DVM Four-year Course Structure

Note: Current UPEI students should refer to Student Planning in myUPEI and the UPEI Academic Calendar governing their entry year, and speak to an academic advisor about course requirements. The course structure presented for this program is a recommended, unofficial progression for prospective students.

Over 95% of the DVM core pre-clinical program is delivered in-person. Courses marked with an asterisk (*) may include distance education for specific components.


First Year

Semester 1

 Weekly contact (hours) 
CourseLectureLabCredit
VBS 1010 Macroscopic Anatomy I254
VBS 1110 Microscopic Anatomy I122
VBS 1210 Physiology I202
VBS 1410 Integration of Structure and Function I052
VBS 1040 Principles of Veterinary Research101
VBS 1050 Professional Foundations I122
VBS 1030 Animal Behaviour and Welfare202
VHM 1110 Animal Production Systems212
VPM 1110 Veterinary Immunology212
 131619

Semester 2

 Weekly contact (hours) 
CourseLectureLabCredit
VBS 1020 Macroscopic Anatomy II254
VBS 1120 Microscopic Anatomy II1.41.73
VBS 1220 Physiology II202
VBS 1420 Integration of Structure and Function II031
VHM 1120 Principles of Veterinary Epidemiology212
VHM 1130 Clinical Skills I031
VPM 1220 Parasitology223
VPM 1520 General Pathology223
 11.417.719

Second Year

Semester 3

 Weekly contact (hours) 
CourseLectureLabCredit
VBS 2130 Veterinary Pharmacology I313
VCA 2520 Diagnostic Imaging I111
VHM 2310 Veterinary Public Health202
VHM 2410 Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine111
VHM 2510 Clinical Skills II   121
VPM 2010 Bacteriology and Mycology       324
VPM 2110 Virology223
VPM 2210 Systemic Pathology I223
VPM 2020 Professional Foundations II122
 161320

Semester 4

 Weekly contact (hours) 
CourseLectureLabCredit
VBS 2140 Veterinary Pharmacology II111
VBS 2150 Veterinary Toxicology212
VCA 2140 Diagnostic Imaging II111
VCA 2120 Principles of Medicine 202
VCA 2310 Principles of Surgery1.501.5
VCA 2410 Principles of Anesthesiology1.501.5
VCA 2150 Small Animal Primary Care Practice I202
VCA 2130 Clinical Skills III041
VHM 2220 Principles of Theriogenology101
VPM 2220 Systemic Pathology II223
VPM 2420 Clinical Pathology223
VPM 2620 Aquaculture and Fish Health101
 171120

Third Year

The third year of the DVM program consists of core and elective courses. Students are required to take all of the core courses and at least 16 credit hours of elective courses. The majority of elective courses are delivered in 5-week modules (M) in semester 6. Elective course offerings are subject to change in any academic year. 

Semester 5 

 Weekly contact (hours) 
Core CourseLectureLabCredit
VCA 3160 Small Animal Primary Care Practice II101
*VCA 3150 Small Animal Medicine404
*VCA 3170 Small Animal Surgery404
VCA 3130 Clinical Skills V020
VHM 3220 Food Animal Health and Disease505
VHM 3230 Equine Health and Disease404
VHM 3540 Clinical Skills IV031
VHM 3630 Professional Foundations III101
 19520

Semester 6

 Weekly contact (hours) 
Core CourseLectureLabCredit
VCA 3130 Clinical Skills V022
VCA 3140 Professional Foundations IV010.5
 032.5

For a listing of elective third-year DVM courses, please refer to the UPEI Academic Calendar.

Fourth Year

The fourth year of the DVM program consists of at least 41 semester-hours of credit comprising:

  • a two semester-hour didactic course (VHM 4110)
  • 23 semester-hours (23 weeks) of core clinical rotations
  • at least 16 semester-hours (16 weeks) of elective clinical rotations 

For additional details about the fourth-year curriculum, please refer to the UPEI Academic Calendar