The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Calgary offers a four-year professional degree leading to a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). The first three years of the program follow the regular academic year, while the fourth year is scheduled for 40 weeks, with two weeks for assessment, across the entire calendar year (May-April).
The DVM program is accredited by the AVMA-CVMA Council on Education and is based on an integrated core-elective model. The core program provides a comprehensive general veterinary education covering all the major domestic species, including food producing animals, equine and companion animals, and the major exotic species. The core program also includes public and ecosystem health, wildlife and conservation medicine, professional and communication skills, research skills and comparative medicine. The core program prepares students for general veterinary practice, with an emphasis on skills for successful practice in rural communities and provides a foundation to pursue all careers in veterinary medicine. The elective programs cover all areas of general veterinary practice and provide enhanced opportunities in four Areas of Emphasis: production animal health, ecosystem and public health, investigative medicine, and equine health.