College Admissions
Each year, the University of Tennessee's College of Veterinary Medicine admits approximately 85 applicants to the four-year program for the doctorate in veterinary medicine. Students prepare for the professional veterinary curriculum by taking three to four years of pre-veterinary course requirements as undergraduates.
The University of Tennessee, founded in 1794, is one of the oldest educational institutions in the country. The College of Veterinary Medicine, established in 1974, is located in Knoxville on the University's Agricultural Campus along the Tennessee River. The city, the cultural center of East Tennessee, is situated in the Appalachian foothills of east central Tennessee and is 45 minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and just three hours from the cultural and recreational opportunities of Nashville and Atlanta. The modern Clyde M. York Veterinary Medicine Building houses teaching and research facilities, the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, and the Agriculture-Veterinary Medicine Library.
The curriculum of the the college is a nine semester, four-year program. Development of a strong basic science foundation is emphasized in the first year. The second and third years emphasize the study of diseases, their causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Innovative features of this curriculum include: six weeks of student centered, small group, applied learning exercises in semesters one through five; three weeks of dedicated clinical experiences in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in semesters three through five; and elective course opportunities in semesters four through nine which allow students to focus on specific educational / career goals. In the fourth year (last 3 semesters), students participate exclusively in clinical rotations in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and in required externships.
For admissions questions, please contact Deborah Shepherd at (865) 974-7354