Degree Options:

Production and Management Option

Pre-Veterinary Medicine Animal Science Track

Business Option

Companion Animal Science Option

At a glance:

Veterinary medicine is a versatile and vital profession with appeal for those interested in both animals and medicine. New horizons are constantly appearing. The increasing human population requires more and more food-producing animals which must be maintained disease free. Our increased interest in ecology finds veterinary medicine also uniquely qualified to serve other animals in man’s environment, including zoo animals, pets and wild animals.  Veterinary medicine plays a vital role in research. More than 100 infectious diseases are transmissible between animals and man, while more than 250 diseases and abnormalities of man have counterparts in animals,including man’s greatest killers - - cancer, heart disease and the infirmities of old age. The College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences offers a three-year program which is basic to the degree of Veterinary Medicine (DVM); after completion of this program,students may apply for admission to The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine at Knoxville or other professional schools of veterinary medicine.  Training is provided through classroom instruction, hands-on experience in lab and field production facilities through the UT Martin Agriculture and Natural Resources Field Teaching/Demonstration Complex, tours to commercial farms, ranches, businesses and marketing and processing facilities. The West Tennessee Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory is scheduled to opened in 2008.                                                                                            

Why should a student choose the program at UT Martin?

The curriculum is designed to qualify students for admission to the College of Veterinary Medicine at UT Knoxville or veterinary college of their choice, subject to their residency requirements. Students who wish to enroll in the College of Veterinary at UT Knoxville or other veterinary college must:
• Complete the required courses as specified by the respective College of Veterinary Medicine.
• Successfully complete the Veterinary College Admission Test (VCAT).
• Successfully complete an interview with the veterinary college of their choice.
Students may complete their pre-professional requirements in one of the following ways:
• Complete the required courses as specified by the respective College of Veterinary Medicine.
• Complete the required courses as specified by the respective College of Veterinary Medicine and additional courses to satisfy a B.S. degree in agriculture (animal science). This requires a total of four years.
• Complete the required courses as specified by the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources; enroll in the College of Veterinary Medicine at UT Knoxville; and complete the fourth year of a B.S. degree in agriculture (animal science) at UT Martin while completing the first year of the veterinary medicine program at UT Knoxville. This way the first year at Knoxville counts toward two degree programs - - B.S. at UT Martin and DVM at UT Knoxville.
• Complete the required courses as specified by the respective College of Veterinary Medicine and additional courses to satisfy a B.S. degree in natural resources management (wildlife biology). This requires a total of four years.

Are there any special opportunities available such as internships, global travel, etc?

Supervised field experience, or an internship, is available for academic credit. It is required of all students in park and recreation administration, agricultural business, agricultural science production and plant science programs, and strongly encouraged for students in all other agricultural and natural resources management degree programs. Internships are designed to enable a student to obtain credit for completion of a prescribed program of work with an approved business or agency. Students have served as interns in a variety of agricultural
management and marketing positions and as interns with a variety of city, state and federal agencies. Supervision and evaluation are provided by faculty and on-the-job supervisors. An essential element of this program is that the work experience be designed so it contributes to a student’s learning and level of
competence in his/her chosen career area; routine summer jobs or seasonal employment that do not meet these criteria cannot be considered for internship credit. Students interested in the program should apply for participation one semester in advance and they should have achieved senior standing at the time the work experience begins in the case of park and recreation administration – and junior standing in the case of other concentration areas.

What can a student do after graduation – graduate school, possible careers?

While approximately two-thirds of America’s veterinarians are in private, general practice, the remaining one-third are involved in a wide variety of careers essential to the support of human health and welfare. These supporting roles are increasingly attractive to students interested in the veterinary medicine profession. Women are entering the profession in increasing numbers, and many opportunities are available for minority students interested in useful and rewarding career.

What kind of student organizations, clubs, or honor societies can a student join?

Agriculture and natural resources management students are active in several organizations which include the Agronomy Club, Alpha Gamma Rho, Block and Bridle Club, Collegiate FFA, Collegiate 4-H, National Agribusiness Marketing Association, Park and Recreation Adventure Club, Equestrian Team (Athletics), Rodeo Team (Athletics), UT Martin chapter of the Wildlife Society, Student Cattlemen's Association, UT Martin Turf Club, Sigma Alpha and UT Martin Pre-Veterinary Club. These student organizations provide opportunities for meeting established professionals in the field, enhancing leadership skills and participation in social activities.

What kind of facilities and equipment will be available to the student?

The UT Martin Agricultural and Natural Resources Field Teaching and Demonstration Complex, located adjacent to the campus, is utilized as the lab farm in the departments teaching programs. Together, both units comprise 680 acres and include herds of beef cattle, sheep, goats, horses and swine, as well as greenhouses and landscape, wildlife, field and forage crop demonstration areas. These facilities are used by faculty and students to conduct research that complements the teaching program as well as contributes to the broad objectives of the Center of Excellence.  The organization outlined above enables students to become familiar with research conducted at the teaching farm, other experiment stations of the UT Institute of Agriculture and other laboratories of the university. UT Martin, in this way, occupies a unique position that differentiates it from other institutions. UT Martin also has the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex (pavilion and stalling facility), an Equine Center, West Tennessee Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and the Ray and Wilma Smith Livestock Merchandising Center, with all of these hosting a variety of events throughout the year.

Does the faculty specialize in certain areas?

Dr. Jerry D. Gresham is a Professor of Animal Science and Department Chair specializing in meat science and live animal evaluation using ultrasound technology. Dr. Craig Darroch is a Professor of Animal Science with 13 years of experience in higher education. Dr. Darroch specializes in teaching and research in animal physiology and nutrition especially with swine and horses. He also is involved with international studies in Canada. Dr. Jason Roberts is an Assistant Professor of Animal Science and specializes in animal health. He is also the director of the West Tennessee Animal Disease and Diagnostic Laboratory and staff veterinarian for the UTM Teaching Farm.