Concurrent DVM Certificate Programs

Certificates provide an opportunity for currently enrolled DVM students to receive additional credentialing at graduation. Certificate programs include a set number of core and elective courses, demonstrated competence in clinical skills, and additional co-curricular experiences in specific professional areas. Click here to sign up for a program.

Veterinary Medicine Sustainability Certificate

Veterinarians play a vital role in areas that directly impact the environment, society, and the economy. The Veterinary Medicine Sustainability Certificate provides veterinary students with a broad understanding of sustainability principles across three key areas:

Environmental Topics:
Learn about the environmental effects of food animal production, anesthesia gas emissions, and waste disposal in veterinary settings.
Social Topics:
Explore responsible use of animal health products to help prevent antimicrobial resistance and support public health. Develop communication and interpersonal skills to effectively engage clients and communities.
Economic Topics:
Gain foundational business skills, including veterinary practice management, budgeting, and decision-making for sustainability.
Experiential Learning:
Apply your knowledge to real-world scenarios. You'll learn to evaluate scientific data, balance trade-offs between sustainability pillars, and create practical sustainability strategies.

The program includes both academic coursework and hands-on learning experiences. Students will develop practical knowledge and skills in sustainable veterinary practices that are applicable in clinical, industry, and community settings.

1. Career-Ready Skills
  Graduates will be equipped to implement sustainable practices in veterinary clinics and advocate for sustainability with clients and the public.
2. Strong Knowledge Base
  Students will develop a comprehensive understanding of sustainability concepts, especially how veterinarians can contribute to sustainable animal health.
3. Clear Communication of Training
  Completion of the certificate offers a clear way to showcase sustainability training and skills to future employers in practice or industry roles.

To earn the certificate, students must complete:
- 6 credits of required elective courses
  Each with a minimum grade of C
- 8 credits of additional elective courses
  Each with a minimum grade of C
Required Elective Courses (6 credits)

Choose one of the following (1 credit):
- VCS 822: Introduction to Sustainable Beef Systems (Years 1–3, Fall)
  OR
- VCS 892-N: Concepts in Sustainable Small Animal Practice (Years 1–2, Spring)
Required courses (all 1 credit):
- VCS 832: Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacteria – A One Health Perspective (Years 1–3, Fall)
- VCS 891-Y: Topics in Business Principles for Veterinary Practice (Years 1–2, Fall)
Fourth Year Course:
- VCS 901: Externship with Emphasis on Veterinary Practice Sustainability (3 credits)
Additional Elective Courses (Minimum 8 credits)
- VCS 820: Topics in Global Veterinary Medicine (1 cr) – Y1–2, Spring
- VCS 840: Communication with the Agricultural Worker (2 cr) – Y2–3, Spring
- VCS 891C: Applied Small Animal Behavior (1 cr) – Y2–3, Fall
- VCS 892L: Pre-Clinical Veterinary Sustainability Mentorship (1–3 cr) – Y1–3
- VDMP 816: Trade and Agricultural Health (2 cr) – Y1–3, Fall
- VDMP 888B: Globalization & Food Trade (1 cr) – Y1–2, Spring
- VDMP 891E: Ecotoxicology (1 cr) – Y2, Spring
- VDMP 891A: International Animal & Zoonotic Disease (1 cr) – Y1–3, Spring
- VCS 892E: Practicing Veterinary Medicine in a Multicultural Society (1 cr) – Y1–3, Spring & Fall
- VAP 897: Animal Welfare (1 cr) – Y2, Spring
- VCS 890B: Community Outreach Fundamentals (1 cr) – Y1–2, Fall
Fourth Year Electives:
- VCS 917: Advanced Rural Food Animal Business Management (1 cr)
- VCS 949: Shelter Medicine – Community Outreach (1 cr)
Contact Information

For more information, contact Academic Programs at the College of Veterinary Medicine:
- Phone: 785-532-5660
- Email: Dr. James Roush
View the Veterinary Medicine Sustainability Certificate Guide (pdf)

Food Animal Veterinary Certificate

The Food Animal Veterinary Certificate (FAVC) prepares Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) students for long-term success in food animal practice. The certificate program emphasizes skills that go beyond the core DVM curriculum, including:

Animal health
Production medicine
Practice management
Communication with clients and agricultural workers

Graduates will be equipped to serve livestock producers effectively while supporting sustainable veterinary practices.

Participation in the FAVC program offers several important advantages:
1. Comprehensive Skill Development
  Students follow a clear and intentional pathway that includes complementary coursework and hands-on learning experiences. This approach ensures the development of the broad range of skills and aptitudes necessary for modern food animal veterinary practice.
2. Career Readiness and Employer Recognition
  The certificate provides a concise and transparent way for students to communicate their training and interests to future employers.
  Completion of the program signals to prospective employers that the student possesses:
  
  FAVC graduates stand out in the job market by clearly demonstrating their commitment, preparation, and readiness to contribute meaningfully to food animal veterinary teams.

To earn the FAVC, students must:
- Complete the required number of core and elective courses, earning a minimum grade of “C” in each.
- Complete all the core experiences
Certificate Requirements

Core Courses (4 Credit Hours)

Third Year
- VCS 891 – Elective Topics: Production Medicine (1 credit)
Fourth Year
- VCS 901 – Clinical Externship: Food Animal Focus (2 credits)
- VCS 917 – Rural Business Management (1 credit)
Elective Courses (Minimum of 10 Credit Hours Required)

Pre-Clinical Courses
- VCS 822 – Introduction to Sustainable Beef Systems (1 credit)
- VCS 832 – Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacteria: A One Health Perspective (1 credit)
- VCS 840 – Communication with the Agricultural Worker (2 credits)
- VCS 891 P – Basics of Bovine Theriogenology (1 credit)
- VCS 891 G&H – Bovine Palpation (1 credit)
- VCS 891 L – Issues in Rural Practice (1 credit)
- VCS 891 M – Rural Practice Management (1 credit)
- VDMP 891 F– Herd Disease Outbreak Investigation (2 credits)
- VDMP 816 – Trade and Agricultural Health (2 credits)
- VDMP 891 C – Backyard Poultry Disease (1 credit)
- VDMP 891 E – Ecotoxicology (1 credit)
- VDMP 892 B – Mentorship: Food Animal Focus (1 credit)
- VDMP 888 – Globalization and Food Trade (1 credit)
Clinical Courses (Fourth Year)
- VCS 901 – Clinical Externship: Food Animal Focus (Additional 1–6 credits)
- VCS 913 – Advanced Feedlot Production Medicine (2 credits)
- VCS 915 – Advanced Cow-Calf Production (1 credit)
- VCS 919 – Food Animal Bull Reproduction (2 credits)
- VCS 947 – Advanced Bull Bovine Palpation (2 credits)
- VDMP 911 – Dairy Production Medicine (3 credits)
Core Experiences

To complete the certificate, students must also:
- Maintain membership in at least one national food animal veterinary professional association, such as:
- Complete the required procedure log
- Complete the elective procedure log
- Deliver a college-wide seminar presentation
- Meet with your mentor (min. 1/year)
Contact Information

For more information, contact Academic Programs at the College of Veterinary Medicine:
- Phone: 785-532-5660
- Email: Dr. James Roush
View the Food Animal Veterinary Certificate guide (pdf)

Shelter Medicine Veterinary Certificate

The Shelter Medicine Veterinary Certificate (SMVC) program is offered to current Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) students at Kansas State University. The program is designed to prepare students for long-term success in shelter medicine. It emphasizes:

Shelter animal care
Animal behavior and well-being
High-quality, high-volume sterilization surgery
Shelter management consultation

Graduates of the SMVC program will be equipped with a comprehensive foundation for a career in shelter medicine and will gain the knowledge and skills to positively impact the medical and behavioral health of animals in their communities.

Requirements

Certificate Completion Requirements

To earn the SMVC, students must:

Complete the required number of core and elective courses, earning a minimum grade of “C” in each.
Complete the Fear Free Shelter Certificate® (Online and Free) independently during their first three years.

Core Courses (9 Credit Hours)

Pre-Clinical Courses:

VCS 891E – Shelter Basics: Medicine & Management (1 credit) – Year 1–2, Fall
VCS 892K – Pre-Clinical Mentorship – Shelter Medicine Emphasis (1 credit) – Year 1–3
VCS 892G – Disaster Response – ICS Deployment Certification (1 credit) – Year 1–2, Spring

Clinical (Fourth-Year) Courses:

VCS 901 – Externship – Shelter Medicine Emphasis (2 credits)
VCS 937 – Shelter Medicine Rotation (2 credits)
VCS 946 – Shelter Operations Consultation (1 credit)
VCS 949 – Shelter Medicine Community Outreach (1 credit)

Elective Courses (Minimum 6 Credit Hours)

Pre-Clinical Courses:

VCS 890B – Community Outreach Fundamentals (1 credit) – Year 1–2, Fall
VAP 891B – Animal Care & Welfare (1 credit) – Year 2, Spring
VCS 891C – Topics in Applied Animal Behavior (1 credit) – Year 2–3, Fall
VCS 891K – Topics in IVM – Shelter Systems (3 credits) – Year 2–3, Summer (Online)
VCS 891T – Surgical Skills (1 credit) – Year 3, Spring
VCS 892 Q - Victim to Verdict (1credit) - Year 2-3, Summer
VCS 892 R - Pre-Clinical Community Outreach (1credit) - Year 2-3, Summer

Clinical (Fourth-Year) Courses:

VCS 901 – Externship – Spay/Neuter Emphasis (1–2 credits)
VCS 942 – Advanced Surgical Experience (2 credits)
VCS 945 – Supplemental Dentistry for Small Animals (1 credit)
VCS 949 - Supplemental Shelter Medicine Outreach (1 credit)

Contact Information

For more information, contact Academic Programs at the College of Veterinary Medicine:

Phone: 785-532-5660
Email: Dr. James Roush

View the Shelter Medicine Veterinary Certificate guide (pdf)

Exotic Animal/Zoological Medicine Veterinary Certificate

The Exotic Animal/Zoological Medicine Veterinary Certificate (EAZMVC) program is for current Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) students at Kansas State University. The goal of the EAZMVC is to prepare DVM students for long term success in the field of exotic animal and zoological (which, for this document, includes wildlife) medicine by incorporating skills of varied areas and the ability to adapt a student’s knowledge and experience to a broad-range of species.

Requirements

Required courses (8 credit hours + 1 zero credit (VCS901) enrollment)):

First, Second or Third year
VCS 892 Pre-Clinical Mentorships – Exotic Animal/Zoological Medicine Emphasis (1 cr)

Third year
VCS 891 J Topics in Advanced Zoological/Wildlife Medicine (1 cr)
VCS 891 O Topics in Advanced Exotic Pet Medicine (1 cr)

Fourth year
VCS 905 Zoo, Exotic, Wildlife, Avian Medicine and Surgery (3 cr)
VCS 901 Externships – Exotic Animal/Zoological Medicine Emphasis (2 cr)
VCS 901 Externship/Programmed Study* (0 cr)
*Students must enroll in the zero (0) credit option of VCS901 during the 4th-year as verification that the 50 points of training opportunities have been completed and recognized.

Elective courses (minimum of 6 (12 possible) credit hours required)

VCS 891 Special Interest Anatomy (1 cr)
VCS 820 Topics in Global Veterinary Medicine (1 cr)
VDMP 804 Ecotoxicology (1cr)
VDMP 891 Laboratory Animal Science (2 cr)
VDMP 891C Backyard Chicken Diseases (1 cr)
VCS 901 Externships – Exotic Animal/Zoological Medicine Emphasis* (1-4 cr)
VDCS 903 Laboratory Animal Medicine Clinical Rotation (2 cr)
VCS 907 Supplemental Zoo, Exotics, Wildlife, Avian Medicine and Surgery (3cr)

(Note: only 2 students are on at one time; only 5-7 blocks are offered; VDMP 891 is a prerequisite)

Required Activity Points Description (pdf)

View the Exotic Animal/Zoological Medicine Veterinary Certificate guide (pdf)

Equine Veterinary Practice Certificate

The Equine Veterinary Practice Certificate (EVPC) program is tailored for current Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) students, aiming to equip them with the essential skills needed to excel as equine practitioners. This program seeks to bolster students' confidence and expertise in the field. Designed to enhance technical skills, knowledge base, and communication abilities, the EVPC offers a comprehensive foundation for a successful career in equine veterinary practice from the moment students graduate. Our primary mission is to provide robust training opportunities for veterinary students who have a keen interest in pursuing a career in equine veterinary practice.

Requirements

Required courses

VCS 892 F Pre-Clinical Mentorship – Equine Emphasis, 1 credit 1st/2nd/3rd Summer, Fall, Spring
VCS 921 Clinical Equine Theriogenology, 2 credits 4th Summer, Spring
VCS 923 Advanced Equine Studies, 4 credits 4th Fall

Elective courses (must take 5 credits)

VCS 891 R Learning Curve of Equine Practice, 1 credit 1st/2nd/3rd Fall
VCS 891 D Topics Equine Podiatry, 1 credit 3rd Fall
VCS 892 A Equine Lameness, 1 credit 3rd Spring
VCS 891 Q Equine Medicine Elective, 1 credit 3rd Spring
VCS 901 Externship – Dodge City Rodeo, 1 credit 4th Summer
VCS 901 Externship – GPVEC – Equine Dental, 1 credit 4th Spring
VCS 901 Externship – Equine Emphasis, 2 credits 4th Summer, Fall, Spring
VCS 925 Supplemental Equine Studies, 2 credits 4th Summer, Fall, Spring

View the Equine Veterinary Practice Certificate guide (pdf)

HOW to enter procedures (document: instruction for students to enter Procedures EVPC) (pdf)

Equine Certificate procedure list (pdf)