select one of the six clinical pathway that will determine which clinical rotations you will need to take, as shown in the table below. (SA: Small Animal; LA: Large Animal; ECC: Emergency and Critical Care)
| Small Animal Pathway | Equine Pathway | General (Mixed) Pathway | Exotic Pets/SA Pathway | Zoological Medicine Pathway | Production Animal Pathway |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Care Surgery | LA Medicine | LA Medicine | Neuro or SA Medicine | SA or LA Medicine | Ambulatory |
| SA Medicine or Neurology | LA Surgery | SA or LA ECC | Primary Care Surgery | Cardiology or Oncology or Neurology | Ambulatory |
| Anesthesia | LA Surgery | Clinical Neurology | SA ECC or Lab Animal | Dentistry or Anesthesia | Special Topics Ambulatory |
| Clinical Neurology | LA ECC | LA Surgery | Dentistry | Theriogenology or Lab Animal | Special Topics Ambulatory |
| SA ECC | Theriogenology | Ambulatory | Cardiology or Oncology | Wildlife or Exotics | Theriogenology |
| Cardiology | Equine Specialty | Cardiology or Oncology | Wildlife or Exotics | Wildlife or Exotics | LA Surgery |
| Oncology | Anesthesia/Neurology | Primary Care Surgery | Wildlife or Exotics | Wildlife or Exotics | Primary Care Surgery |
Elective Rotations
There are also opportunities to choose three elective rotations among those listed below and you may opt to arrange for some clinical experiences outside of the college.
- Theriogenology
- Cardiology
- Clinical Oncology
- Clinical Neurology
- Clinical Pathology
- Small Animal Dentistry and Oral Surgery
- Large Animal Emergency Critical Care
- Primary Care Surgery Service
- Lab Animal Medicine
- Equine Specialty
- Clinical Rotation in Shelter Medicine
- Clinical Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Wildlife Medicine
- Clinical Exotic Animal Medicine
- Special Opportunities in Clinical Veterinary Medicine
- Special Topics in Ambulatory and Production Animal Medicine
Teaching Projects, Special Projects, and Research Projects
You can design customized learning projects to work directly with our faculty on research, teaching, and other areas of interest.
You can also to take for-credit courses during winter and summer terms through programs such as the Expanding Horizons and international field trips with FARVets.