Program Overview

Introduction to the DVM Program

The DVM program at the University of Calgary is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to perform all procedures common to general veterinary practice. The program is a four-year integrated core-elective program that covers all areas of general veterinary practice, with enhanced opportunities in four Areas of Emphasis.

Areas of Emphasis

The four Areas of Emphasis in the DVM program are:

• Production animal health: population and individual animal health of all food and other production animal species; educating veterinarians to meet the needs of the livestock industry and rural Alberta.
• Ecosystem and public health: animal and public health at the interface of domestic animals, wildlife, humans, and the environment; educating veterinarians to meet the needs of society through public and private practice in areas related to public health, food safety, environmental and agricultural interfaces, wildlife/conservation/zoo medicine, and health.
• Equine health: population and individual veterinary care of horses; educating veterinarians to meet the needs of the horse industry, horse owners, and rural Alberta.
• Investigative Medicine: comparative medicine and biomedical research; encouraging students to pursue careers advancing animal and human health through research (basic, clinical, applied, or population health).

Program Structure

The DVM curriculum provides a balance of opportunities for students to learn comparative medicine and acquire discipline-based knowledge, to acquire and practice clinical and professional skills, and to develop diagnostic reasoning ability during the first three years. Early exposure to clinical material at the individual animal and population levels is provided in the Clinical Presentations courses, which integrate basic, preclinical, clinical, and population health material.

Four Years at the UCVM

The DVM program includes 9 semesters of instruction. The first three years of the program are delivered predominantly at the Foothills and Spy Hill Campuses, with students spending approximately 50% of their time at each site. Students are responsible for their own travel between sites, with classes scheduled to allow full-day activities at each location. During the final year of the DVM program, students complete their practicum rotations on and off campus.

Year One

• Two Semesters | Follows university academic calendar.
• Students are introduced to veterinary medicine through a wide range of foundational courses.
• Hands-on skills are learned early in the program, and practical experiences are gained during field trips involving various animal industries.

Year Two

• Two Semesters | Follows university academic calendar.
• Students build on the fundamentals learned in year one and begin to gain a more detailed understanding of disease diagnosis.
• Electives are offered in the four Areas of Emphasis, and field courses provide practical experiences.

Year Three

• Two Semesters | Follows university academic calendar.
• Along with advanced coursework, students expand their hands-on training with an emphasis on surgical skills and treatment techniques.
• Field course experiences round out the student's training in the four Areas of Emphasis.

Year Four

• Three Semesters | 40 weeks of practicum rotation + 2 weeks for assessment, delivered over a full calendar year (May-April).
• During this time, students gain practical hands-on experience in a variety of veterinary clinics and settings across Alberta and around the world.

Becoming a Licensed Veterinarian

The North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) is a requirement for licensure to practice veterinary medicine in all licensing jurisdictions in the United States and Canada. The AVMA-COE accredited DVM program entitles fourth-year students to register for the NAVLE. For graduates of the DVM program to work in Alberta as a veterinarian, they must complete the program, pass the NAVLE, and then apply for licensing with the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (AbVMA).

Career Opportunities

• Private veterinary practice (food animals, equine, companion animals)
• Academia
• Research and Medical industry
• Government agencies
• Wildlife and ecosystem management
• Public health
• Diagnostic services

Admission to the DVM Program

Admission Requirements

The admission requirements for the DVM program are not specified in the provided context.

Application for Admission

The application process for the DVM program is not specified in the provided context.

Admissions Timeline

The admissions timeline for the DVM program is not specified in the provided context.

Application Manual

The application manual for the DVM program is not specified in the provided context.

List of Acceptable Courses

The list of acceptable courses from different universities for the DVM program is not specified in the provided context.

Understanding the Admission Process

The admission process for the DVM program is not specified in the provided context.

Admissions Statistics

The admissions statistics for the DVM program are not specified in the provided context.

Declaration of Applicant

The declaration of applicant for the DVM program is not specified in the provided context.

Frequently Asked Questions

The frequently asked questions for the DVM program are not specified in the provided context.