Year One
Year one consists of foundation courses, such as immunology, histology, and physiology. It also includes anatomy and additional “ology” classes. Classes are typically from 8 a.m. to noon. You’ll spend most of your afternoons in labs.
Courses taken during your first year are team-taught by the clinicians and scientists with whom you will later work alongside in our research settings and within our teaching hospital. They provide you with real-world application examples and expose you to research opportunities early in your education. You’ll immediately begin building rapport with these renowned faculty.
Year One Courses
- CVM 5046 Veterinary Anatomy I (6)
- CVM 5036 Veterinary Physiology (6)
- CVM 5033 Immunology (3)
- CVM 5023 Infectious Agents I (3)
- CVM 5073 Veterinary Histology (3)
- CVM 5013 Veterinary Neuroscience (3)
- CVM 5011 Professional Development I (1)
- CVM 5021 Professional Development II (1)
Total: 26 hrs
- CVM 5072 Veterinary Anatomy II (2)
- CVM 5022 Veterinary Epidemiology (2)
- CVM 5044 Introduction to Veterinary Pathology (4)
- CVM 5193 Infectious Agents II (3)
- CVM 5163 Veterinary Parasitology (3)
- CVM 5223 Pharmacology I (3)
- CVM 5111 Professional Development III (1)
Total: 18 hrs
Year Two
Year two, you'll study the physiological processes that cause, result from, or are otherwise associated with disease or injury. Courses specific to various species will be taught, such as Food Animal Medicine and Surgery, Equine Medicine and Surgery, and Small Animal Medicine and Surgery.
In year two, you also begin surgery lab, which is held in conjunction with the small animal medicine and surgery course. You’ll learn to spay and neuter canines and felines from nearby shelters. This increases the likelihood of adoption for these animals while also providing you with valuable experience.
Through rotating roles, you will perform as the anesthetist, assistant surgeon, and surgeon throughout year two. Through this method, you’ll learn firsthand about the responsibilities of each role and the importance of teamwork.
Clinicians will guide you through each step, ensuring you’re prepared for every role. You will perform at least three spay or neuter procedures under the supervision of surgeons and anesthesiologists. From the first cut on midline to tying the last suture knot to close, you’ll receive top-notch instruction every step of the way.
Year Two Courses
- CVM 5153 Equine Medicine and Surgery I (3)
- CVM 5186 Small Animal Medicine and Surgery I (6)
- CVM 5123 Veterinary Clinical Pathology (3)
- CVM 5152 Veterinary Toxicology (2)
- CVM 5553 Pharmacology II (3)
- CVM 5213 Intro to Veterinary Anesthesiology (3)
- CVM 5143 Theriogenology (3)
Total: 23 hrs
- CVM 5173 Equine Medicine and Surgery II (3)
- CVM 5196 Small Animal Medicine and Surgery II (6)
- CVM 5175 Food Animal Medicine and Surgery (5)
- CVM 5162 Diagnostic Imaging (2)
- CVM 5133 Veterinary Preventive Medicine (3)
- CVM 5183 Special Species (3)
- CVM 5121 Professional Development IV (1)
Total: 23 hrs
Year Three
Year three is when you will move from the classroom into the clinic. During this year of your DVM training, you will spend most of your time in the Animal Health Center, undergoing rotations in equine medicine and surgery, farm animal medicine and surgery, large animal intensive care, population medicine, community veterinary services, animal dentistry, small animal surgery, anesthesiology, radiology, and laboratory and service pathology.
These rotations each last about four weeks. While you are learning, you will be working with real clients who need real care, overseen by a clinical faculty that have decades of experience. Part of our curricular difference is getting you the experience that will matter relatively early in your DVM career. Our students regularly perform 90 or more surgeries before graduation, far more than the national average.
Year Four
Although some of year four is spent at the Animal Health Center, the majority of the year is dedicated to completing externships and elective rotations. Students have access to a wide range of elective and externship opportunities including shelter medicine spay and neuter, ambulatory service, small animal internal medicine, small animal intensive care and emergency service, neurology, oncology, dermatology, and ophthalmology. Your fourth year is meant to be tailored so that you gain the clinical experience that matches your interests and career goals. A minimum of 26 weeks of electives is required, including up to 12 weeks of externships, providing students with flexibility to further enhance their learning.
You will also get to complete a rotation at the Animal Emergency and Referral Center in Flowood, Mississippi and get experience in the real world by undergoing an enhanced clinical practicum.
Years Three and Four
- Radiology – 4 weeks
- Anesthesia – 4 weeks
- Lab Services/Pathology – 4 weeks
- Small Animal Surgery – 4 weeks
- Community Veterinary Service – 4 weeks
- Food Animal Med/Surgery – 4 weeks
- Equine Med/Surgery – 4 weeks
- Population Medicine – 4 weeks
- Large Animal ICU – 4 weeks
- Small Animal Internal Med – 4 weeks
- Emergency/Critical Care – 4 weeks
- Animal Emergency and Referral Center – 2 weeks
- Large Animal Ambulatory – 2 weeks
- Neurology – 4 weeks
- CPC/Senior Seminar – 1 week
- Dermatology/Oncology/Ophthalmology – 6 weeks
- Shelter Medicine/Spay/Neuter – 2 weeks
- Enhanced Clinical Practicums (ECPs) – 4 or 8 weeks
- Electives – Minimum of 19 weeks
Students must complete 8 weeks of ECPs, each being 4 weeks.
Enhanced Clinical Practicum
At MSU College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), we are proud of our outstanding curriculum that ensures students are practice-ready from day one. That’s why we offer our students an Enhanced Clinical Practicum (ECP) program, designed to further enrich your education and meet the growing demands of the veterinary profession.
Third- and fourth-year students participate in two four-week core clinical practice experiences. These rotations provide invaluable opportunities to develop clinical skills in real-world settings while enhancing your abilities in client communication and business management.
We believe that nothing compares to hands-on experience in the field. This program not only prepares graduates for the realities of veterinary practice but also helps reduce stress and anxiety for new professionals.
The ECP has enabled us to expand our professional program without overwhelming our faculty and facilities. Currently, 70 practices are enrolled, reaching 17 different states.
Participating clinics must meet specific criteria ensuring a safe and effective learning environment. Students are matched with practices that align with their educational goals and interests, evaluated on professionalism, knowledge, and clinical skills.
- Two four-week core clinical rotations
- Opportunities in private practice settings
- Focus on client communication and business management
- Safe, enriching learning environments based on current veterinary accreditation standards
- Real-world experience to boost confidence and readiness
- Experience providing veterinary care in rural communities
Externships
MSU CVM offers a variety of externship options for our own students and students from other colleges of veterinary medicine. Students from other institutions may participate in externships in aquatic animal medicine, shelter medicine, and a variety of other specialty areas.
MSU CVM students are offered up to 12 weeks of elective time to complete externships and further their clinical education.
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