Colorado State University Veterinary School - Your PREFERRED Partner

Why You Should Study at Colorado State University

If you are looking to enroll in the Colorado State University Veterinary College, you’re in luck because they offer a competent Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program. There are changes to the admission process, though, that may be announced later on.

For Colorado State University, its veterinary students are its first priority. So you can expect health protocols to be in force during the whole admission process and upon entry.

The History of CSU

Back in 1870, Colorado State University was still known as the Agricultural College of Colorado. However, the Colorado State University vet school was opened in 1907, meaning it has been around for more than a century. They have been offering quality training through their veterinary program all through the decades.

Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine is presently considered the third-leading veterinary university in the US alone.

Unpacking all that Colorado State University Has on Offer

Location

The Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine is located within Fort Collins, Colorado, on the campus of that university, within the United States of America. The campus sits right on the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, with plenty of room for students to de-stress by exploring nature. This makes studying in the university more of a pleasant occupation.

Educational Opportunities (Programs Currently Offered)

For the undergraduate programs, students can pick either of these two: Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences, and the other being Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience. There are also three minor programs, namely:

Minor in Biomedical Sciences
Minor in Environmental Health, and
Minor in Microbiology

For the graduate programs, there are quite a few Masteral and Doctorate programs that a veterinary student can enroll in, which are:

Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences
Master of Science in Clinical Sciences
Master of Science in Environmental Health
Master of Science in Microbiology
Master of Science in Radiological Health
Master of Science in Toxicology
Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences
Ph.D. in Clinical Sciences
Ph.D. in Environmental Health
Ph.D. in Microbiology
Ph.D. in Radiological Health
Ph.D. in Toxicology

At present, the Colorado State University vet school has four central departments. These are the:

Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology
Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences
Department of Clinical Sciences
Department of Biomedical Sciences

Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology

This department is manned by faculty who are specialists in the fields of vector-borne infectious diseases, bacteriology, virology, mycobacterial diseases, computational biology, and prion biology.

Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences

This department is concerned about how natural environments and man-made structures can impact human health and animal welfare. The main research goal is to provide necessary solutions to reduce or even eliminate the negative impact of the workplace and environmental exposure on the health of humans and animals.

Department of Clinical Sciences

This department is in charge of the Colorado State University veterinary hospital. The formal name of this veterinary facility is the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Both veterinary students and faculty are immersed in the health concerns of animals brought to this facility for treatment.

There are certain areas of expertise practiced in the teaching hospital, namely, the following:

Stem Cell Biology and Immunotherapy
Equine Muskuloskeletal Research
Epidemiology and Animal Population Health
Clinical Trials and Diagnostics for Diseases of Dogs and Cats
Cardiovascular Surgery and Heart Repair
Cancer Biology

The Department of Clinical Sciences is also in charge of two academic programs:

Master of Science in Clinical Sciences
Ph.D. in Clinical Sciences

In addition, it is connected to four centers and institutes, which are:

Department of Biomedical Sciences

This department is staffed by instructors specializing in physiology, neurobiology, anatomy, pharmacology, and reproductive biology research. Students can expect this department to cover their education beginning at the undergraduate level and extending to post-graduate studies.

There is one degree program that falls under the aegis of this Biomedical Sciences department:

Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences (with Anatomy and Physiology concentration).
There is also an undergraduate minor in Biomedical Sciences.

The department is concerned with:

Reproductive Biology
Pedagogy
Neuroendocrinology
Neurobiology
Cardiovascular Physiology

The Department of Biomedical Sciences is connected with the following centers and institutes within Colorado State University too:

The Center for Metabolism of Infectious Disease

The Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program

The Cardiovascular Research Center

The Animal Reproduction & Biotechnology Laboratory

Other Educational Opportunities: Special Degree Programs of CSU

In addition, the university offers veterinary students the chance to enroll in Special Degree Programs, which are:

Food Animal Veterinary Career Incentive Program

Veterinary students will gain valuable experience in the Food Animal Veterinary Service area.

D.V.M. and M.B.A. Combined Degree Program

This program combines the expertise imparted by the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program with real-world business skills training of the M.B.A. program.

D.V.M. and M.P.H. Combined Degree Program

This program is an ongoing collaboration between the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of Colorado State University and its partner institution Colorado School of Public Health. Only exceptional students are accepted into this program.

D.V.M. and M.S. in Animal Sciences Combined Degree Program

This program trains students in the skills of a veterinarian involved with livestock. The areas of study open under this program are:

Livestock reproduction
Livestock genetics
Livestock behavior and welfare
Meat and food safety
Nutrition
Dairy or beef management

D.V.M. and Master of Toxicology Combined Degree Program

Veterinary students can apply to this in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program. Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine students can train in the field of toxicology as well as gain veterinary skills.

D.V.M. and PH.D. Combined Degree Program

Students who feel they can survive a six-to-eight-year course of study can enroll in this program. This program trains students in the scientific skills required for academic and research pursuits while also immersing them in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program.

Research Opportunities for Students

Undergraduate and graduate students have opportunities to participate in research during their time enrolled in the Colorado State University vet school. Some of these opportunities are:

Experiential Learning – This means a student can volunteer in certain programs, undertake Teaching Assistantships as an undergraduate, go abroad to study, apply for service learning, take part in research and internships, as well as seek out faculty members as mentors for one-on-one guidance.

Involvement in Research – Research may be conducted during the summer term under the Veterinary Summer Scholars Program. Students are expected to seek out their mentors prior to applying for entry to this program.

Research Day 2022 – This is when students, faculty, and other researchers connected to the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences research activities may gain a chance to present the results of their research.

Admission Requirements for the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Anyone who is aspiring to enter the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences must submit proof of at least a C- grade in pre-requisite subjects. If you lack some of the pre-requisite subjects, you may be accepted on Probationary status until you manage to complete those admission requirements.

If you took online courses before applying to the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, you would need to show proof that those courses were credited to your official transcript of records.

This also means that you passed those courses with the required passing grade. Take note that the grading system used should be either letter of the alphabet or have a numerical equivalent with 4.0 as a perfect grade.

Factors That Influence Admission

You should be aware that certain factors may influence your admission into the college, such as the following:

The quality of the academic program you are credited for.
The different courses you had previously taken, including the more advanced biomedical science courses with an emphasis on quality.
Your capacity to undertake a full load of academic courses.
The pattern of academic proficiency for a given term.
Your capacity to undertake employment for specific terms.
Your history of successful involvement with different community and extracurricular projects as a group leader.
Your apparent ability to care for animals and in-depth experience with veterinary concerns.
Personal experiences.
Your ability to communicate through written and verbal means.
The way you presented your background through your application form.
Your perceived potential to become a capable veterinarian.

Take note that your application will have to undergo a holistic review since not every veterinary student applicant may pass this phase. However, the school no longer requires a series of mini-interviews during the application stage. Applicants with special circumstances (referring to cultural, environmental, educational, and economic factors) will also be considered closely at this time.

Those applicants who presented a 3.2 GPA or better may be considered for the more challenging upper-division biomedical sciences subjects. On the other hand, disadvantaged students might qualify for the Vet Prep Program. However, the school determines who qualifies since no applications are solicited for this special program.

There is good news, though, for both US students and foreign students – Colorado State University encourages diversity in its academic programs and community involvement. This means that if you come from a certain community that might be discriminated against for entry into other universities, you may qualify for admission to Colorado State University.

This policy of non-discrimination applies to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Combined Degree Programs within the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Candidates for admission will be able to start the admissions process by clicking here.

How Many Students Are Accepted Per Year?

According to the most recent data at this link, there were 2,455 applicants, but the class size was only 150. Of that number, 85% were female students, with only 15% being male students. The highest degree the admitted students had at both application and admission was a Bachelor’s degree, followed closely by those with a Masteral degree.

It was also interesting to note that majority of the admitted students were first-time applicants. The next top percentage in that batch had actually been turned down for admission before and only made it during their follow-up application.

A considerable percentage of them (32%) were first-generation college applicants, meaning their parents had never completed a Bachelor’s degree in college. An even more significant percentage (34%) were residents of rural areas, defined as communities where the population was smaller than 20,000 people per community.

The fact that a large percentage (24%) came from ethnic or racial groups showed that the college is interested in fostering a more ethnically and racially diverse community of students. Due to this high diversity of races and ethnicities, it isn’t surprising that nine languages dominate conversations within the community.

James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital

One positive aspect of studying at Colorado State University is that it houses a veterinary teaching hospital called the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital. It was opened back in 1979 and named after the former dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. The facility has been able to get national and international recognition due to its excellent services.

The facility divides its services between Small Animal Services and Large Animal Services. It is open 24-hours daily to serve the community. It is located at 300 West Drake Road

Fort Collins, CO 80523.

Small Animal Services – devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, disorders, and injuries of cats, dogs, and exotic animals.

Large Animal Services – cares for equine and livestock via diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, disorders, and injuries.

This facility has 28 independent veterinary medicine specialties manned by their own well-qualified instructors as a veterinary teaching hospital. In addition, 79 veterinarians are prepared to assist animal patients and their owners.

The Flint Animal Cancer Center

Colorado State University is also running the Flint Animal Cancer Center. Here, pets and other animals that may have developed cancer are diagnosed and treated for their illness. Pet owners will also get information on how to care for their pets who have been diagnosed with cancer. The rationale for setting up such a facility is that many dogs and cats (and other pets) are at risk of developing cancer.

Veterinary care for cancer patients is divided into the following phases:

Diagnosis Assessment – This is a group effort since each possible cancer case is considered by a multi-specialty team of veterinarians. (This group may have input from surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists). This means there is no “one-size-fits-all” diagnosis.

Customization Treatment – Just as the diagnosis is specially focused on the uniqueness of each case, so is the cancer treatment itself designed to fully meet the specific needs of a patient that has been diagnosed with cancer.

Post-Diagnosis Care – This covers the daily care routine prescribed for a particular cancer patient. The veterinarians attempt to provide clear instructions for pet owners to follow to ensure their pet is comfortable and benefits from daily attention.

Incidentally, the knowledge gained by the Flint Animal Cancer Center specialists does support people who also have cancer. So, this valuable data is applied to the treatment of human cancer patients as well.

Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories of Colorado State University

The facilities that make up the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories are located within the state of Colorado, including one Rocky Ford branch and another in Western Slope, Grand Junction. These veterinary laboratories offer different specialties of diagnostic laboratory tests at each location. The main laboratory is in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Note: Some services might not be offered at the two branches of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories.

The diagnostic laboratory tests supplied by the laboratories are:

Bacteriology
Avian Diagnostics
TSE
Parasitology
Clinical Immunology
Chemistry and Toxicology
Immunohistochemistry
Pathology
Histopathology
Clinical Immunology
Molecular Diagnostics
Virology
Specialized Infectious Disease
Clinical Pathology

Unique Activities for Students to do in Colorado

Being in Fort Collins, Colorado doesn’t mean you have to spend every waking hour just reading textbooks and seeing sick or injured animals. Instead, the university encourages all of its students to take part in extracurricular activities that are fun and enlightening at the same time. So if you want to, here are some exciting ways to spend your spare time in veterinary school.

Cliff Camping for Your Mountain Adventure

If you’re clueless about what cliff camping is, that’s okay. Many people have yet to try this very exciting adventure. First, it means you will be trained in the basic skills of rock climbing; then, you will spend half a day and a night on your very own “portaledge.”

Rent an E-bike to Explore the Community

For the benefit of newbies, an e-bike is basically a bicycle that runs on electricity. You should make sure the e-bike you rent has a fully charged battery so that you don’t come to a dead stop at some point. This is a great way to see local sites or even venture to bike trails.

Go Kayaking on the Confluence River

Couch potatoes will probably never try kayaking which is a crying shame. However, kayaking is definitely one sport where you will be pitting your paddling skills against the might of an actual river. Be sure to bring your buddies along so that someone can be the designated videographer while everyone else tries out this wet and wild pastime.

Try Out Aerial Sports as Well

The weather can be lovely in Colorado, so it isn’t surprising that many people want to go hang-gliding and paragliding during bright sunny days. However, if you’re not afraid of jumping out of an airborne plane, you can also try skydiving. These three sports will make it seem that gravity is a myth and that you’re superhuman. (Note: Make sure you have a functioning parachute on your back before you jump out of the plane.)

Take a Walk Through the Cheyenne Mountain Nuclear Bunker

If you’ve never heard of a nuclear bunker before, it’s a kind of structure that was designed to shelter people from a nuclear bomb attack. The idea was to shield people from the radiation emitted by a bomb and provide enough supplies so that the occupants could hide there for a long time. So even if you’re not the type to dig high-tech facilities, this place may be an eye-opener for you.

Visit the Ancient Ruins of Pueblo Native Americans

This will appeal to those interested in the ancient Pueblo communities that used to live in Dolores, Colorado. It is believed that the descendants of those who built these structures eventually moved to New Mexico and Arizona.

If you have the time and energy to go on these trips within Colorado, be sure that you are ready for any untoward incident. This means bringing along a backpack with a first-aid kit, a change of clothing, and extra rubber shoes. You may also pack yourself some food and water in leak-proof containers, in case you’re far from any stores but need sustenance. Lastly, always notify your friends about where you intend to go on your extra-curricular jaunts so that they know what to do in case of an emergency.

Tips for Candidates for Admission

If you are considering applying for admission to Colorado State University, you should bear certain things in mind that may affect your studies in this school. These are:

Weather conditions – Generally, the state of Colorado has a good mix of warm and cold weather almost year-round. The days can become very hot while the nights tend to be very cold. So, be sure to buy or pack enough clothing and the right shoes for your stay. Prepare for snow as well during the winter season by buying the right footwear and warm clothing.

Lodgings – You may have to pay for lodgings while enrolled at Colorado State University since not everyone can be accommodated in on-campus lodgings. You may be required to bring your own bedding as well. Make sure you have arranged for the proper accommodations before you even arrive on campus.

Money – It goes without saying that you are expected to pay for your own expenses throughout your entire stay in this school. This may mean having enough cash with you. You also have the option of bringing a functional credit card and/or debit card so you can pay your way.

Food – This could be your favorite topic when you are considering which school to apply to. Understandably, you might prefer to cook your own food during your stay. This is especially true for international students who might have their own food preferences. However, you are not allowed to bring cooking equipment into your lodgings. Best to check with the facility as to where you will be allowed to prepare your food.

Medicine and health food supplements – Some students may be on specific types of medicine for health reasons. Others might prefer to bring along their own health food supplements too. If this is your situation, you should make sure to have legitimate prescriptions on hand in case of a medical emergency. It is equally crucial that those prescriptions are written in English too.

A hard copy of your address book – You are advised to print out a list of the people you will need should certain situations crop up requiring their input. This applies even if you already have a complete list of contacts on your cellphone. Put a copy of this list in your school bag for easy retrieval. You can also submit the list to the school administration in case of an emergency.

Parting Words From Veterinary Universities

Suppose you are a high school student who may be interested in pursuing a career in veterinary medicine. In that case, it is important to take high school subjects that will be useful and important to you when you apply for and enroll in the courses mentioned here, under the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of Colorado State University.

You will need to enroll in up to four years of Mathematics, four years of English, and naturally, up to four years of laboratory science. The academic coverage of high school level laboratory science subjects is Biology, Physics, and Chemistry. These can be considered foundational courses that will prepare you for the more rigorous academic training in your pre-veterinary and veterinary medicine immersion.

Hopefully, this has enlightened you about the requirements of a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine program and other related knowledge. Now you know what is needed and how you can begin your preparation for the exciting and challenging field called veterinary medicine at Colorado State University.

Colorado State University Veterinary School – Your PREFERRED Partner