Introduction to Studying Veterinary Medicine

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program
Kasetsart University

 

         The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University follows a set of instructional principles that include imparting academic knowledge, facilitating learning through training, internships in animal hospitals and livestock farms, and fostering desirable attitudes towards real-world work. The program aims to produce graduates who are capable of working in local as well as in international contexts. The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program is a six-year bachelor's degree program designed to prepare effective veterinarians who can serve a society.

        The program contains 10 departments: Department of Anatomy, Department of Physiology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Parasitology, Department of Pathology, Department of Pharmacology, Department of Companion Animals Clinical Sciences, Department of Large Animal and Wildlife Clinical Sciences, Department of Farm Resources and Production Medicine, and Department of Veterinary Public Health. Furthermore, it integrates other academic support services that are crucial in enriching students' learning experiences during their studies as follows.

1. Four animal hospitals:

 

 

 
  • Kasetsart University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Bangkhen Campus
  • Kasetsart University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Kamphaengsaen, Nakhon Pathom
  • Kasetsart University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Nong Pho, Ratchaburi
  • Kasetsart University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan

2. Veterinary Diagnostic Center

3. Laboratory Animal Center Teaching Farms

4. VET KU Research Support Center

 

 

    The program covers a diverse array of academic subjects across various categories which requires a minimum of 244 credits for graduation. These include a minimum of 30 credits from general education, 208 credits from specialization, 6 credits from elective courses, and a mandatory 200-hour internship. The instruction is conducted in two campuses.

 

1. Kasetsart University, Bangkhen Campus
 

In the initial semester, the first-year students will study general education courses, encompassing the courses such as Knowledge of the Land, English, Thai, and physical education, along with other basic professional courses, namely Chemistry for Veterinary Medicine and Laboratory in Chemistry for Veterinary Medicine, which are worth a total of five credits.

Starting from the second semester of the first year until the third year, students are required to enroll in core specialization courses that amount to 83 credits, which serves as a pre-clinic level. The subjects include Veterinary Gross Anatomy, Veterinary Physiology, Microbiology and Immunology, Parasitology, Pathology, and Pharmacology. Additionally, students are required to participate in a minimum of 6 credits of elective courses. The preclinic education is designed to enable students to apply their acquired knowledge at the clinic level.

In the first semester of the fourth year, students will begin their clinical level. It means that they have to register for 26 credits of specialization, core professional, and Companion Animal Clinical courses. The instructions are delivered in a rotational basis during the academic semester. Kasetsart University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Bangkhen Campus is also utilized to support the instructional process.

 

2. Kasetsart University, Kamphaengsaen Campus

 
        

During their second semester in the fourth to sixth year, students engage in their clinical level of study. This entails enrolling in 8 credits from specialization, core professional, and Companion Animal Clinical, 23 from Large Animal and Wildlife Clinical Sciences, 24 from Farm Resources and Production Medicine, and 18 from Veterinary Public Health courses. In the same period, students also have to complete at least 2 credits of elective professional and 3 of central courses including Veterinary Ethics and Animal Welfare and Special Problem.

In the first semester of the sixth year, the instruction focuses on clinical practice related to small animals, ruminants, equines, swine, poultry, and aquatic animals. The courses cover areas such as pathology, diagnostic microbiology, and veterinary public health. Students will participate in rotational clinical practice throughout the semester.

In the second semester of the sixth year, students are eligible to choose specialization and elective professional courses based on their interests. These courses fall under the category of Special Clinical Practice courses and amount to a total of 16 credits.

 

        Throughout both semesters of the sixth year, students have access to the facilities of Kasetsart University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Bangkhen Campus, Kamphaengsaen Campus, and Nong Pho. This allows them to continuously learn from treating sick animals to further hone their skills and gain practical experiences in animal health management and livestock production.