A four-year professional program in veterinary medicine is offered annually to approximately 156 students. Each year, approximately 142 students are admitted to the DVM program located on the main CSU campus in Fort Collins, Colorado. Additionally, up to 14 students are admitted to the CSU-University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) 2+2 DVM program, completing the first 2 years of the 4-year program in Fairbanks, Alaska, and joining the larger cohort to complete years 3 and 4 in Fort Collins. These students graduate with a DVM degree from CSU and enjoy unique opportunities at UAF in small animal sports medicine, rural outreach, conservation, and wildlife medicine.
Because the number of applicants exceeds the number of students who can be admitted to any class, the members of the Admissions Committee for the CVMBS carefully evaluate each applicant to recommend those best qualified. Information concerning the academic program which leads to the DVM degree may be found in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin or online.
The full course of study requires four years beyond completion of the pre-veterinary requirements. While exceptional students may complete pre-veterinary requirements in two to three years and then be accepted into the DVM program, it is much more common that students complete a baccalaureate degree or graduate degree, followed by four years in the professional program.
Effective Fall 2023
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| VM 603 | Veterinary Science: Research and Methods | 1 |
| VM 606 | Veterinary Immunology | 3 |
| VM 610 | Foundations of Veterinary Medicine I | 1 |
| VM 616 | Functional Anatomy | 9 |
| VM 618 | Veterinary Physiology and Histology | 7 |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
| Spring | ||
| VM 611 | Foundations of Veterinary Medicine II | 1 |
| VM 619 | Veterinary Neurobiology | 4 |
| VM 623 | Veterinary Nutrition and Metabolism | 2 |
| VM 637 | Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology | 2 |
| VM 638 | Veterinary Parasitology | 2 |
| VM 639 | Veterinary Virology | 2 |
| VM 640 | Biology of Disease I | 5 |
| VM 648/VS 648 | Food Animal Production and Food Safety | 2 |
| Electives: | 0-3 | |
| The Healer's Art | ||
| Exotic Animal Anatomy and Husbandry | ||
| Total Credits | 20-23 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Students must complete the Capstone Exam I (1st year material) at the beginning of this semester. Passing this examination is required for progression in the program. | ||
| VM 710 | Foundations of Veterinary Medicine III | 1 |
| VM 714 | Veterinary Preventive Medicine | 4 |
| VM 722 | Veterinary Pharmacology | 4 |
| VM 724 | Bioanalytical Pathology | 6 |
| VM 735 | Animal Welfare | 2 |
| VM 741 | Biology of Disease II | 4 |
| VM 751 | Veterinary Clinical Toxicology | 2 |
| Electives: | 0-6 | |
| Introduction to Spanish for Veterinarians | ||
| Emerging Issues in Animal Health | ||
| Group Study: Swine Medicine | ||
| Total Credits | 23-29 | |
| Spring | ||
| VM 711 | Foundations of Veterinary Medicine IV | 1 |
| VM 733 | Principles of Surgery | 2 |
| VM 737 | Principles of Anesthesia | 3 |
| VM 742 | Biology of Disease III | 3 |
| VM 744 | Theriogenology | 3 |
| VM 745 | Clinical Sciences I | 5 |
| VM 747 | Clinical Sciences II | 5 |
| Electives: | 0-4 | |
| Foaling Management | ||
| The Healer's Art | ||
| Principles of Shelter Veterinary Medicine | ||
| Spanish for Rural Veterinary Practice I | ||
| Spanish for Rural Veterinary Practice II | ||
| Total Credits | 22-26 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Students must complete the Capstone Exam II (2nd year material) at the beginning of this semester. Passing this examination is required for progression in the program. | ||
| VM 728 | Principles of Imaging Interpretation | 3 |
| VM 749 | Clinical Sciences III | 5 |
| VM 753 | Clinical Sciences IV | 5 |
| VM 786A | Junior Practicum | 8 |
| Electives: | 0-9 | |
| Non-Mammalian Vertebrate Medicine | ||
| Spanish for Rural Veterinary Practice III | ||
| Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation | ||
| Group Study: Swine Medicine | ||
| Group Study: Food Animal Clinical Problems | ||
| Total Credits | 21-30 | |
| Spring | ||
| Students must complete the Capstone Exam III (3rd year material) at the end of this semester. Passing this examination is required for progression in the program. | ||
| VM 772 | Veterinary Professional Development | 2 |
| VM 779 | Rational Antimicrobial Therapy | 1 |
| VM 786A | Junior Practicum | 6 |
| Track Requirements (Select one track) | 7-8 | |
| Small Animal Practice Track: | ||
| Small Animal Medicine and Surgery I | ||
| Small Animal Medicine and Surgery II | ||
| Large Animal Practice Track: | ||
| Bovine Herd Medicine | ||
| Equine Medicine and Surgery | ||
| General Practice Track (Select a minimum of 7 credits from the following): | ||
| Bovine Herd Medicine | ||
| Equine Medicine and Surgery | ||
| Small Animal Medicine and Surgery I | ||
| Small Animal Medicine and Surgery II | ||
| Electives: | 0-5 | |
| The Healer's Art | ||
| Spanish for Rural Veterinary Practice I | ||
| Spanish for Rural Veterinary Practice II | ||
| Biology and Diseases of Small Mammals | ||
| Veterinary Practice Management | ||
| Feline Medicine | ||
| Total Credits | 16-22 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| The entire senior practicum (VM 786B) is 42 credits. The number of credits per term is dependent on the amount of vacation and elective time. | ||
| VM 786B | Senior Practicum | Var. |
| Total Credits | 0 | |
| Spring | ||
| VM 786B | Senior Practicum | Var. |
| Total Credits | 0 | |
| Summer | ||
| VM 786B | Senior Practicum | Var. |
| Total Credits | 42 | |
| Program Total Credits: | 167 | |
A minimum of 167 credits are required to complete this program.