Equine Veterinary Education

DVM Program

The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine is a four-year professional program.Click here for admissions requirements and other prospective student information. During the first three years of the D.V.M. program, students will study the normal animal, the pathogenesis of diseases, and the prevention, alleviation, and clinical therapy of diseases. The D.V.M. program concludes with 14 months of clinical rotations in the Veterinary Medical Center, including extern experience at off-campus sites, during which students will learn the methods of veterinary care and develop professional practice skills. The fourth year includes externship experience at off-campus sites. 80 percent of Minnesota veterinarians are University of Minnesota graduates.

Equine Track

Unlike most programs, students at the University of Minnesota begin their clinical training in equine medicine in the first semester of their first year with lectures and laboratories in large animal clinical skills and electives in courses such as equine anatomy. This makes the University of Minnesota's program unique and exceptional in that first year students gain experience immediately. Specific courses that emphasize equine medicine and surgery are offered beginning in their freshman year. Students compliment their lectures with rotations through the large animal clinic during all four years of the curriculum where they learn about patient care while on duty in the large animal hospital practicum course. They are further able to increase their equine knowledge and experience by selecting an equine track by their junior year. At the beginning of their third year, students can elect to specialize in equine medicine, surgery or reproduction. A block of specialized lectures and laboratories that encompass topics in equine medicine, reproduction and surgery are provided from January to March of the junior year for students choosing the equine track. The equine track provides in depth experience during clinical rotations that beginin April of the student's junior year.

Students selecting in the equine track must participate in the following two-week course rotations:

3 rotations in Large Animal Medicine and one additional LAM or Large Animal Reproduction rotation
2 rotations in Equine or Large Animal Surgery or Lameness
1 rotation in Public Health
1 rotation in Pathology/Necropsy
1 rotation in Anesthesiology
1 rotation in Radiology
7 additional equine rotations
3-5 Externship/Rotation working in practices/University clinics outside the University of Minnesota
5-7 Elective rotations in equine or other areas

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