Our curriculum offers students the ability to focus on an area of their interest, which is called tracking. Once students have gained a foundational knowledge in core material during the first two years, they are able to build on this through advanced courses that are concentrated on their career goals.

What are the "track" choices?

At the end of the first year, students select one of five tracks:

  • Small Animal: This track is focused on the medicine and surgery of canines and felines.
  • Food Animal: This track is focused on the medicine and surgery of food and fiber-producing animals.
  • Equine: This track is focused on the medicine and surgery of horses.
  • Mixed Animal Species: This track is purposefully flexible for students interested the medicine and surgery of a number of different species, including pockets pets and exotics.
  • Public/Corporate: This track prepares students for careers in federal, state, and local governments, private industry, international organizations, and non-profit institutions.

What are the benefits of tracking?

Tracking allows students to study their chosen species in more depth, including the opportunity for more sophisticated, hands-on laboratory experiences. As a result, students gain additional confidence and employability skills. In addition to courses specified for each track, students have the ability to choose from a wide variety of elective courses covering a range of traditional and less-traditional topics in veterinary medicine.

If scheduling can be accomplished, a track course for one student can usually, but not always, be taken as an elective course by another student in another track.  

Will the tracking curriculum prepare me for licensing exams?

Regardless of track, the curriculum is designed to enable a new graduate to have at least entry-level competency in all the major species. There is sufficient core material — more than 70 percent of the curriculum is core for all students — to have the necessary knowledge to pass the national licensing examination and, where appropriate, state licensing exams (not all states have an examination as part of licensure).

Will tracking limit my career options? What if I choose the "wrong" track?

A student's decision to choose a career different from the selected track has not presented obstacles. Each year, new graduates obtain positions in species different from their track without reported problems. In addition, students are frequently selected for post-graduate study, such as internships, in species different from their track.

Questions?