Basic sciences and clinical medicine are the two most important components of a medical school curriculum. While the basic sciences focus on the theoretical aspects of medicine, clinical medicine helps convert that theory into practical knowledge, laying the foundations on which clinical rotations and the entire DVM program are built.
The DVM program has a well-structured veterinary basic science curriculum that prepares students for all the essential academic knowledge they need. Lasting seven semesters in most medical schools, it focuses on developing the theoretical knowledge of students, while introducing them to clinical skills.
So, why is the basic sciences curriculum considered the most important part of veterinary education? Let’s take a look.
Importance of basic sciences in veterinary medicine
The basic sciences curriculum allows medical students to develop extensive knowledge of various subjects in veterinary medicine. The on-campus lectures and seminars, accompanied by training in clinical skills make the progression to clinical rotations much easier.
The curriculum is designed in such a way that there is a progression in knowledge at each stage of the academic lessons. You start from the basics and move on to cover the difficult and more important subjects such as animal surgery later on.
Another important step in your career to becoming a veterinary doctor is the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) which is taken during the final year of your medical education. This is a licensing examination that veterinary medical students must attend in order to earn their license to practice in the U.S. and Canada.
The basic sciences program in veterinary schools provides you with the adequate training and academic knowledge to ace the test and earn that license. The lectures, mock tests, and one on one help from the professors will make your NAVLE journey easy.
Basic sciences curriculum structure
The basic sciences program lasts for seven semesters and covers all major theoretical concepts in veterinary medicine and introduces you to various clinical skills. Most medical schools follow a standard structure for the basic sciences curriculum.
The topics covered during the seven semesters include veterinary anatomy, histology, pathology, embryology, immunology, parasitology, pharmacology, virology, animal welfare and behavior, anesthesiology, diagnostic imaging, principles of veterinary surgery, clinical nutrition and theriogenology.
The final two semesters of the basic sciences deal with a variety of animal medicine and surgery categories and could include the likes of small and large animal medicine and surgery, exotic companion animal medicine and zoo or wildlife medicine.
The clinical skills that you develop during the basic sciences program will help you as you progress through your veterinary studies. These can include visits to farms and healthcare facilities, allowing you to interact with pet owners and become accustomed to treating various animals.
The basic sciences program in medical school is a significant step in your career due to the foundations it lays in important medical concepts. If you are interested in a career in veterinary medicine, enroll in a DVM program now.