We’re driven by a deep passion and commitment to define and deliver all that veterinary medicine can and should be. That passion and commitment are reflected in our curriculum and the areas that you can choose to study. You’ll cover all aspects of veterinary medicine during your four years at the CVM – and leave fully prepared to take your next step.
UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital virtual tour
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Fall Semester
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Fall Semester
Spring Semester
Note: The second term of year 3 is eight weeks long. The clinical year starts immediately after this 8-week term.
The fourth-year program allows veterinary students some flexibility to concentrate on their interests in specific areas. The program begins immediately following the conclusion of Year 3 (approximately early March) and continues for 14 months.
Each course in the fourth year is taught as a 2- or 3-week block. Students take each course as a separate block. Students select clinical rotations with guidance from faculty advisors. A student may concentrate his/her attentions toward small or large animal rotations, or they may pursue a more general, mixed-animal course of study.
Because the fourth-year program is continuous, some blocks may end or begin during holidays or semester breaks.
Clinical Rotations:
We have three different areas of emphasis that you may choose from to help guide your path through vet school. Each of these areas promotes lifelong learning and adheres to our Ideal Graduate mission statement.
The equine / food and fiber animal track provides students with basic to advanced medical knowledge and clinical skills in equine medicine and the care of food and fiber producing animals. This includes instruction and training in preventative medicine, production principles, diagnostics, general medical and surgical care as well as effective communication and scientific problem solving. Students in this track will be prepared for future careers in equine ambulatory and referral practice, equine teaching, research or industry, food animal private practice, regulatory medicine and specialty practice requiring advanced post-DVM training in equine or large-animal related fields.
The mixed animal area of emphasis provides students with a comprehensive education in both small and large animal welfare and health management. The goal of this emphasis is to expose students to multiple areas of veterinary medicine and provide them with diverse clinical skills in preventative medicine, diagnostics, general medical and surgical care in large and small animals to prepare them for providing healthcare for a variety of species. Students also will be exposed to instruction in effective communication and scientific problem solving. Students who wish to practice in mixed animal clinics, are interested in many different animal species, or who have not yet decided upon a specific area of emphasis are ideal candidates for the mixed animal area of emphasis.
The small animal area of emphasis provides students with basic to advanced medical knowledge and clinical skills in the care of dogs, cats, and other small mammals. This includes instruction and training in preventative medicine, diagnostics, general medical and surgical care as well as effective communication and scientific problem solving. Students in this track will be prepared for future careers in small animal general private practice, small animal emergency medicine, teaching, research, industry, and specialty practice requiring advanced post-DVM training.
The Specialty Focus designation provides students who have unique career interests in Poultry, Clinical and Anatomic Pathology, Zoological / Wildlife / Conservation Medicine, Laboratory Animal Medicine, or Public Health with six additional weeks of externship time (in addition to the standard maximum of 12 weeks) during their clinical year to seek unique educational opportunities in these areas. DVM students may apply for the Specialty Focus designation in the spring of their second year. Faculty within those Specialty Focus areas will select student applicants who in their opinion have demonstrated a consistent and strong interest and are most likely to succeed in these career paths. Students who are not selected for the Specialty Focus designation for their clinical year may still use their 12 weeks of externship time to gain this experience.
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