Phase I Curriculum

The LSU Vet Med curriculum is divided into Phase I and Phase II. The Phase I didactic curriculum described below takes place during Year I, Year II and the Fall Semester of Year III. Phase II clinical training begins in the Spring Semester of Year III and consists of rotations in our Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Year 1 Fall (16 credits)

VM 5161 Form and Function 1	4 credits Duration: First half of semester Instruction: Lecture and Lab Covers the entire musculoskeletal system, peripheral nerves, and blood vessels of appendages by synthesizing material from cell biology, microanatomy, physiology, embryology, and gross anatomy. Students will understand the hierarchical organization (cells, tissues, organs, organ systems) of the whole, normal-functioning organism, primarily using the domestic canine as a model specimen with supplementary feline info.
VM 5162 Form and Function 2	3.5 credits Duration: Second half of semester Instruction: Lecture and lab Covers the cavities and spaces of the body and the organ systems within as well as the head and organ systems within by synthesizing material from cell biology, microanatomy, physiology, embryology, and gross anatomy. Students will understand the hierarchical organization (cells, tissues, organs, organ systems) of the whole, normal-functioning organism, primarily using the domestic canine as a model specimen with supplementary feline info.
VM 5010 Special Topics in Veterinary Medicine	2 credits Duration: 2 weeks mid-semester Instruction: Clinical/Experiential Students may have the opportunity to perform procedures including animal restraint, client communication, physical examination and basic medical procedures, as appropriate to their level of training. Students will become familiar with VTH or clinic procedures and records. Students may be instructed by near-peers (clinical students) in the VTH or other clinical staff or faculty (VTH or extramural placements). OR Students will focus on a combination of volunteerism, advocating for animal welfare, providing care to animals of the community, and presenting educational content to the community about veterinary medicine and pet care.
VM 5150 Clinical Skills 1	1 credit Duration: Semester Instruction: Lab A mastery course that uses instructional videos, models, mannequins, simulators, and other teaching methods to enable students to learn and practice technical and non-technical skills related to correct handling and physical exam of different species and to become familiar with common veterinary equipment and procedures.
VM 5141 Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine 1	2.5 credits Duration: Semester Instruction: Lecture Develops clinical reasoning, problem oriented approaches, and seeking and filtering information. This course also covers team building and statistics/epidemiology.
VM 5181 Veterinary Professional Development 1	2 credits Duration: Semester Instruction: Lecture and lab Involves a combination of didactic instruction, small group learning, quizzes, and interactive laboratory sessions to enable students to develop their professional skills and identity as veterinarians. This course encompasses wellbeing, communication, finance, and career options. Students are also taught the role of the IACUC committee and lab animal use. This course encompasses wellbeing, communication, opportunity and engagement, finance, and career options.
VM 5175 Fundamentals of Diagnostics and Surgery 1	1 credit Duration: Semester Instruction: Lecture Introduces students to the principles of radiographic image formation and interpretation, clinical pathology, and principles of surgery. The basic physics of radiographic image formation as it applies to radiation safety, radiographic interpretation, radiographic misinterpretation, quality control, artifacts, and correction of nondiagnostic images will be emphasized. Surgical principles will include asepsis, sterilization, and instrument identification.

Note: Course sessions for VM 5172 Clinical Immunology and VM 5001 Problem-based Learning 1 take place in both the Fall and Spring term; however, credit and grades are only applied to the Spring term.

Year 1 Spring (21.5 credits)

VM 5163 Form and Function 3	3.5 credits Duration: First half of semester Instruction: Lecture and lab A systems and comparative approach to building a knowledge base in how organ systems normally work for most species, and to explore normal clinically relevant microanatomy, physiology, and gross anatomy, demonstrating an application of that knowledge in various large animal, avian, and alternative species. It will cover the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system using bovine, equine, and poultry model specimens for gross anatomy and cover clinically relevant comparative content in small mammals, porcine, and alternative species.
VM 5164 Form and Function 4	5.5 credits Duration: Second half of semester Instruction: Lecture and lab A systems and comparative approach to building a knowledge base in how organ systems normally work for most species, and to explore normal clinically relevant microanatomy, physiology, and gross anatomy, demonstrating an application of that knowledge in various large animal, avian, and alternative species. We will take a systems approach to cover cardiorespiratory, gastrointestinal (and accessory organs), genitourinary topics.
VM 5010 Special Topics in Veterinary Medicine	2 credits Duration: 2 weeks mid-semester Instruction: Clinical/Experiential Students may have the opportunity to perform procedures including animal restraint, client communication, physical examination and basic medical procedures, as appropriate to their level of training. Students will become familiar with VTH or clinic procedures and records. Students may be instructed by near-peers (clinical students) in the VTH or other clinical staff or faculty (VTH or extramural placements). OR Students will focus on a combination of volunteerism, advocating for animal welfare, providing care to animals of the community, and presenting educational content to the community about veterinary medicine and pet care.
VM 5151 Clinical Skills 2	1 credits Duration: Semester Instruction: Laboratory Mastery course that uses instructional videos, models, mannequins, simulators, and other teaching methods to enable first-year veterinary medicine students to learn and practice technical and non-technical skills related to correct handling and physical exam of different species, and familiarity with common veterinary equipment and procedures.
VM 5142 Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine 2	3 credits Duration: Semester Instruction: Lecture Focuses on the development of clinical reasoning skills in a problem-oriented approach manner. Course content is aligned with knowledge taught in the form and function courses. The goal is for students to begin to utilize clinical application of knowledge.
VM 5182 Veterinary Professional Development 2	1.5 credits Duration: Semester Instruction: Lecture and Lab Involves a combination of didactic instruction, small group learning, and interactive laboratory sessions to enable first year students to develop their professional skills and identity as veterinarians. This course encompasses wellbeing, communication, finance, and career options. Students are also taught workplace regulations, hazards, and radiation standards.
VM 5176 Fundamentals of Diagnostics and Surgery 2	1 credits Duration: Semester Instruction: Lecture Introduction to large animals radiology, clinical chemistry, and basic surgical principles
VM 5172 Clinical Immunology	2 credits Duration: Semester Instruction: Lecture Designed to provide the student with a fundamental knowledge of basic immunology and principles of host defense and vaccination strategies and protocols across species.
VM 5001 Problem Based Learning 1	2 credits Duration: 2 days per semester Instruction: Small Group Case-based learning Designed as small group learning sessions using clinical veterinary cases, with emphasis on the problem-oriented approach to veterinary problem solving. Students will utilize excellent communication skills and work as a team to solve clinical problems. Students will also gain knowledge of finding appropriate scientific resources and materials and evaluate those references using evidence based medicine.

Note: Course sessions for VM 5172 Clinical Immunology and VM 5001 Problem-based Learning 1 take place in both the Fall and Spring term; however, credit and grades are only applied to the Spring term.

Year 2 Fall (22 credits)

VM 5223 Veterinary Pharmacology	1.5 credits Duration: Partial semester, 24 contact hours Instruction: Lecture Provides foundational principles of pharmacology including drug disposition, metabolism, elimination, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics. This course also provides information regarding the mechanism of actions, therapeutic usages and key adverse effects of major classes of drugs used in veterinary medicine including antimicrobials, anti-virals, anti-parasitics, autonomics, glucocorticoids, NSAIDs, and diuretics.
VM5248 Diseases of the Nervous System	2.5 credits Duration: Semester, 37 contact hours Instruction: Lecture Pathophysiology and diagnosis of diseases of the nervous system in domestic animals.
VM 5256 Respiratory Diseases	2 credits Duration: Partial semester, 32 contact hours Instruction: Lecture Designed to introduce common respiratory conditions in domestic animals. The pathophysiology of these conditions will be presented to provide a complete understanding of disease processes. Additionally, the methodology for developing a diagnostic plan using information gained from clinical presentation, examination, radiographic assessment, endoscopy, and other diagnostic tools will be covered. The course emphasizes the clinical application of knowledge for cases that are commonly encountered in veterinary practice. Discussion will include which diagnostics can be performed in general practice, as well as what referral diagnostic options may be considered.
VM 5261 Diseases of the Cardiovascular System	1.5 credits Duration: Partial semester, 24 contact hours Instruction: Lecture Provides students with the knowledge of diagnostic tools to recognize cardiac diseases. It requires an understanding of the anatomy and the physiologic principles that govern the cardiovascular system.
VM 5268 Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System	2.5 credits Duration: Semester, 44 contact hours Instruction: Lecture Emphasizes clinical application of knowledge for cases, which may be expected in common veterinary practice. Students will gain an understanding of the pathophysiology and diagnosis of diseases of the cardiovascular system of domestic animals.
VM 5275 Foundations: Husbandry, Disease, and Diagnosis	5 credits Duration: Semester, 83 contact hours Instruction: Lecture Provides fundamental information on herd husbandry and life stage nutrition, general pathology, clinical approach to wound healing, principles of toxicology, and infectious disease (bacteriology, parasitology, virology). This course serves to scaffold knowledge for management in husbandry and diagnosis in pathology and toxicology in the subsequent systems-based courses.
VM 5010 Special Topics in Veterinary Medicine	2 credits Duration: 2 weeks mid-semester Instruction: Clinical/Experiential Students will perform procedures including animal restraint, client communication, physical examination and basic medical procedures, as appropriate to their level of training. Students will become familiar with VTH or clinic procedures and records. Students may be instructed by near-peers (clinical students) in the VTH or other clinical staff or faculty (VTH or extramural placements).
VM 5250 Clinical Skills 3	1 credit Duration: Semester, 29 contact hours Instruction: Lab The Clinical Skills 3 course is a mastery course that uses instructional videos, models, mannequins, simulators, and other teaching methods to enable second-year veterinary medicine students to learn and practice technical and non-technical skills. This course builds on Clinical Skills 1-2.
Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine 3	3 credits Duration: Semester, 50 contact hours Instruction: Lecture Designed to introduce students to interpretation of diagnostic tests. Emphasis is placed on clinical pathology and radiology as they are critical to diagnosis and screening of animals for disease. Clinical pathology incorporates antemortem diagnostic tests in hematology (e.g., CBC, Coagulation), clinical chemistry (e.g., biochemistry panels, blood gases, urinalysis), and cytopathology (e,g., fine-needle aspirates of tumors and effusions). Both the methodologies and interpretation of these tests are covered and will integrate with material delivered by clinicians in other courses.
VM 5281 Veterinary Professional Development 3	1 credit Duration: Partial semester, 20 contact hours Instruction: Lecture and lab Development of communication, collaboration, professional identity and professionalism and an understanding of regulatory and ethical issues through didactic instruction, simulated client exercises, and small group learning. Content includes, but is not limited to, spectrum of care, basic and advanced regulatory records, liability and incomplete medical records, reportable diseases, and workplace hazards.

Note: Course sessions for VM 5002 Problem-based Learning 1 take place in both the Fall and Spring term; however, credit and grades are only applied to the Spring term.

Year 2 Spring (24 credits)

VM 5225 Multi-Systemic Diseases and Diseases of Exotic Animals	3 credits Duration: Semester, 51 contact hours Instruction: Lecture Pathophysiology and diagnosis of multisystemic diseases and diseases of exotic animals
VMED 5257 Gastrointestinal, Hepatic, and Endocrine Diseases	4.5 credits Duration: Semester, 59 contact hours Instruction: Lecture VMED 5257 Pathophysiology and diagnosis of diseases of the gastrointestinal and hepatic systems of domestic animals.
VMED 5258 Diseases of the Integumentary System	1.5 credits Duration: Half semester, 28 contact hours Instruction: Lecture Pathophysiology and diagnosis of diseases of the integumentary system in domestic animals.
VM 5263 Urogenital Diseases	3.5 credits Duration: Half semester, 55 contact hours Instruction: Lecture Pathophysiology and diagnosis of diseases of the urinary and reproductive systems of domestic animals.
VM 5267 Veterinary Anesthesia	1.5 credits Duration: Partial semester, 27 contact hours Instruction: Lecture The veterinary anesthesia course is designed to introduce the clinical view on the anesthetic drugs’ pharmacology, and to expose students to anesthetic equipment and basic monitoring.
VM 5277 Diseases of the Eye	1 credits Duration: Partial semester, 19 contact hours Instruction: Lecture Designed to expand knowledge of normal ocular anatomy and physiology. Didactic lectures will review concepts of how the structure and function of the eye can be impacted by disease. Manifestations of ocular disease will be presented and organized by ocular structure impacted. Lectures highlighting important comparative ocular species differences and key disorders of these species will be presented in separate lecture sessions.
VM 5010 Special Topics	1 credit Duration: 1 week mid-semester Students select from elective topics available. Past topics have included: Introduction to Biomechanics for Clinicians Veterinary Medicine in International Development Laboratory Animal Medicine Introduction to Animal Osteopathy Introduction to Clinical Dermatology Topics in Integrative Medicine Veterinary Forensics Selected Topics in Feline Medicine
VM 5251 Clinical Skills 4	1.5 credits Duration: Semester, 43 contact hours Instruction: Lab A mastery course that uses instructional videos, models, mannequins, simulators, and other teaching methods to enable students to learn and practice technical and non-technical skills. This course builds on Clinical Skills 1-3.
VM 5244 Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine 4	3.5 credits Duration: Semester, 56 contact hours Instruction: Lecture and Lab Designed to introduce students to the interpretation of diagnostic tests used in veterinary medicine. Emphasis is placed on clinical pathology, endocrine disease, and radiology, as these disciplines are fundamental to disease diagnosis and screening in animals.
VM 5002 Problem Based Learning 2	2 credits Duration: 2 days per semester Instruction: Small Group Case-based learning The problem based learning course is designed as a small group learning session using clinical veterinary cases, with emphasis on the problem-oriented approach to veterinary problem solving. Students will utilize excellent communication skills and work as a team to solve clinical problems. Students will also gain knowledge of finding appropriate scientific resources and materials and evaluate those references using evidence based medicine.