Current DVM Curriculum: Active learning
The current DVM curriculum uses active learning to connect basic sciences with the clinical cases graduates will encounter. In the first three years, students study normal animal biology, disease pathogenesis, and the prevention, alleviation, and clinical treatment of disease. The program concludes with 13 months of clinical rotations at the Veterinary Medical Center, where students gain hands-on veterinary skills. Students choose from more than 65 rotations, from Acupuncture to Zoological Medicine, and may complete up to 10 weeks of externships at off-campus sites. DVM students attend classes full time Monday–Friday, have summers off after their first and second years, and complete a full calendar year of coursework, including summer, during their fourth year.
Beginning with the Class of 2031: Outcome-based learner-centered curriculum
At UMN, the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) curriculum is outcome-based and learner-centered. Organized into three stages:
- Stage 1: Foundations of Health and Welfare
- Stage 2: Management of Disease
- Stage 3: Competent and Confident Team Member
Students move through a carefully designed sequence that builds knowledge, skills, and confidence. Each stage creates a purposeful journey, guiding learners toward the ultimate goal of becoming Practice Ready Veterinarians (PRV).