DVM Program Road Map for Class of 2027 and Earlier

VMC 910 – Careers in Veterinary Medicine – Specialists and invited speakers from multiple areas of veterinary medicine will present information about career opportunities. (1 semester hour)

VMB 911 – Veterinary Anatomy I – Gross anatomy of the dog and cat. Neuroanatomy of the dog and cat. Dissection of embalmed (dog/cat), study of prosections, slides, models, radiographs, and correlations with living animals. (5 semester hours)

VMB 912 – Introduction to Clinical Problem Solving in Veterinary Practice – A combination of lectures and in-class activities will be used to explore the clinical reasoning process and steps used in “working up” a veterinary clinical case. Specific topics include: patient signalment, chief complaint, history, physical exam, problem list, differential diagnoses. Also covered: introductory clinical skills, medical records (SOAP). (2 semester hours)

VMB 913 – Veterinary Physiology I – A course in comparative physiology with special attention to domestic mammalian and avian species. Emphasis is placed on cellular and metabolic physiology and the physiology of the nervous, endocrine, and reproductive systems. (5 semester hours)

VMC 914 – Group Communication in Veterinary Medicine – This course explores how to effectively communicate in small groups in a professional veterinary context. Students will develop verbal and nonverbal communication skills, an understanding of task/process balance, meeting management and facilitation techniques, and communication styles and strategies for dealing with challenging group situations and conflict management. Examples and cases from veterinary medicine will guide application of group communication in context. (1 semester hour)

VMP 910 – Infection and Immunity 1 – This course is intended to familiarize the student with the pathogenic bacteria and fungi of veterinary importance. The student will learn the properties and cultivation of these microorganisms and receive a general introduction to the diseases they can cause. Primary emphasis will be placed on how the biology of the pathogen influences disease pathogenesis, and microbiological identification of infectious agents. The laboratory exercises will complement the lectures and focus on standard procedures for microbial cultivation and identification. (3 semester hours)

VMP 916 – Health Maintenance and Animal Production I – This course is part I of a series with VMP 936 and 956 designed to introduce students to procedures for health maintenance and care of horses and food-producing animals. Students learn how to prevent diseases and promote animal health in laboratories. (1 semester hour)

VMB 920 – Small Group Problem Solving in Veterinary Medicine – Students will work in small groups with a faculty facilitator to examine case scenarios, and apply the problem-solving process discussed in VMB 912 to a variety of clinical and research problems. This course will provide a venue for integration of content presented in other courses, as well as application of small-group communication skills. (1 semester hour)

VMB 921 – Veterinary Anatomy II – Gross anatomy of domestic ungulates (horse, ox, sheep, goat, pig). Involves dissection of embalmed specimens and study of prosections, models, radiographs, and live-animal palpation. (4 semester hours)

VMB 923 – Veterinary Physiology II – A continuation course in comparative physiology with special attention to domestic and avian species. Emphasis is placed upon water and electrolyte metabolism and the physiology of gastrointestinal, endocrine, and nervous systems. (4 semester hours)

VMC 927 – Introduction to Companion Animal Behavior – This course explores the behavior of companion animals from a veterinary perspective. An emphasis is placed on behavior as an indicator of welfare and health, humane handling of animals, prevention of behavior problems, and treatment of common behavior problems. In addition, the nature of human-animal bond and ethical issues relating to human-animal interactions will be discussed. Students will learn how to diagnose and treat common behavior problems on the basis of video-rich case presentations, lecturre material, and class discussion. This course is restricted to students enrolled in the DVM Curriculum. (2 semester hours)

VMP 916 – Health Maintenance and Animal Production I – This course is part I of a series with VMP 936 and 956 designed to introduce students to procedures for health maintenance and care of horses and food-producing animals. Students learn how to prevent diseases and promote animal health in laboratories. (1 semester hours)

VMP 920 – Infection and Immunity 2 – This course is intended to continue the topics introduced in Infection and Immunity 1. Specific bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens will be covered including pathogenesis and strategies used to control infection and/or development of disease. The course will also cover more advanced topics in Immunology including the types of hypersensitivities, autoimmunity, immunity in the newborn and fetus, immune deficiencies and vaccination. (4 semester hours)

VMP 921 – Cases in Infectious Diseases and Immunity 1 – This course is intended to challenge first-year veterinary students to reach a diagnosis laboratory procedures. The second portion of the course requires the students to develop a list of differential causes to assigned clinical cases, choose a presumptive diagnosis based on available data and ordering of diagnostic tests to confirm the presumptive diagnosis. The individual cases are discussed in a small group format with a faculty facilitator. (2 semester hours)

VMC 937 – Introduction to Physical Examination Skills – Small Animal – Introduction to physical examination, laboratory sample collection, and medication administration skills in dogs and cats. Students will also be taught how to understand and use the problem oriented approach for patient management. Students must be enrolled in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program. (1 semester hour)

VMB 930 – Anesthesiology – Anesthetic principles, agents, and techniques of mammalian, avian, and rodent species.
2 semester hours

VMB 931 – Veterinary Ethics & Welfare – This course will explore the major ethical issues confronting the practices of veterinary medicine, biomedical science, and animal welfare. Students will become familiar with legal and institutional positions, consider and debate opposing arguments on the various topics, and examine relevant case studies. Provides the basic leadership and operational training necessary to become a Credentialed responder for the State of North Carolina.
2 semester hours

VMB 932 – Veterinary Medical Decision Making – A combination of lectures and Moodle activities will be used to explore the medical decision-making process in veterinary medicine and error prevention strategies. Main course themes are errors in: knowledge acquisition, data gathering, data processing and metacognition. Discussion of generation, refinement and testing of diagnostic hypotheses.
1 semester hour

VMB 933 – Introductory Pharmacology – The action of drugs in animals and man including basic principles of drug disposition and pharmacokinetics is discussed. Modification of physiological processes by drugs influencing coordination by the nervous, endocrine, and circulatory systems are described.
3 semester hours

VMB 936 – Introduction to Radiology – This course describes and explains the principles of physics of diagnostic radiology and ultrasound, and the basics of image interpretation. Principles of thoracic radiography and radiographic anatomy will be covered. Radiographic interpretation of the cardiovascular system, lungs and airways and pleural space are discussed and related to physiology of the different organ systems. Principles of abdominal radiography and radiographic anatomy will be covered as well and the concepts of peritoneal detail, abdominal mass effect and intestinal ileus will be introduced.
1 semester hour

VMC 932 – Principles of Surgery and Introduction to Small Animal Surgical Diseases – Principles of the science, art and craft of surgery are presented as a foundation for applied clinical applications. Asepsis, instrumentation suture technique, and wound healing are emphasized.
3 semester hours

VMP 930 – Infection and Immunity 3 – This course is designed to serve as a continuation of Infection & Immunity 1 & 2 (first-year curriculum) for the second-year veterinary student. This course is designed to reinforce principles of infectious disease and immunity introduced in the first year of the DVM curriculum and expand upon specific groups of parasites. This course will cover the diagnosis, treatment and control of major endo and ecto parasites of domesticated animals.
3 semester hours

VMP 931 – Veterinary Pathology I – Introduction to the basic pathologic changes which occur in animal tissues. Developmental processes and resulting morphology observed at gross, cellular, and subcellular level emphasized.
3 semester hours

VMP 934 – Problem Solving Cases Infectious Disease & Immunity 2 – This course is intended to challenge first-year veterinary students to reach a diagnosis of realistic cases involving either infectious diseases or immune pathology. The first part of the course is an introduction to diagnostic laboratory procedures. The second portion of the course requires the students to develop a list of differential causes to assigned clinical cases, choose a presumptive diagnosis based on available data and ordering of diagnostic tests to confirm the presumptive diagnosis. The individual cases are discussed in a small group format with a faculty facilitator.
2 semester hours

VMP 936 – Health Maintenance and Animal Production II – This course is part II of a series with VMP 916 and 956 designed to introduce students to procedures for health maintenance and care of horses and food-producing animals. Students learn how to care for animals, prevent diseases, and milk cows in laboratories.
1 semester hour

VMB 943 – Pharmacology and Veterinary Therapeutics – A course in clinical pharmacology with emphasis on the pharmacology of antimicrobial drugs, systematic pharmacology, pharmacology applied to special species, prescription writing, and benefit-risk assessment.
3 semester hours

VMB 944 – Veterinary Toxicology and Poisonous Plants – Toxicological basis and pathological features of diseases of animals and birds caused by common toxic chemicals and plants with emphasis on clinical manifestations, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
2 semester hours

VMC 942 – Principles of Medicine – This cross-species course provides an introduction to the principles of disease and injury state common to all species. Content in this course is intended to prepare the students for third year DVM medicine and surgery courses.
2 semester hours

VMC 943 – Laboratory Animal and Zoological Species Health and Disease I – Principles of applied biology, management, physical examination, and medical techniques, health problems and medical treatment of laboratory and companion fishes, amphibians, and reptiles will be presented. Laboratory sessions will include handling of live animals, examination of necropsy specimens, and case discussions.
1 semester hour

VMC 944 – Introduction to Clinical and Professional Communication – The ability to communicate with clients is important to successful veterinary practice. The focus of this course is to explore how to effectively communicate with clients in a clinical context. Students will develop verbal and nonverbal communication skills, an understanding of relationship-centered care, management of client interactions, getting informed consent, and communicating complex information. Examples and cases from veterinary medicine will guide application of clinical communication in context.
1 semester hour

VMP 936 – Health Maintenance and Animal Production II – This course is part II of a series with VMP 916 and 956 designed to introduce students to procedures for health maintenance and care of horses and food-producing animals. Students learn how to care for animals, prevent diseases, and milk cows in laboratories.
1 semester hour

VMP 941 – Veterinary Pathology II – A study of specific responses of organ systems to pathogenic influences in animals with emphasis on the effects on the body as a whole.
4 semester hours

VMP 942 – Veterinary Clinical Pathology – Introduction to the mechanisms which produce abnormal physiologic parameters within the animal during illness, with emphasis on the techniques for determining those abnormalities in the living animal.
3 semester hours

VMP 945 – Epidemiology & Public Health – The focus of this course is to construct a foundation for clinical medicine by acquiring a holistic view of disease, exploring optimal preventive medicine strategies while developing a critical thinking skills and quantitative reasoning techniques. The teaching/learning format of the course will include lecture, in-class exercises, discussions and case studies. 3 semester hours.
3 semester hours

VMB 952 – Specialized Problem Solving in Veterinary Medicine – Specialized Problem-Solving is the fourth in a series of courses focusing on Clinical Reasoning and Problem Solving. In this class, you will build upon the skills developed in earlier courses, and work to diagnose, treat and trouble-shoot more complex cases. These cases may have external constraints that will limit your ability to order diagnostic tests, and/or may require identification and correction of medical errors. You will work in unsupervised teams, and then present the results of your decision-making processes to a facilitator for discussion, review and critique.
1 semester hour

VMC 951 – Companion Animal Medicine and Surgery – This course is an overview of medical and surgical management of selected metabolic, neoplastic, nutritional, immune-mediated, developmental, and degenerative diseases of companion animals.
4 semester hours

VMC 952 – Equine Medicine & Surgery – Medical conditions in large domesticated animals are presented in this course. Discussions involve the agents causing diseases and the therapeutic methods used to correct.
3 semester hours

VMC 953 – Laboratory Animal and Zoological Species Health and Disease II – Principles of applied biology, management, physical examination and medical techniques, health problems and medical treatment of laboratory animals,small companion mammals and zoological species will be presented. Laboratory sessions may include handling of live animals, examination of necropsy specimens, and case discussions. Laboratory Animal and Zoological Species Health and Disease II will focus on avian and mammalian species.
Students must be enrolled in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program. 3 semester hours

VMC 956 – Advanced Clinical and Professional Communication – The ability to communicate with clients is important to successful veterinary practice. This course explores how to effectively communicate with clients in a clinical context during problem appointments. Students will develop verbal and nonverbal communication skills and an understanding of how to manage difficult client interactions including 1) communicating about money, 2) communicating during adverse events, and 3) communicating during euthanasia. Examples and cases from veterinary medicine and simulated client interactions will guide application of clinical communication in context.
1 semester hour

VMC 957 – Introduction to Clinical Practice – The problem-oriented approach to diagnosis is introduced through exposure to clinical case studies, supervised visits with local veterinary practitioner, and participation in the medicine and surgery services in The Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Familiarity is gained with admission procedures, medical records, patient management, and clinical rounds.
1 semester hour

VMC 933 – Theriogenology – The physiology, endocrinology, and pathology of the reproductive system are presented. Emphasis includes genital anatomy and function, endocrine interrelationships, and methods for examination of mammary gland and reproductive tract function, including diagnosis and treatment of clinical disorders.

2 semester hour

VMP 956 – Health Maintenance and Animal Production III – This course is part III of a series designed to instruct students in procedures for maintaining the health and well-being of horses and food-producing animals. Students learn how to prevent diseases and promote animal production, including production of safe meat and milk.
1 semester hour

VMB 960 – Veterinary Radiology and Radiobiology – Fundamentals of radiographic diagnosis. The VMB 960 course is focused on the diagnostic imaging appearance of small and large animal thoracic, abdominal, musculoskeletal and neurologic disease. The main imaging modality that will be covered is diagnostic radiology and some diagnostic ultrasound but Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) will be introduced as well. The principles of image interpretation will be revisited and the imaging appearance of important and common diseases will be presented and discussed. Case examples will be shown and students may be asked to provide case interpretation in class.
2 semester hours

VMB 961 – Success in Clinics and Beyond – This course provides an opportunity for students to integrate and synthesize professional skills in preparation for clinical rotations and veterinary practice. An introduction to the current VH electronic medical record system will be provided. Students will apply their knowledge of clinical communication, teamwork, clinical reasoning, and ethics to a variety of case scenarios.
1 semester hours

VMB 965 – Veterinary Clinical Nutrition – The role of nutrition in veterinary medicine. Development, diagnosis and prevention of nutritional problems in a variety of species will be discussed, frequently employing a comparative approach.
2 semester hours

VMC 961 – Companion Animal Medicine and Surgery II – This course is an overview of medical and surgical management of selected metabolic, neoplastic, nutritional, immune-mediated, developmental, and degenerative diseases of companion animals.
3 semester hours

VMC 965 – Advanced Principles of Surgery – This laboratory includes induction and maintenance of anesthesia in representative companion animal, food animal, and equine species; the practice of surgery on anesthetized animals and cadaver specimens; and experience with diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. Students examine, assess, and provide preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative management of their patients.
1 semester hour

VMP 962 – Ruminant Medicine and Surgery – The principles of medical and surgical disorders of ruminants are presented. This includes the cause of the disorders and the diagnostic, therapeutic and prophylactic measures necessary to correct, reduce or prevent these problems.
3 semester hours

VMP 964 – Swine and Poultry Medicine – Lecture series supplemented with projected illustration on the most economically important diseases of poultry and swine. Emphasis is placed on definition of diseases, etiology, characteristics of the disease, and diagnosis. The economics related to occurrence, prevention, treatment, and control are presented. 3 semester hours.
2 semester hours

Clinical Year Course Catalog

How the Clinical Year is Scheduled