Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Published on Programs and Courses (http://www.upei.ca/programsandcourses) A tightly-knit and supportive learning community. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine DVM Program The DVM program at the Atlantic Veterinary College is fully accredited by the Canadian and American Veterinary Medical Associations, and is recognized by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Our highly sought after graduates are eligible for licensure in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. They consistently achieve high success rates in licensing examinations and have excellent employment opportunities worldwide. “The AVC is committed to producing graduates with the knowledge, skills, aptitudes, and attitudes to become proficient entry-level veterinarians in multi-species clinical practice, with the flexibility to pursue a variety of focused opportunities in clinical practice or other career tracks available to the veterinary profession.” The DVM curriculum is four years in duration consisting of three preclinical years followed by one clinical year. It combines a broad based, multispecies core with elective opportunities that allow students to shape their own career paths in Years 3 and 4. All Year 1 courses are required and include instruction in the basic science disciplines with a focus on normal form and function with opportunities for integrated problem-based learning. Coursework in animal behaviour, welfare and production systems, as well as epidemiology and critical reasoning is Page 1 of 28 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Published on Programs and Courses (http://www.upei.ca/programsandcourses) included. Basic clinical skills including animal restraint and handling are also introduced with opportunities to interact with faculty, staff and senior students in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Year 1 also includes a course in fundamental research principles, and expanded opportunities to explore concepts related to professional identity and develop skills such as reflective practice, self-awareness, communication, cultural competence, resilience, and well-being. All Year 2 courses are required and include instruction in disease processes and agents as well as public health and evidence-based medicine. Course work in clinical disciplines such as medicine, surgery, anesthesia, diagnostic imaging, theriogenology, and primary care practice is introduced as well as training in related clinical skills. In addition, a course that builds on Year 1 content in the Professional Foundations strand offers opportunities related to ethics and moral reasoning, professional values, leadership, and clinical communication skills. Year 3 transitions to a core-elective structure for both large and small animal disciplines with the majority of core coursework occurring in semester one and the majority of elective courses offered in semester two in a series of five week modules. Year 3 core courses address fundamental knowledge and skills in large and small animals, including decision-making for both well and sick animals. Year 3 electives are designed to give students added flexibility and allow them opportunities to focus on a particular species or career interest beyond the core curriculum. In Year 4 students are required to participate in at least 39 weeks of clinical rotations and a 2-credit seminar-based course entitled Clinical Conference. Clinical rotations offer students the opportunity to apply their veterinary medical and professional knowledge and skills under the mentorship of experienced faculty members. Each rotation ranges in duration from one to three weeks and one week of rotation equates to one academic credit. Students are required to take a common core of eight three week rotations including Anesthesiology, Radiology, Companion Animal Medicine, Companion Animal Surgery, Community Practice, Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, Large Animal Health Management, and Diagnostic Services. Beyond this core, students must take an additional three weeks of more specialized internal electives, while the remaining twelve weeks of electives may be any combination of internal or approved external rotations. Associate Dean, Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Leigh Lamont Academic Requirements ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS—DVM REGULATIONS Course Load and Course Prerequisites Except in rare circumstances, each student will take a full course load each year. Students must pass prerequisite courses prior to enrolling in courses which require a listed prerequisite. Materials in Exams No materials of any kind, other than pencils and pens, may be brought into an examination room without explicit permission of the course coordinator. Pass-Fail Option The pass-fail option for courses (Academic Regulation 10c) will apply in the DVM Program only in certain specified courses at the recommendation of the course coordinator and upon approval of the AVC Curriculum Committee and AVC Dean’s Council. Grading in Year 4 Page 2 of 28 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Published on Programs and Courses (http://www.upei.ca/programsandcourses) Internal and external courses (rotations) in year 4 are graded according to the following 3 point scale: 1. Passing Performance - achieves entry-level competency. 2. Marginal Performance - approaches entry-level competency. 3. Failing Performance - does not achieve entry-level competency. Challenge for Credit by Examination Challenge for credit by examination is normally not permitted in the DVM Program. Students who are able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the relevant chair that they have previously taken an equivalent course at the Atlantic Veterinary College, may challenge for credit by examination as outlined in Academic Regulation 15. [1] Advancement and Probation Years 1 - 3 In Years 1 – 3, student success is measured by both course grades and semester weighted averages. In order to advance to the next semester a student must: 1. achieve a grade of at least 50% in all courses taken for credit, regardless of the total number of credits taken. In any multicomponent course a passing grade will be assigned only if each component identified by the course coordinator (e.g., laboratory and didactic sections) has been successfully completed. 2. achieve a weighted average of at least 65%. However, a student with a weighted average of at least 55% but under 65% in first semester of year 1, and at least 60% but under 65% in all other semesters, will be placed on academic probation and allowed to advance. NOTE: Weighted averages are not rounded up. The following criteria will apply to a student on academic probation: a. the student will be permitted only one probationary period (up to a maximum duration of 2 semesters) in the DVM program. b. failure to achieve a weighted average of at least 65% by the end of the probationary period will result in academic dismissal. c. return to a weighted average of under 65% after coming off probation will result in academic dismissal. d. except with permission of the Dean, or designate, a student cannot advance to year 4 without a weighted average of at least 65%. Year 4 In Year 4 student success is measured by both clinical rotation grades and programmatic outcomes tracked across rotations. 1. Regarding clinical rotation grades: a. A student must achieve a “Passing Performance” in all rotations taken for credit regardless of the total number of credits taken. A student with a “Marginal Performance” in one 3 week rotation, or in multiple rotations equaling 3 weeks, will receive written notification of the academic regulations pertaining to “Marginal Performance” but will be allowed to advance. b. A student with a “Marginal Performance” in a second 3 week rotation, or in multiple rotations equaling 6 weeks, must develop and execute a remediation plan to address noted deficiencies. Once the plan is approved by the Associate Dean Academic and Student Affairs, the student will be allowed to advance. Page 3 of 28 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Published on Programs and Courses (http://www.upei.ca/programsandcourses) c. A student with a “Marginal Performance” in a third 3 week rotation, or in multiple rotations equaling 9 weeks, will be academically dismissed from the program. d. A student with a “Failing Performance” in a rotation will be required to successfully repeat the failed rotation or complete an equivalent alternative experience (approved by the course coordinator of the failed rotation and Associate Dean Academic and Student Affairs). The performance assessment attained in the repeated rotation will be recorded on the student’s transcript. A students who is unsuccessful when repeating the rotation will be academically dismissed from the program. e. A student with a “Failing Performance” in a second rotation, after successfully repeating a first failed rotation, will be academically dismissed from the program. 2. Regarding programmatic outcomes: a. A student must consistently attain ratings of “Competent” or better for all criteria on the Evaluation of Student Performance in all rotations taken for credit regardless of the total number of credits taken. A student with a rating of “Marginal” on a single criterion, despite receiving an overall grade of “Passing Performance”, will be allowed to advance. b. A student with a rating of “Marginal” on the same criterion on two different rotations, despite receiving an overall grade of “Passing Performance,” will receive written notification of the academic regulations pertaining to “Marginal” ratings but will be allowed to advance. c. A student with a rating of “Marginal” on the same criterion on a third rotation, despite receiving an overall grade of “Passing Performance,” must develop and execute a remediation plan to address deficiencies on future rotations or undergo reassessment of the deficient criterion. The decision regarding whether a student may remediate the criterion on a future rotation or be required to undergo reassessment will be made collaboratively by the course coordinators of the eight core rotations and the Associate Dean Academic and Student Affairs. Reassessment of the deficient criterion may involve written and/or oral presentation of clinical cases, demonstration of specific clinical skills, or a combination of multiple formats. The reassessment activity/assignment will be designed, administered and evaluated by an independent faculty member. The student must achieve a rating of at least “Competent” on the reassessment activity/assignment in order to be considered to have achieved the criterion in question. d. A student achieving a rating of “Marginal” after reassessment of a deficient criterion will be provided with further time and mentoring and will be reassessed a second and, if necessary, a third time. A student who fails to achieve a rating of “Competent” on a particular criterion after three reassessment activities/assignments will be academically dismissed from the program. e. A student with a rating of “Marginal” on the same criterion on a fourth rotation, despite receiving an overall grade of “Passing Performance,” and after undergoing the remediation process outlined in c. above, will be academically dismissed from the program. Academic Dismissal 1. The following will result in academic dismissal: a. failure to achieve a grade of 50% in any course taken for credit. b. failure to achieve a weighted average of: (i) at least 55% in semester 1 of year 1, and (ii) at least 60% in any semester (other than semester 1 of year 1) in years 1-3. c. failure to achieve a weighted average of at least 65% by the end of a probationary period in year 1-3 Page 4 of 28 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Published on Programs and Courses (http://www.upei.ca/programsandcourses) or return to a weighted average of under 65% after coming off probation in years 1-3. d. “Failing Performance” in a single rotation that is not successfully repeated in year 4. e. “Failing Performance” in a second rotation after successfully repeating a first failed rotation in year 4. f. receive 9 or more rotation credit hours of a “Marginal Performance” in year 4. NOTE: Weighted averages are not rounded up. g. receive a “Marginal” rating after three reassessment activities for the same Evaluation of Student Performance criterion in year 4. h. receive a “Marginal” rating for the same Evaluation of Student Performance criterion on a fourth rotation after successfully remediating that criterion in year 4. Petition for Readmission 1. Dismissed students may petition the Dean for readmission to the program. Dismissed students who are successful in their petition for readmission in years 1-3 will normally be required to: a. repeat all courses in the semester in question if dismissed for failing one or more courses. b. repeat all courses in the academic year in question if dismissed for failing to attain a weighted average of at least 60% in years 1-3. c. re-enter the program at the beginning of the academic year in which they were first placed on probation if dismissed for failing to achieve the required weighted average of at least 65% at the end of a two semester probationary period. 2. Dismissed students who are successful in their petition for readmission in year 4 will normally be required to repeat year 4. SUPPLEMENTAL EXAMINATION A supplemental examination provides an opportunity for a student who failed a course to be re- examined in that course. With the exclusion of certain specified courses (see list below), a student who fails a course in years 1-3 of the DVM program will be granted a supplemental examination if the following criteria are met: a. a student will be granted only two (2) supplemental examinations in the DVM program. b. to be eligible for a supplemental examination the overall course grade, including performance in the final examination, must be at least 40%. c. the maximum grade attainable in a course or course component (as specified by the course coordinator) in which a supplemental examination is written shall be 50%. d. if the maximum grade of 50%, attainable in a course in which a supplemental examination is written, contributes to a weighted average that will allow the student to remain in the program. The scope of the supplemental examination is at the discretion of the course coordinator and will be communicated to the student in advance. In order to pass the supplemental examination, the student must achieve a grade of at least 60% in that exam. A student who fails a course in semester 1, and is granted a supplemental examination, will normally be required to write the examination before being permitted to continue with courses in semester 2 of the DVM program. A student who fails a course in semester 2 of the DVM program, and is granted a supplemental examination, will normally be expected to write the examination no later than the end of the third week of May. Page 5 of 28 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Published on Programs and Courses (http://www.upei.ca/programsandcourses) Supplemental examinations are not offered in the following courses: a. Clinical rotations in Year 4. b. VHM 124 Clinical Orientation I, VHM 251 Clinical Orientation II, VCA 340 Surgical Exercises in Companion Animals, VHM 324 Clinical Techniques in Large Animals, VHM 337 Advanced Equine Theriogenology Techniques, VHM 338 Advanced Bovine Theriogenology Techniques, VHM 343 Advanced Equine Medicine Techniques, VHM 346 Techniques in Advanced Food Animal Anaesthesia and Surgery, VHM 348 Techniques in Equine Surgery and Anaesthesia, VHM 351 Techniques in the Evaluation of Equine Musculoskeletal diseases, and VHM 353 Techniques in Integrative Medicine. ATTENDANCE POLICY Lectures and Laboratories Student attendance at didactic lectures and laboratories is strongly encouraged but not mandated. Individual course coordinators may choose to make attendance mandatory for a particular course or course component, and points may be assigned based on attendance. If attendance at didactic lectures or laboratories is required for an individual course, it must be specified in the course outline. Submission of a “Pre-Clinical Absence Request” form is not required for missed lectures or laboratories, unless mandated by a particular course coordinator. Assessments 1. Student attendance at scheduled quizzes, in-class or in-lab graded learning experiences, and midterm and final examinations is required. Permission to make-up missed work involving any of these will be granted for excused absences only. Excused absences may be planned or unplanned. In the event of an excused absence, the instructor may provide a make-up assignment or examination that is different from the one given during regularly scheduled class time. 2. Unplanned absences are due to unavoidable, unpredictable circumstances and include illness, family emergency, or death in the family. The student should follow the procedure below for requesting an excused absence. The student is responsible for communicating with the course coordinator(s) to make arrangements for making up missed work. In emergency situations, the Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs may be contacted to assist with these arrangements. a. If the student is able, he/she should complete a “Pre-Clinical Absence Request” form before the day of missed work and submit it to the Office of Academic and Student Affairs. If this is not possible, the student should contact the Office by phone at (902) 894-2827, or email ([email protected] [2]) as soon as possible. The Office will contact the necessary course coordinator(s) to notify them of the student’s absence. In the case of illness, a doctor’s certificate may also be required at the discretion of the Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs. 3. Planned absences may be excused when they are for legitimate reasons and when the appropriate procedure for requesting permission has been followed. Legitimate reasons for planned absences include attendance at a scientific meeting where the student is making a scholarly presentation, receiving an award, or representing the AVC in an officially approved capacity; or in observance of a religious holiday. The student should follow the procedure below for requesting an excused absence. If a planned absence is excused, the student is responsible for communicating with the course coordinator(s) to make arrangements for making up missed work. a. Adequate documentation detailing the reason for the absence must be provided and a “Pre-Clinical Absence Request” form must be submitted to the Office of Academic and Student Affairs within the first three weeks of the semester and at least four weeks prior to the planned absence. Students will be notified of the decision regarding their request by the Office of the Academic and Student Affairs. Students should not schedule travel without prior approval and incurred travel expenses do not in themselves warrant an excused absence . Page 6 of 28 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Published on Programs and Courses (http://www.upei.ca/programsandcourses) 4. Absences not falling into one of the above categories will be considered on a case-by-case basis according to their merit. Students should follow the procedure outlined above for requesting an excused absence. If the absence is excused, the student is responsible for communicating with the course coordinator(s) to make arrangements for making up missed work. Consequences of Unexcused Absences 1. In the event that a quiz, in-class or in-lab graded assignment, or midterm examination is missed and the absence was unexcused, the student will be assigned a grade of zero for the missed work. In the case of multiple absences, the student may be withdrawn from the course and assigned a grade of F. 2. In the case of missed final examinations academic regulations 13b (Special Examinations and Missed Final Examinations), and 10e (Incomplete Courses) in the UPEI calendar apply. Clinical Rotations 1. Attendance in clinical rotations is mandatory. In total, eight personal days are allowed during the fourth year. Examples of personal days include, but are not limited to, job interviews, personal or family illness, attendance at scientific meetings, etc. 2. All absences must be excused by the rotation coordinator and duty clinician. 3. In all cases of missed rotation days, students must complete a “Clinical Rotation Absence Request” form and have it signed by the rotation coordinator and, if applicable, the duty clinician. A copy of the form will be forwarded by the rotation coordinator to the Office of Academic and Student Affairs so that a central record of absences can be kept. 4. Make-up of missed clinical experiences is normally not required for absences of up to 15% of the rotation duration. The Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs will notify rotation coordinators of total absences in excess of eight personal days and coordinate make-up of missed clinical experiences. For the complete admission and application requirements, including how to determine your province of residence, please visit the Admission Requirements page using the link on the right of this page. Course Structure First Year Semester 1 Weekly Contact Course Lecture Lab Credit VBS 1010 Macroscopic 2 5 4 Anatomy I VBS 1110 Microscopic 1 2 2 Anatomy I VBS 1030 Animal 2 0 2 Behaviour and Welfare VBS 1040 Principles of 1 0 1 Veterinary Research VBS 1050 Professional 1 2 2 Foundations I Page 7 of 28 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Published on Programs and Courses (http://www.upei.ca/programsandcourses) VBS 1210 Physiology I 2 0 2 VBS 1410 Integration of 0 5 2 Structure and Function I VHM 1110 Animal 2 1 2 Production Systems VPM 1110 Veterinary 2 1 2 Immunology 13 16 19 Semester 2 Weekly Contact Course Lecture Lab Credit VBS 1020 Macroscopic 2 5 4 Anatomy II VBS 1120 Microscopic 1.4 1.7 3 Anatomy II VBS 1220 Physiology II 2 0 2 VBS 1420 Integration of 0 3 1 Structure and Function II VHM 1120 Principles of 2 1 2 Veterinary Epidemiology VHM 1130 Clinical Skills I 0 3 1 VPM 1220 Parasitology 2 2 3 VPM 1520 General 2 2 3 Pathology 11.4 17.7 19 Second Year Semester 3 Weekly Contact Course Lecture Lab Credit VBS 2130 Veterinary 3 1 3 Pharmacology I VCA 2520 Diagnostic 1 1 1 Imaging I VHM 2310 Veterinary 2 0 2 Public Health VHM 2410 Evidence- 1 1 1 based Veterinary Medicine VHM 2510 Clinical Skills 1 2 1 II VPM 2010 Bacteriology 3 2 4 and Mycology VPM 2110 Virology 2 2 3 VPM 2210 Systemic 2 2 3 Pathology I VPM 2020 Professional 1 2 2 Page 8 of 28 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Published on Programs and Courses (http://www.upei.ca/programsandcourses) Foundations II 16 13 20 Semester 4 Weekly Contact Course Lecture Lab Credit VBS 2140 Veterinary 1 1 1 Pharmacology II VBS 2150 Veterinary 2 1 2 Toxicology VCA 2140 Diagnostic 1 1 1 Imaging II VCA 2120 Principles of 2 0 2 Medicine VCA 2310 Principles of 1.5 0 1.5 Surgery VCA 2410 Principles of 1.5 0 1.5 Anesthesiology VCA 2150 Small Animal 2 0 2 Primary Care Practice I VCA 2130 Clinical Skills 0 4 1 III VHM 2220 Principles of 1 0 1 Theriogenology VPM 2220 Systemic 2 2 3 Pathology II VPM 2420 Clinical 2 2 3 Pathology VPM 2620 Aquaculture 1 0 1 and Fish Health 17 11 20 THE 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. Third Year Semester 5 Weekly Contact Course Lecture Lab Credit VCA 3160 Small Animal 1 0 1 Primary Care Practice II VCA 3150 Small Animal 4 0 4 Medicine VCA 3170 Small Animal 4 0 4 Surgery VCA 3130 Clinical Skills V 0 2 0 VHM 3220 Food Animal 5 0 5 Page 9 of 28 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Published on Programs and Courses (http://www.upei.ca/programsandcourses) Health and Disease VHM 3230 Equine Health 4 0 4 and Disease VHM 3540 Clinical Skills 0 3 1 IV VHM 3630 Professional M 0 1 Foundations 18 5 20 Elective(s) VCA 3240 Advanced 1 0 1 Small Animal Anesthesiology VCA 3510 Introduction to 1 0 1 Exotic Pet Medicine VHM 3520 Principles of 1 0 1 Integrative Medicine Semester 6 Weekly Contact Course Lecture Lab Credit VCA 3130 Clinical Skills V 0 2 2 VCA 3140 Professional 0 1 0.5 Foundations IV 0 3 2.5 Elective (s) VBS 3110 Comparative M 0 1.5 Medicine VCA 3230 Advanced M 0 1 Large Animal Anesthesiology VHM 3250 Production M 0.5 and Infectious Diseases of Food Animals VHM 3260 Bovine Herd M 0.5 Management and Nutrition VHM 3270 Advanced M 1.0 Bovine Mastitis and Quality Milk Production VHM 3280 Current Issues M 0.5 in Bovine Lameness, Welfare and Cow Comfort VHM 3290 Topics in M 0.5 Poultry and Swine VHM 3330 Topics in 1.0 Page 10 of 28