College of Veterinary Medicine > Education > Doctor of Veterinary Medicine > Discover Our Program > Curriculum

Curriculum

Our program is centered around hands-on experiences and providing opportunities to learn alongside our faculty who bring a blend of science and veterinary medical expertise to our program.

During your first three years of instruction, our program emphasizes case-based learning, simulation-based education, and professional skills, while offering ample opportunities – starting your first semester – for clinical training in the WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Your fourth year includes clinical rotations in our teaching hospital, the leading referral center in the Pacific Northwest.

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Innovative education

Our innovative veterinary education develops students’ professional skills along with their medical education and training. Hands-on experience is built into the curriculum and continues for all four years through case-based exercise, simulation-based education, and clinical training.

Electives and other learning opportunities provides for a well-rounded education for careers in private practice, research, education, or public health.

Orientation Week

Before our professional veterinary students take their first class, they begin their education with an orientation week designed to promote community, personal leadership, and wellness.

Diagnostic Challenge

Case-based exercises are a core part of the curriculum. Students have additional opportunities to practice real-world diagnostic exercises in the Diagnostic Challenge.

Shelter medicine

The shelter medicine program at WSU provides veterinary students a learning opportunity in community-based, primary care facilities during their final year of the DVM degree program where they can have a positive effect on the health and behavior of shelter animals.  

Simulation-based education

From client communications to emergency room procedures, our simulation-based education program will prepare students through integrated real-world experiences. WSU’s simulation-based education program is the first in the nation to be accredited with an emphasis on veterinary medicine. 

Surgical skills training

Beginning in first year, students learn hand-on surgical techniques in the nation’s first veterinary accredited Clinical Simulation Center.

Veterinary practice management

An elective course designed introduce students to the medical and business aspects of veterinary practice management. 

Wildlife care

First- through third-year veterinary students can volunteer for the wildlife triage team to gain hands on-experience in wildlife patient care.

Clinical training

Clinical rotations begin the end of year three. Students train alongside board-certified practitioners in the WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital applying what they have learned in the classroom to care for patients.

  • Choose rotations in small animal, exotics, and large animal medicine
  • Expand your clinical training through regional externships
  • Gain experience in shelter medicine, community outreach, and agricultural animal opportunities