Program Information

The University of Guelph offers the degree program Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) at the Ontario Veterinary College. The program is offered during the Fall and Winter semesters only and normally requires 8 semesters to complete. The college is accredited by the Canadian and American Veterinary Medical Associations and by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons of Britain. The D.V.M. degree from Guelph is respected by veterinarians throughout the world.

Students entering the D.V.M. Program prior to Fall 2000 should refer to the undergraduate calendar for their year of program entry for appropriate course listings.

Objectives of the Program

1. The graduates should have the knowledge and skills appropriate to their career orientations and sufficient to allow the pursuit of a variety of careers in veterinary medicine, including graduate studies. They should be able to pass the examinations of all Canadian licensing bodies and must possess a fundamental core of academic veterinary science knowledge and of technical competence.

2. The graduates must be able to solve animal health problems and must have knowledge of the management of domestic animals and the functioning of the various animal industries.

3. The graduates must be able to communicate effectively, whether writing scientific papers, or conversing with clients. The ability to relate to people is an acquired skill that must be encouraged during the program of study.

4. Through a commitment to continuing education, the graduates must accept the professional responsibility to stay abreast of new developments and to pursue solutions to new problems.

5. The graduates must have a genuine concern for the welfare of all animals. The graduates should be aware of their responsibilities to the profession in terms of ethical and professional conduct and have an understanding of the moral questions facing veterinarians.

6. The graduates must have had the opportunity during their university tenure to develop a range of non-veterinary interests sufficient to equip them to take a responsible role in society.

Regulations for Licence to Practise

Graduates are eligible to practise in Canada, but the degree in veterinary medicine does not in itself confer the right to practise. For information on matters relative to licence to practise in the various provinces of Canada, students should communicate with the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, 339 Booth Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1R 7K1, who will refer them to the appropriate provincial veterinary association.

Admission to the Veterinary Medicine Program

Complete details on admission requirements and procedures are listed in Section IV--Admission Information.

Academic Counselling

The Office of the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs provides academic counselling and referral to other appropriate resources for all D.V.M. students. In particular, students who are requesting a Supplemental Privilege are required to meet with the Assistant Dean so that the student can be informed of appropriate resources (such as Learning and Writing Services and the Counselling and Student Resource Centre) and use them to deal with his or her academic difficulties. Students on probation are required to meet regularly with the Assistant Dean so that the student's academic progress is monitored and resource information and assistance is provided to the student. As an aid to improving their academic efficiency all students whose program average (PA) is between 60% and 70% will be sent a letter from the Assistant Dean outlining resources available to them.

Conditions for Continuation of Study

For supplemental and deferred privileges, all students in the D.V.M. Program are subject to Deferred Privilege Procedures and Supplemental Privilege Procedures outlined in Chapter VIII--Undergraduate Degree Regulations and Procedures.

This Continuation of Study Policy applies to students entering the D.V.M. Program in Fall 2000 and subsequent semesters. For continuation of study, a student must satisfy the conditions as presented below. In order to graduate, students must fulfill the course requirements for the program and have acheived at least a 60% program average. The Academic Review Sub-Committee will assess all cases where a student's academic progress does not meet the Continuation of Study requirements and will interpret the academic regulations. The requirements will be applied with due consideration to the credit weights of the course, the role of the course in the Phase and the degree of integration of the course with concurrently required courses, and in light of the student's particular circumstances (see VIII--Undergraduate Degree Regulations and Procedures).

Students entering the D.V.M. Program prior to Fall 2000 should consult the Undergraduate Program for the year in which they entered the Program.

Full-time Study

The D.V.M. program is offered as a full-time program and normally requires four phases (over the equivalent of eight academic semesters at the University of Guelph) to complete. In exceptional extenuating circumstances, the Academic Review Sub-Committee may allow a student to take courses on a part-time basis. In these instances, the Academic Review Sub-Committee has the discretion to select the courses that the student will register in on a part-time basis. Students permitted to take courses on a part-time basis are cautioned that there is an enrolment limitation for the program and that access to certain courses or resumption of the program on a full-time basis will be conditional on the availability of space.

Failed Courses

1. Continuation of study from one phase of the D.V.M. Program to the next is dependent on the successful completion of all courses, or approved equivalents, in the published schedule of studies for the D.V.M. Program.

2. A student who fails one course in a phase may be required to repeat all courses in the entire phase. A list denoting the consequences of failure of any particular course in the D.V.M. Program is available from the Office of the Assistant Dean(s); this information is also available as part of individual course outlines. These consequences are considered prior to determination of continuation of study status based on the Phase or Program Average (see Schedule 4 below).

3. A student will be allowed to fail a particular course only once. Any student who fails the same course twice will be required to withdraw from the D.V.M. Program.

Supplemental Privileges

1. In the circumstances of a failed course, the Academic Review Sub-Committee may, if appropriate and under special circumstances only, allow a student the opportunity to gain credit standing in a failed course by granting a supplemental privilege (see Failed Courses and Supplemental Privilege in Section VIII). Students must request a supplemental privilege by submitting the request to the Academic Review Sub-Committee, and the fee for the privilege, within 7 days of the release of grades for the phase in which the failure occurred. The Academic Review Sub-Committee, upon receiving a request from a student, and after consulting with the instructor and reviewing the student's course performance, will determine whether a supplemental privilege should be granted.

2. Students will be permitted supplemental privileges in a maximum of two courses over the entire D.V.M. Program. A supplemental privilege will not be granted for a second failure in a course. Any student granted a supplemental privilege must meet with the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs who will inform the student of appropriate resources to be used to deal with his/her academic difficulties.

Schedule 4 (D.V.M. Continuation of Study)

Continuation of Study is assessed on the student's D.V.M. Program Average (not the University Cumulative Average) and according to the policy on failures as stated above.

In Phase 2 and beyond, eligibility to continue is also assessed at the end of each phase using the Phase Average (PHA). Courses that are given a grade of Pass or Fail do not impact either the PA or PHA Average because they are not attached to any numerical grade.

Students on Probation at the end of Phase 1 or 2 must clear this probationary status by achieving the required PA average by the end of Phase 2 or 3 respectively. If a student does not achieve the required standing by the end of the probationary period he or she will normally be required to withdraw from the program.

Students finishing Phase 3 on probationary status will not be permitted to proceed to the Externship or into Phase 4. The Academic Review Sub-Committee will establish the appropriate remediation requirements that must be fulfilled in order for the student to obtain the standing of Eligible to Continue. These may include repeating a component of a course, one or more entire courses, an entire Phase, or one or more clinical rotations. The required averages are as follows:

For Course Attempts in Phase I

For Course Attempts in Phase 2 and Beyond

If Eligible to Continue:

If on Probation:

Conditions for Graduation

In order to qualify for graduation from the 8 semester Honours D.V.M. program, the student must have completed successfully the courses approved for the program. Students will not be allowed to graduate while on probation.

Withdrawal from the Program

Students who have voluntarily withdrawn from the D.V.M. program and who wish to return must give notice to the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, O.V.C., of their intention to return by May 1 if they wish to return in September or January of the upcoming academic year. Students contemplating a withdrawal from the program are cautioned that there is an enrolment limitation for the program and that re-entry will be conditional on the availability of space. The Program Committee reserves the right to select the quota from among the qualified applicants.

Protective Clothing

All D.V.M. students will require 3 laboratory coats and 3 pairs of coveralls. Students in semesters 5 and 6 must also have 3 surgical suits. Semesters 7 and 8 students will require an additional 1 of each of the 3 types of protective clothing. Labels with each student's name must be affixed to all items of clothing. All soiled clothing must be laundered through the Veterinary Teaching Hospital's "dirty-in /clean-out" plan. Students must wear steel-capped shoes or boots in the large animal clinic and rubber boots in pathology laboratories. A pair of white shoes and a pair of obstetrical boots must be available in semesters 7 and 8. The Veterinary Teaching Hospital will not provide extra protective clothing; however, short white jackets will be provided by the Veterinary Teaching Hospital for semesters 7 and 8 students during the small animal medicine rotation.

Estimate of Expenses

Attention is drawn to Section VI, Schedule of Fees for information on tuition, University student organizations and rabies immunization required for all students in the program. In addition, while the college supplies most laboratory equipment, students may wish to purchase instruments for personal use. Texts, protective clothing, and a minimum of supplies for personal use may cost approximately $500 per semester.

Health and Safety

Students must follow the health and safety policies required for the various courses in the veterinary program. Pregnant students and others with increased medical risks should consult Health Services concerning potential health risks which may occur during the normal course of their studies.

Immunization against rabies is a requirement for admission and continuation in the D.V.M. Program. Annual rabies titres and booster immunizations (if necessary) are mandatory for all Program participants. Prospective students and in-course students should contact Student Health Services (519-824-4120 extension 2131) for further information and guidance about the rabies surveillance program. Faculty and staff members should contact Occupational Health Services, extension 2133, for information about medical surveillance programs provided in accordance with University Safety Policy 851.13.03.

Schedule of Studies

Phase 1

VETM*3000 [0.50] Veterinary Biochemistry

VETM*3070 [2.00] Veterinary Anatomy

VETM*3080 [1.50] Veterinary Physiology

VETM*3120 [0.75] Veterinary Histology

VETM*3210 [0.50] Art of Veterinary Medicine I

VETM*3390 [0.50] Veterinary Medical Genetics

VETM*3400 [0.75] Health Management I

VETM*3430 [0.25] Clinical Medicine I

Phase 2

VETM*3220 [0.50] Art of Veterinary Medicine II

VETM*3410 [0.75] Health Management II

VETM*3440 [0.50] Clinical Medicine II

VETM*3450 [2.75] Principles of Disease in Veterinary Medicine

VETM*3460 [0.75] Theriogenology

VETM*3470 [0.75] Anaesthesiology

VETM*3480 [0.50] Phase 2: Special Topics

VETM*3510 [0.25] Principles of Surgery

Phase 3

VETM*4220 [0.50] Art of Veterinary Medicine III

VETM*4450 [0.50] Equine Medicine and Surgery

VETM*4460 [1.00] Food Animal Medicine and Surgery

VETM*4470 [1.00] Medicine and Surgery of Dog and Cat

VETM*4480 [0.75] Comparative Medicine

VETM*4490 [1.00] Systems Pathology

VETM*4520 [2.00] Surgical Exercises

VETM*4530 [0.50] Advanced Health Management Modules

VETM*4870 [0.25] Clinical Medicine III

Phase 4

VETM*4830 [2.50] Small Animal Clinics

VETM*4840 [2.50] Large Animal Clinics

VETM*4850 [2.50] Health Management

VETM*4900 [2.50] Veterinary Externship

Admission inquiries: Admission Services ~ ~ ~ General calendar inquiries: U.P.S.
Last revision: October 18, 2001 (Section IX December 01, 2001; format revision November 20, 2001).

© 2001 Office of Registrarial Services, University of Guelph