Fourth Year
The fourth year consists of clinical rotations and a four-credit course preparing students for the veterinary licensing exam. Clinical rotations begin in May after the conclusion of the third year and continue through the following May. Students complete 44 weeks of clerkships (outlined below), with an additional four weeks on campus in a preparation course for the national veterinary licensing exam. Under the direction of the clerkship coordinator, students may complete the core, elective, and student-proposed clerkships (i.e. clinical placements) in any order throughout the summer, fall, and spring terms of their fourth year. Elective and student-proposed clerkships are variable credit courses.
Core Clerkships
Elective Clerkships 3
Students select from a list of pre-approved clinical sites for rotations of four weeks each for a total of eight weeks and eight credits. An elective clerkship (VMED 8150 ) may focus on any of the following:
- Shelter medicine
- Poultry practice
- Swine practice
- Small ruminant/camelids practice
- Zoo medicine
- Exotic/mixed species practice
- Laboratory animal medicine
Students may also elect to repeat a core clerkship rotation to fulfill this requirement.
Student Proposed Clerkships 4
Student proposed clerkships (VMED 8160 ) provide flexibility for students to select specific locations and/or pursue individual or non-traditional career goals. Students may seek approval of clinical sites for up to eight weeks of clerkship rotations in two to four week blocks. Students may also repeat core or elective clerkships to fulfill this requirement.
Licensing Exam (NAVLE) Preparation
1 The required Necropsy Clerkship is conducted at the Clemson Veterinary Diagnostic Center (CVDC). Under the supervision of CVDC faculty and staff, students participate in a two-week necropsy rotation. In addition, students receive a tour of the CVDC with an orientation to the state-provided animal diagnostic services provided by the facility.
2 The required Diagnostic Imaging Clerkship is contracted to a virtual diagnostic imaging company with a reputation for excellent student learning experiences and outcomes.
3 Students who wish to participate in fewer than eight weeks of elective clerkships may repeat core clerkships to reach the required minimum of 44 weeks of clerkship rotations.
4 Students who do not seek approval for student proposed clerkships may repeat core clerkships to reach the required minimum of 44 weeks of clerkship rotations.
