DVM
Degrees and Certificates
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LMU-OPDVM Curriculum Digest
Courses
OPDVM-700-A0: First Year Transition: Building Academic Resilience
Credits 0.5This course will facilitate the transition to first year veterinary medical school. Students will apply research from learning science, components of positive psychology, and well-being to their individual contexts to best support academic transitions. Topics include organizational strategies to assist with cognitive load, facilitating a reasonable study plan that demonstrates forethought, monitoring learning through sustaining practice with different types of knowledge, among other topics.
OPDVM-701-A0: Integumentary System
Credits 1.0A systemic study of normal physiologic, microscopic, macroscopic, and topographical body structure with detailed study of cellular, tissue, and organ function will be applied to describing the pathogenesis of disease for the integumentary system. Students will learn a selection of appropriate diagnostic tests for various diseases and how to interpret the results of these tests. Clinical applications are incorporated throughout the course in alignment with the ultimate goal of contributing to the education of a practitioner.
OPDVM-702-A0: Musculoskeletal System
Credits 4.0A systemic study of normal physiologic, microscopic, macroscopic, and topographical body structure with detailed study of cellular, tissue, and organ function will be applied to describing the pathogenesis of disease for the musculoskeletal system. Students will learn a selection of appropriate diagnostic tests for various diseases and how to interpret the results of these tests. Clinical applications are incorporated throughout the course in alignment with the ultimate goal of contributing to the education of a practitioner.
OPDVM-703-A0: Nervous & Sensory System
Credits 4.0A systemic study of normal physiologic, microscopic, macroscopic, and topographical body structure with detailed study of cellular, tissue, and organ function will be applied to describing the pathogenesis of disease for the nervous and sensory system. Students will learn a selection of appropriate diagnostic tests for various diseases and how to interpret the results of these tests. Clinical applications are incorporated throughout the course in alignment with the ultimate goal of contributing to the education of a practitioner.
OPDVM-704-A0: Hematologic System
Credits 1.0A systemic study of normal physiologic, microscopic, macroscopic, and topographical body structure with detailed study of cellular, tissue, and organ function will be applied to describing the pathogenesis of disease for the hematologic system. Students will learn a selection of appropriate diagnostic tests for various diseases and how to interpret the results of these tests. Clinical applications are incorporated throughout the course in alignment with the ultimate goal of contributing to the education of a practitioner.
OPDVM-705-A0: Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems
Credits 5.0A systemic study of normal physiologic, microscopic, macroscopic, and topographical body structure with detailed study of cellular, tissue, and organ function will be applied to describing the pathogenesis of disease for the cardiopulmonary system. Students will learn a selection of appropriate diagnostic tests for various diseases and how to interpret the results of these tests. Clinical applications are incorporated throughout the course in alignment with the ultimate goal of contributing to the education of a practitioner.
OPDVM-706-A0: Urogenital System
Credits 3.0A systemic study of normal physiologic, microscopic, macroscopic, and topographical body structure with detailed study of cellular, tissue, and organ function will be applied to describing the pathogenesis of disease for the urogenital system. Students will learn a selection of appropriate diagnostic tests for various diseases and how to interpret the results of these tests. Clinical applications are incorporated throughout the course in alignment with the ultimate goal of contributing to the education of a practitioner.
OPDVM-707-A0: Endocrine System
Credits 2.0A systemic study of normal physiologic, microscopic, macroscopic, and topographical body structure with detailed study of cellular, tissue, and organ function will be applied to describing the pathogenesis of disease for the endocrine system. Students will learn a selection of appropriate diagnostic tests for various diseases and how to interpret the results of these tests. Clinical applications are incorporated throughout the course in alignment with the ultimate goal of contributing to the education of a practitioner.
OPDVM-708-A0: Gastrointestinal System
Credits 5.0A systemic study of normal physiologic, microscopic, macroscopic, and topographical body structure with detailed study of cellular, tissue, and organ function will be applied to describing the pathogenesis of disease for the gastrointestinal system. Students will learn a selection of appropriate diagnostic tests for various diseases and how to interpret the results of these tests. Clinical applications are incorporated throughout the course in alignment with the ultimate goal of contributing to the education of a practitioner.
OPDVM-709-A0: Hepatobiliary System
Credits 3.0A systemic study of normal physiologic, microscopic, macroscopic, and topographical body structure with detailed study of cellular, tissue, and organ function will be applied to describing the pathogenesis of disease for the hepatobilliary system. Students will learn a selection of appropriate diagnostic tests for various diseases and how to interpret the results of these tests. Clinical applications are incorporated throughout the course in alignment with the ultimate goal of contributing to the education of a practitioner.
OPDVM-710-A0: One Health I
Credits 1.5This course will focus on the aspects of One Health that relate to the individual and professional foundations of veterinary medicine. It will include the history of veterinary medicine to introduce them to their professional cultural inheritance, human animal bond, animal welfare, the role of animals in human psychosocial health, professional ethics and jurisprudence, work life balance, professional organizations, and future opportunities for veterinarians. This course introduces the basic concepts of epidemiology and biostatistics as applied to veterinary and One Health problems. Emphasis is placed on the principles and methods of epidemiologic investigation, epidemiologic definitions, appropriate summaries and displays of data, and the use of classical statistical approaches to describe the health of populations. Topics include the dynamic behavior of disease; usage of rates, ratios and proportions, odds ratios, and other statistical tools. Various epidemiologic study designs for investigating associations between risk factors and disease outcomes are also introduced, culminating with criteria for causal inferences. The application of these disciplines in the areas of health services, screening, and environment policy are presented. The influence of epidemiology and biostatistics on legal and ethical issues are also discussed. Critical review of scientific literature will be examined.
OPDVM-711-A0: Medical Science I
Credits 1.0This course will provide a foundation of general medical knowledge required of a veterinarian. Subjects will include: medical terminology, medical chemistry, medical math, and medical physics.
OPDVM-712-A0: Animal Husbandry and Welfare
Credits 2.0Students will be introduced to animal husbandry, welfare, and behavior in major species. Students will learn normal husbandry, normal and abnormal behavior in multiple species and engage in welfare and ethics discussions.
OPDVM-713-A0: Introduction to Diagnostic Imaging
Credits 1.0This introductory course covers methods of imaging, radiation safety measures and principles of image interpretation. Radiography and ultrasonography are emphasized, but computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and nuclear scintigraphy are also discussed. Lectures on basic image interpretation include normal findings and classical imaging signs of common conditions.
OPDVM-714A: Intro to Anatomy and Physiology
Credits 1.0This introductory course will provide a foundational overview of physiologic processes and anatomy to provide students with the vocabulary and basic skills for future systems-based courses.
OPDVM-714P-A0: Introduction to Pathology
Credits 1.0Student will learn the pathological changes that occur in tissues and organ systems and how such changes provide the basis for clinically-manifested diseases. They will learn the spectrum and mechanisms of pathological changes in tissues at macroscopic, microscopic and molecular levels.
OPDVM-715-A0: Clinical Skills I
Credits 1.0Students will be taught safe handling and restraint techniques and will be introduced to the general physical examination of various domestic animal species. Students will also be introduced to psychomotor skills needed for surgery and other clinical procedures.
OPDVM-716-A0: Professional Identity I
Credits 1.0This course will facilitate the holistic approach and evolution of student professional identity within the veterinary medical profession. Students will apply research from veterinary medical practice, theory of identity development, components of positive psychology, and well-being to their individual contexts to best support professional identity growth and development. Topics include individual and professional mindsets, the role of values and beliefs in facilitating professional identity development, and challenges veterinary students and professionals experience with professional identity development, among other topics. The course requires reflection that demonstrates forethought and critical analysis through sustaining practice with different types of knowledge and discussion.
OPDVM-717-A0: Basic Pharmacology
Credits 1.0This course covers the basic concepts of pharmacokinetics (drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion) and pharmacodynamics (the action or effects of drugs on living organisms) that underlie the correct use of drugs in veterinary therapeutics. The course is designed to build a foundation of pharmacologic knowledge.
OPDVM-718-A0: Immunology
Credits 2.5This course presents current concepts in basic and clinical immunology with special emphasis on protective immunity against infectious diseases and the role of aberrant immune responses in disease.
OPDVM-719-A0: Evidence-Based Medicine and Research I
Credits 1.5This course focuses on understanding clinical research in infectious disease management. The understanding of the application of evidence-based veterinary medicine is used throughout the working life of veterinarians in contemporary veterinary practices. Basic training in research methodology will be covered to learn clinical study processes and how new scientific evidence is discovered. These skills will be applied to investigating an infectious disease spread within and between populations utilizing mock case studies by appraising scientific evidence about the etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitological diseases.
OPDVM-720-A0: One Health II
Credits 3.0This course will introduce the concepts of distribution, diagnosis, treatment, and control of zoonotic diseases and transboundary diseases. It will draw from knowledge gained in with courses regarding infectious agents, immune system, pathophysiology, clinical pathology, and parasitology. The course will examine the One Health aspects of disease and the interrelatedness between individual and population human health, animal health, and the environment. Included will be student team literature search, critical literature analysis and presentations. Student will complete phase one of the United States Department of Agriculture Initial Accreditation Training. This course introduces the basic concepts of the role environmental component of One Health. This will include a broad analysis of environmental impacts of livestock production, climate change, food safety and security, emerging and transboundary diseases. These will be examined across a broad spectrum of ecosystems including air, land, fresh water, and oceans. The links between the environment, human health and animal health will be highlighted including a focus on the Appalachian region. Students will complete the USDA Emerging and Exotic Diseases of Animals for Initial Accreditation Training.
OPDVM-721-A0: Clinical Reasoning I
Credits 1.0Clinical Reasoning will introduce students to clinical reasoning and require them to apply clinical reasoning in case examples.
OPDVM-725-A0: Clinical Skills II
Credits 1.0Students will be taught basic ligatures and suturing techniques, phlebotomy, intramuscular injection and subcutaneous injection techniques using models and live animals. Students will perform physical examinations of canine and feline species and be introduced to the Subjective, Objective, Assessment and Plan (SOAP) format for medial record keeping.
OPDVM-726-A0: Professional Identity II
Credits 1.0This course is the second in the Professional Identity Development pathway. It facilitates a holistic approach and evolution of professional identity within the veterinary medical profession. Students will continue to apply research from veterinary medical practice, theory of identity development, components of positive psychology, and well-being to their individual contexts to best support professional identity growth and development. Topics include a multi-dimensional approach to the role of values and beliefs in facilitating professional identity development, self-regulatory practices including conflict management and emotions, inclusive identity practices, and professional identity within the greater culture of the challenges veterinary students and professionals experience, among other topics.
OPDVM-728-A0: Microbiology and Parasitology
Credits 6.5This course will introduce students to important viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic diseases of animals and help them develop a conceptual framework that can be adapted to incorporate novel approaches that they will encounter during their veterinary careers.
OPDVM-732-A0: Introduction to Surgery
Credits 2.0This course will cover principles of surgery, including aseptic technique, fracture healing, perioperative patient care, and basic principles of surgical procedures and techniques. Application of anatomic knowledge to surgical approaches will also be included.
OPDVM-735-A0: Clinical Skills III
Credits 2.0Continued development of expertise in handling and interpretation of general physical examination findings in exotics/birds and small animals. Continued progress toward mastery of psychomotor skills for surgery including catheter placement, closure of abdominal incisions, gloving techniques and clamping/ligating. Introduction of basic diagnostic techniques.
OPDVM-735A-A0: Clinical Skills LA
Credits 1.0Students will be taught safe handling and restraint techniques, physical examination of large animal species (cattle, horses, small ruminants).
OPDVM-736-A0: Professional and Life Skills I
Credits 1.0Students will be introduced to professional communication skills and their importance in veterinary medicine. The Professional Skills course will focus on aspects of: Building Professional Identity, DEIB, Communications, Leadership, Wellbeing, & Financial Literacy.
OPDVM-737-A0: Introduction to Anesthesia and Analgesia
Credits 2.0This course serves as an introduction to veterinary anesthesia, analgesia, and peri-operative case management. It will lay the foundation for the basic principles of anesthesia and analgesia, recalling material learned in prior pharmacology courses.
OPDVM-745-A0: Clinical Skills IV
Credits 1.0Students will continue to develop expertise in handling and interpretation of general physical examination findings in small animals. Students will demonstrate continued progress toward mastery of psychomotor skills for surgery including aseptic technique, anesthetic monitoring, and using a spay model.
OPDVM-746-A0: Professional and Life Skills II
Credits 1.0Students will be introduced to professional communication skills and their importance in veterinary medicine. The Professional Skills course will focus on aspects of: Building Professional Identity, DEIB, Communications, Leadership, Wellbeing, & Financial Literacy.
OPDVM-747-A0: Veterinary Toxicology
Credits 2.0This course is an introduction to principles of toxicology in domestic animals. The student will learn basic principles of veterinary toxicology and learn how to locate toxicological information. The course will present some common toxicants of chemicals and plants (focusing on those found in North America) affecting domestic animals and to learn basic approaches to treatment of poisoned animals.
OPDVM-748-A0: Veterinary Nutrition
Credits 2.0This course is a comprehensive overview of domestic animal nutrition, including digestion and metabolism of nutrients, feedstuffs and feeding, ration formulation, and the interaction of nutrition and disease for small animals, horses and food animals. Clinical nutrition aspects will be focused upon.
OPDVM-749-A0: Evidence-Based Medicine and Research II
Credits 1.0This course will introduce students to the methods in biomedical research. Students will gain basic understanding of literature search, critical evaluation of scientific publications, hypothesis development, experimental design, data analysis, use of animals in research, IACUC, IRB, communicaton of research findings, and grant writing.
OPDVM-751-A0: Veterinary Dentistry
Credits 2.0Diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and prevention of dental diseases of the dog, cat, horse, rabbits, and rodents.
OPDVM-752-A0: Small Animal Surgery
Credits 3.0This course will cover clinical conditions seen in small animals with an emphasis on surgical treatment and prognosis. It will integrate and build upon the principles of surgery and surgical diseases covered in Introduction to Surgery, applying and expanding anatomical knowledge acquired, and go beyond the genetic and developmental aspects of small animal conditions to address surgical interventions to consider when conservative and medical therapies alone are not appropriate or not producing satisfactory results.
OPDVM-753-A0: Radiographic Interpretation
Credits 1.0This course covers principles and application of radiographic image interpretation using the foundation of Roentgen signs. Each case will give students the opportunity to practice the skills of basic image interpretation, including identifying normal findings as well as classical imaging findings associated with commonly encountered radiographic diagnoses. A working knowledge of small animal and equine anatomy and physiology is a pre-requisite for this course.
OPDVM-754-A0: Emergency & Critical Care
Credits 1.0This course expands upon knowledge from previous courses and introduces critical care topics and techniques.Students will apply this information during case-based exercises and discussions. Students should prepare in advance for case-based activities by reading assigned material and/or watching pre-recorded presentations. Students will also complete group-based activities and individual assessments.
OPDVM-755-A0: Clinical Skills V
Credits 2.0Continued development of expertise in handling and interpretation of general and specific physical examination findings in small animals. Continuation of anesthesia and surgical skills training with introduction of anesthesia and surgery in the live canine or feline patient.
OPDVM-756-A0: Professional and Life Skills III
Credits 1.0Students will be introduced to professional communication skills and their importance in veterinary medicine. The Professional Skills course will focus on aspects of: Building Professional Identity, DEIB, Communications, Leadership, Wellbeing, & Financial Literacy.
OPDVM-756B-A0: Introduction to Practice Management
Credits 1.0Students will be exposed to concepts in veterinary practice management and ownership. Students will gain insights to the operational workings in a variety of clinical settings. They will acquire knowledge of business operations, team management, and client acquisition and retention.
OPDVM-757-A0: Clinical Pharmacology I
Credits 1.0This course covers concepts of pharmacokinetics (drug absorption, distribution, and pharmacodynamics (the action or effects of drugs on living organisms) that underlie the correct use of drugs in veterinary therapeutics; exemplary pharmacologic classes of drugs will be discussed. Selected topics in veterinary pharmacology will be covered including:pain and inflammation, euthanasia, and antimicrobial resistance, evidence based pharmacotherapy and pharmacovigilance.
OPDVM-758-A0: Small Animal Medicine
Credits 8.0Diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and prevention of non-surgical diseases of the dog and cat. Emphasis will be on diagnosis and treatment.
OPDVM-759-A0: Evidence-Based Medicine and Research III
Credits 1.0This course will deepen student understanding of methods in biomedical research. Students will gain basic understanding of experimental design, data collection and analysis, communication of research findings, and grant writing. Student groups will continue the project from the prior semester to collect and analyze data, then communicate their findings as a poster or 3-minute thesis at a college-wide Research Day.
OPDVM-760-A0: Population and Herd Management
Credits 2.0This course provides an overview of the principles of population health and of production management for beef cattle, dairy cattle, small ruminants, swine, and poultry. Includes the application of scientific principles to practical herd management with components of reproduction, nutrition, housing, genetics, economics, records, food safety, and disease control (vaccination).
OPDVM-761-A0: Introduction to Clinical Year
Credits 0.5This course is designed to prepare students for their clinical year rotations in fourth year. Clinical Rotation policy, procedure, coursework, organization, expectations and how to maximize success on rotations will be explored and discussed. Instruction will consist of self-guided online modules, in-person sessions and small group discussions.
OPDVM-762A-A0: Production Animal Medicine, & Surgery
Credits 6.0This course is designed to educate the veterinary student on the diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and prevention of non-surgical and surgical diseases of food and fiber animals (bovine, ovine, caprine, porcine, camelid) and includes production animal medicine,emerging diseases and common husbandry practices.
OPDVM-762B-A0: Equine Medicine and Surgery
Credits 4.0This course is designed to educate the veterinary student on clinical conditions seen in the horse, with emphasis on clinical signs, diagnosis, medical, and surgical treatment, and prognosis.
OPDVM-765A-A0: Clinical Skills VI
Credits 2.0Continued development of expertise in handling and interpretation of general and specific physical examination findings in small animals. Continuation of anesthesia and surgical skills training with introduction of anesthesia and surgery in the live canine or feline patient.
OPDVM-766-A0: Theriogenology
Credits 1.5This course provides foundational knowledge and develops clinical competence in managing the reproductive health of economically important livestock species, horses, and companion animals. Reproductive diseases and pathologies will be discussed. Students will integrate knowledge from various disciplines to diagnose and manage clinical issues pertaining to the reproductive health of animals on an individual-animal or herd basis.
OPDVM-767-A0: Clinical Pharmacology II
Credits 1.0The course is designed to complement and expand on the treatment options that students learn as part of their small animal medicine, equine medicine and surgery, and food animal medicine and surgery courses. Basic principles of pharmacokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) and pharmacodynamics (biochemical and physiological drug effect, mechanism of action) relevant to veterinary medicine will be covered, paying particular attention to comparative differences among species. Therapeutic uses, contraindications, monitoring, and adverse effects of drugs will be discussed. Rules, regulations, and timely topics in veterinary pharmacology will be addressed.
OPDVM-768-A0: Avian, Exotic, Wildlife Animal Medicine & Surgery
Credits 2.0This course is an introduction to the medical, husbandry, and surgical issues routinely seen in avian and "exotic" (small mammals, reptiles) species kept as pets in North America. It provides an overview of gross and radiographic anatomy, physiology, major infectious diseases and their management, and normal behavior in domestic environments
OPDVM-769B: Poultry Elective*(Optional Elective)
Credits 0.0OPDVM-770-A0: Small Animal General Practice
Credits 4.0This consists of supervised clinical instruction in a selected, pre-approved, high-quality, small animal general practice (canine, feline, pocket pets). Students see a wide variety of medical and surgical cases and are active participants in their diagnostic and therapeutic management, to include documentation of findings and care in problem- oriented medical records and performance of clinical procedures.
OPDVM-770E-A0: General Practice Elective**(Required Selective)
Credits 4.0Each rotation is four weeks of supervised clinical instruction in a selected, pre-approved, high-quality, large or small animal general practice. Students see a wide variety of medical and surgical cases and are active participants in their diagnostic and therapeutic management, to include documentation of findings and care in problem- oriented medical records and performance of clinical procedures.
OPDVM-771-A0: Small Animal Specialty Practice
Credits 4.0This consists of supervised clinical instruction in a selected, high quality, specialty practice (canine, feline, lab animal, exotic, zoological).Instruction will take place in practices with board certified internists, radiologists, surgeons, anesthesiologists,other specialists,and/or those specialists. Students are active participants in diagnostic and management of a variety of cases with instructive pathophysiological learning issues requiring appropriate medical and/or surgical management in veterinary advanced care, emergency and critical care situations. *At least 2 weeks must be in SA ECC.
OPDVM-771E-A0: Specialty Practice Elective**(Required Selective)
Credits 4.0This consists of supervised clinical instruction in a selected, high quality, specialty practice. Instruction will take place in practices with board certified internists, radiologists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, other specialists, and/or those specialists. Students are active participants in diagnostic and management of a variety of cases with instructive pathophysiological learning issues requiring appropriate medical and/or surgical management in veterinary advanced care, emergency and critical care situations. *At least 2 weeks must be in SA ECC.
OPDVM-773-A0: Diagnostic Medicine
Credits 6.0Students will receive training in diagnostic pathology and exposure to ancillary diagnostic services which include: bacteriology, virology, molecular biology, serology, toxicology, parasitology and clinical pathology. The course is composed of lecture/cooperative/ active /group and self-learning morning sessions. The students will spend the afternoon sessions performing postmortem examinations necropsy floor or will work on necropsy case assignments. The students will deliver diagnostic pathology case presentations on case submissions and will receive clinical pathology assignments. This course will provide a structured means for clinical-year DVM students to synthesize and apply the diagnostic imaging knowledge gained in pre clinical training to the clinical setting. The Diagnostic Imaging section of the course serves to prepare students for radiographic interpretation during their clinical placements, as well as clinical practice.
OPDVM-774-A0: Large Animal Ambulatory
Credits 2.0Students will be introduced to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for large animals which may include internal medicine, surgery, preventative medicine, lameness, herd and flock health consultation, routine procedures, diagnostic imaging, reproductive technology, wound care, dentistry, anesthesia, and general surgical procedures using a combination of live animals, case discussion, models, and cadavers. Students will demonstrate continued communications skills development including communication with owners through written discharge instructions and communication with colleagues via referral letters.
OPDVM-776-A0: NAVLE Preparation Course
Credits 4.0Students will prepare and sit for the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE®). Students will conduct independent studies and review in order to prepare for the NAVLE®. Students are not required to pass the NAVLE® to pass the course.
OPDVM-777-A0: Programmatic Review
Credits 1.0Course design involves a multifaceted approach to content delivery through exit surveys, financial literacy education, veterinary imaging monitoring verification, and interactive professional communication. This course includes CVM programmatic surveys, AVMA Graduating Senior Survey, financial literacy sessions, and various communication activities.
OPDVM-780-A0: Elective Rotation**(Required Selective)
Credits 16.0Elective courses consist of supervised clinical instruction in high quality learning experiences available at institutions and practices in North America and around the world, to include general practices, specialty practices (such as medicine, surgery, cardiology, dermatology, neurology, oncology, ophthalmology), species-specific practices, other accredited Colleges of Veterinary Medicine, zoos, and other LMU-CVM approved public and private biomedical institutions.
The student must take 4 Elective Rotation blocks (4cr each) for a total of 16 credits