Graduation Requirements

Students in the DVM program must take 4 pre-clinical elective credits and 5 clinical elective credits as part of the certificate requirements. Students may take the remaining 6 credits required for the program in either pre-clinical or clinical elective credits.

Core (mandatory) courses (9 credits) provide comprehensive foundational knowledge and skills, which are required for all SMVC students. Students may select the additional coursework (6 credits) to align with their specific areas of interest in shelter medicine. The elective clinical coursework includes a required (2 credit) externship at a shelter approved by the SMVC faculty committee. This externship must focus on shelter medicine, population management and/or forensics, not on surgery. The time that the student spends on surgery during this externship must be 20% or below. Students must also have completed the Fear Free® Shelter Program during their time at K-State.

Documented proficiency of core clinical skills during DVM coursework (minimum grade 3.0: expected proficiency) for any clinical courses counting towards SMVC.

Mandatory Courses (4 credits pre-clinical and 5 credits clinical)

• VCS 891 - CS Veterinary Medicine Elective Credits: .5-3 Section A
• VCS 891 - CS Veterinary Medicine Elective Credits: 0.5-3 Section C
• VCS 892 - CS Veterinary Medicine Elective Cr/NC Credits: .5-3 Section G
• VAP 891 - A&P Veterinary Medicine Elective Graded Credits: .5-3 Section B
• VCS 937 - Shelter Medicine Credits: 2
• VCS 946 - Shelter Operations Consultation Credits: 1
• VCS 901 - Clinical Externship and/or Programmed Study Credits: 0-6

Optional Courses (must take at least 6 credits from the list below)

• VCS 891 - CS Veterinary Medicine Elective Credits: .5-3 Section T
• VCS 892 - CS Veterinary Medicine Elective Cr/NC Credits: .5-3 Section B
• VCS 891 - CS Veterinary Medicine Elective Credits: 0.5-3 Section K
• VCS 945 - Supplemental Dentistry for Small Animals Credits: 1
• VCS 942 - Advanced Surgical Experience Credits: 2
• VCS 901 - Clinical Externship and/or Programmed Study Credits: 0-6