The Curriculum

As mandated by CHED [Commission on Higher Education], 221 units ang kailangan mo para makuha ang iyong DVM Diploma and enjoy all the privileges na nakaakibat dito. Sa UPLB, 221 ang kabuuang bilang ng units kasama ang required and elective GE courses. Ang kabuuang bilang ng units ay depende sa Vet School na papasukan mo.

Despite having K-12 curriculum, the DVM program across the Philippines is still a 6-year program. In the case of UPLB, the DVM curriculum was added with new DVM courses while other GE subjects were eliminated. Also, the Pre-Vet program was removed. Ibigsabihin nyan, deretso na agad ang mga istudyante sa pagiging ‘vet proper’, at kumukuha na agad sila ng mga DVM courses as early as 1st year.

Here is the complete curriculum of DVM program designed by UP CVM. It can be subjected to changes. 😃

UP system is known to exercise academic freedom not only for their graduate students and professors but also for the undergraduate students. Aside from being free to think, discover and challenge notions, the university gives its students the freedom to choose your desired schedule and courses every semester given that you satisfy the minimum requirement/s (e.g. prerequisite). You are given with freedom to choose whatever G.E. courses and when to take them. So, use this power smartly. PERO agawan ng slot sa UP! UGHHHHHHHHH

May extra challenge siguro sa mga vet students sa Elbi kasi during the first and second years, G.E. and foundation courses are the majority of the courses. Meaning, doble effort ka para makakuha ng units, at hindi pa kasama diyan ang pangangailangan na ma-survive ang mga ito. Halimbawa, kasabay mo mag-Chem Series ang mga Bio, Agri, and Forestry students, so, asahan mong kaagaw mo na ‘yan sila sa enlistment!

Over the years, since the revision of UP Vet Med for 21st Learners a.k.a. K-12 Students, UP CVM faced many challenges in accomodating its students. Sa totoo lang, hindi over-over ang agawan noon ng units sa CVM. Ang technique ko pa noon (circa 2018) ay unahin i-enlist ang mga G.E. at Chem ko kaysa sa mga CVM courses. Mas madali pa eh. But everything changed when UP CVM had increased its student acceptance rate. Tumaas talaga ang student population sa CVM. And in my humble opinion, diyan na nagsimula ang lagim sa UP CVM.

Padami nang padami ang mga nadedelay hindi lang dahil sa bagsak sila, kundi sa kaunting slots sa mga courses. The UP CVM admin responded by imposing a unique enlistment scheme. Gumawa ang admin ng block sections para sa mga on-time students. Bago magstart ang general enlistment, mauuna na “magpalista” sa certain blocks ang mga on-time students. Ang mga delayed students ay sa mismong araw na ng enlistment makakakuha ng courses nila.

Actually, this is not a new scheme as per the UP CVM admin, they imposed this several years ago just before the first batch of K-12 entered the college (a.k.a. mga magagandang Batch 18).

As far as I know, the scheme is working well. Medyo malilito ka lang siguro sa simula. Hehehe

Kung laging bukambibig ng kolehiyo na siya lang naman daw ang unang producer ng veterinarians sa bansa, siguro naman ay dapat lang na mas marami ang faculty nila

Unlike other Vet Schools in the country, there are significant number of professors in UP CVM. There are professors who are the pioneers in their fields such as in anatomy, neurophysiology, parasitology, wildlife conservation and medicine, among others. Ang hindi siguro mapagkakaila sa teaching force ng UP CVM ay ang diversity na ito. So far, mayroong 38+ teaching staff ang UP CVM.

Isinusumpa ng karamihan sa mga clinicians siguro ang curse ng dalawang vet teaching hospitals ng UP CVM. Pero kung iisipin mo, this is really an advantage. The VTH-LB station focuses in both large and small animals while the VTH-Diliman a.k.a. Companion Animal Clinic (CAC) solely for small animal medicine and surgery. Ang mga duties namin sa SAS and CAC ang humubog ng aking clinical skill (eme) dahil hindi gaya ng ibang mga universities, mga students talaga ang gumagawa ng mga clinical work-ups mula history taking hanggang client education as guided by the faculty-in-charge. I owe my client ed skills sa duties namin diyan!

Sa pitong *ehem* taon ko siguro sa CVM, ayan yung ilan sa mga palagay kong naiiba sa ibang vet schools sa Pinas. Kung gusto mo maranasan yang mga ‘yan, go ahead. Pero kung hindi, bahala ka sa buhay mo. ****