Curriculum

The Curriculum

The list below is the core curriculum for students at the College of Veterinary Medicine. Every effort has been made to make the list accurate as of the date of publication. However, all policies, procedures, fees, and charges are subject to change at any time by appropriate action of the faculty, the university administration, or the Board of Regents, State of Iowa. See policy updates for the most current information.

Policies (300K)
ISU Curriculum (350K) (view the links above for curriculum information specific to the College of Veterinary Medicine)

VM - 1 Curriculum for 2007-09 Catalog

Fall Semester Course	Title	Credits
BBMB 420	Physiological Chemistry	3
BMS 330	Principles of Morphology I (anatomy)	5
BMS 333	Biomedical Sciences I (microscopic anatomy/physiology-cells)	6
BMS 339	Clinical Foundations I	1
BMS 345	Case Study I	1
VCS 311	Veterinarian in Society I	R
VCS 391	Radiology Imaging	1

		17
Spring Semester Course	Title	Credits
BMS 331	Principles of Morphology II (anatomy)	4
BMS 334	Biomedical Sciences II (microscopic anatomy/physiology-systems)	6
BMS 337	Neurobiology	3
BMS 346	Case Study II (clinical correlations)	1
VMPM 380	Veterinary Immunology	2
VPth 342	Anatomic Pathology I	3
VCS 312	Veterinarian in Society II	1

		20

VM - 2 Curriculum

Fall Semester Course	Title	Credits
VMPM 386	Veterinary Microbiology I	5
VPth 372	Anatomic Pathology II	4
VPth 376	Veterinary Parasitology	4
VPth 377	Case Study III (clinical correlations)	2
VCS 313	Veterinarian in Society III (ethics)	1
VCS 393	Principles of Surgery	3

		19
Spring Semester Course	Title	Credits
BMS 354	General Pharmacology	3
VMPM 378	Case Study IV	2
VMPM 387	Veterinary Microbiology II	3
VMPM 388	Public Health	3
VPth 425	Clinical Pathology	4
VCS 394	Principles of Surgery Lab	1
VCS 395	Small Animal Surgery	2
VCS 398	Anesthesiology	1

		19

VM - 3 Curriculum

Fall Semester Course	Title	Credits
BMS 443	Pharmacology and Therapeutics	3
VCS 436	Small Animal Internal Medicine	3
VCS 314	Veterinarian in Society IV (communication)	1
VCS/VDPAM 440	Introduction to Clinics	R
VCS 444	Small Animal Medicine	4
VCS 445	Equine Medicine	2
VCS 449	Surgery Laboratory	3
VCS/VDPAM450	Disturbances of Reproduction	4
VCS 385	Seminar	R

		20
Spring Semester Course	Title	Credits
VMPM 437	Infectious Diseases and Preventive Medicine	3
VPth 409	Intro to Vet Cytology	1
VDPAM 426	Veterinary Toxicology	3
VCS 399	Ophthalmology	1
VDPAM 445	Clinical Medicine II	3
VCS 448	Radiology	3
VCS 315	Veterinarian in Society V (veterinary law)	1
VCS 385	Seminar	R

		15

VM - 4 Curriculum

The fourth year is designed to be flexible and to provide for species emphasis. Students must complete 38 credits during their fourth year. They must take a required block and at least one option block. The required block rotations are multi-species oriented and exist in all types of clinical practice. The remainder of the fourth year credits can be acquired by selecting additional option blocks, Veterinary Medical Center clinical electives, off-campus clinical electives, or other electives. One credit is earned for each full week of clinical participation. Additional off-campus clinical elective credits can be earned at approved government agencies, research laboratories, veterinary practices, and other approved university hospitals.

Required Block:

	Course	Title	Credits
	VCS 460	Radiology	3
	VCS 466	Anesthesiology	3
	VCS 468	Intensive Care/Emergency Medicine	4
	VPth 456	Necropsy Laboratory	1
	VPth 457	Clinical Pathology	1
	VDPAM 488	Laboratories in Clinical Microbiology	1
	VMPM 486	Laboratories in Public Health	1
	VCS 495	Seminar	R

			14
Small Animal Option:
	Course	Title	Credits
	VCS 453	Small Animal Medicine I	2
	VCS 454	Small Animal Medicine II	2
	VCS 463	Community Practice	2
	VCS 455	Soft Tissue Surgery	2
	VCS 456	Orthopedic Surgery	2
	VCS 469	Ophthalmology	2

			12
Food Animal Option:
	Course	Title	Credits
	VDPAM 411	Production Animal Medicine	4
	VDPAM 455	Diagnostic Laboratory	2

			12
Production Medicine Option:
	Course	Title	Credits
	VDPAM 411	Production Animal Medicine	4
	VDPAM 455	Diagnostic Laboratory (plus 6 credits special emphasis courses listed below)	2
	VDPAM 478, 479, 480	Swine Production Medicine Series	2-6
	VDPAM 310, 482, 483	Beef Production Medicine Series	2-6
	VDPAM 484, 485	Dairy Production Medicine	2-4

			12-24
Equine Option:
	Course	Title	Credits
	VCS 457	Equine Medicine	4
	VCS 458	Equine Surgery	4

Credits required during senior year: 38

Graduation Requirements: 152

In addition to the core option rotations, specialized rotations in various areas are offered during the VM-4 year.

To be awarded the degree Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, candidates must have passed all required courses in the curriculum of veterinary. Candidates must have earned at least 4 elective credits on a graded basis of A, B, C, D while enrolled in the College of Veterinary Medicine and a minimum 2.0 grade point average in the veterinary medicine curriculum. Candidates must also have given a grand rounds presentation (VCS 495-Seminar).