Michigan State Curriculum Change

[rosemma]

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I have been researching Michigan for awhile. For current students, do you have any opinions on the curriculum change? Do you feel it was positive or negative and why? I personally noticed the addition of a public health class along with the separation of gross anatomy into 2 semesters. Also the change from a "radiograph" class to "diagnostic imaging." Any opinions would really be helpful.

I am contemplating why MSU might be better than other schools I have applied to so any input in that general vicinity would be amazing. I love the campus, the vet school is being renovated, and from what I have heard this new curriculum is much better. Also, if it helps, I want to go into lab animal med.

Thanks to all that reply! happy new year!

 

[rexosaurus]

when i went for my interiew the student ambassadors (1st years) all came to the same concensus: the new cirriculum is MUCH better, especially for anatomy. Hope this helps 🙂

 

[AuburnPreVet]

Wow -- I couldn't imagine doing gross anatomy in 1 semester...

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

Wow -- I couldn't imagine doing gross anatomy in 1 semester...

I can. And it makes me feel like barfing.

Oh man, there is even a barf smiley! The internet is wonderful.

Seriously, thank God for spreading out anatomy. It allows for a lot more important "applications" and "medical correlations" to be taught, as opposed to "Quick, memorize ALL of this in five months or DIE!"

 

[rosemma]

Thank you for all the replies. Does anyone know what the catalyst was behind the change?

 

[Bill59]

Schools change their curriculum about every 10 years for various reasons. If nothing else, it's a way for the curriculum committee and some administrators to justify their existence.

Don't put too much significance in it.

 

[Spartanvet4cows]

I am in the year ahead of the curriculum change, and I think they decided that trying to pack both dog and large animal anatomy into one semester was just insane. And yeah, mixed with histology, it pretty much was. I've heard mixed things about it from first year students. You still have to learn the entire anatomy of the dog in one semester, but you have fewer labs and lectures than what the previous students did (the anatomy prof was complaining to me about that). I tutored histology, and my students liked the curriculum for the most part. They didn't actually add a public health course, I'm taking that right now (must have moved it to a different semester). They split pharmacology into two semesters as well, which I would have LOVED. Some of the Veterinary Integrative Problem Solving courses were either removed or reduced which I find a bit sad because I thought they were excellent classes. The "survey of bacteriology" that we had (once again, insane) is not going to be the same in an effort not to overwhelm students. I think it will be advantageous to be in the class of 2012 or 2012 rather than experiencing it now. I definitely get the sense that they are ironing out some of the kinks.
I love it at Michigan State, I think it's a great school that has many of the problems all veterinary schools do. If you're against terminal surgery, this isn't the place to come because they alternative is practically punishment. I'm not experiencing that personally but I know a few people who are really disappointed with the alternative experience. Good luck in your application, maybe I'll see ya around here some day!