DVM Program
Academic Calendar
Years 1–3 | Class of 2030 | 2027–2030
Anticipated Calendar — Subject to Change
UMES SVM is actively pursuing accreditation through the AVMA Council on Education (COE). The dates below reflect the school’s current planning calendar and are subject to revision as the accreditation process, admissions timeline, and course scheduling are finalized. Please check the UMES SVM website for the most current version of this calendar.
How the UMES SVM Calendar Works
The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Veterinary Medicine (UMES SVM) is an accelerated, year-round program of study. Because the program proceeds on a schedule outside the traditional two-semester, fall/spring academic year, the UMES SVM calendar is built around three instructional terms each year rather than the conventional fall–spring–summer sequence used by most undergraduate programs.
The three-year DVM curriculum is organized into two pre-clinical academic years of semester-based classroom, laboratory, and simulation instruction, followed by a third year of full-time clinical rotations at UMES SVM’s affiliated clinical training sites. This structure gives students continuity of instruction during the foundational curriculum and sustained, intensive experiential learning during the clinical year.
| Curriculum Phase | Structure | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Clinical Years (Years 1–2) | Semester-based classroom, laboratory, and clinical-skills instruction | ≈ 90 instructional weeks |
| Clinical Year (Year 3) | Thirteen 4-week clinical rotation blocks at affiliated training sites | 52 weeks |
| Total Program Instruction | Integrated didactic and clinical curriculum | ≈ 3 years (9 terms) |
How Terms and Breaks Are Structured
- Summer semesters consist of 12 instructional weeks with no internal academic break.
- A one-week transition break separates each summer semester from the fall semester that follows it.
- Fall semesters consist of 16 instructional weeks and include a Thanksgiving holiday period followed by a two-week winter break.
- Spring semesters consist of 16 instructional weeks (17 instructional weeks in Spring 2029) and include a two-week spring break.
- A longer transition break (three weeks) separates the Spring 2028 and Summer 2028 semesters, marking the transition from Year 1 to Year 2.
- The Year 3 clinical curriculum runs continuously as a sequence of 4-week rotation blocks; it is governed by clinical-site scheduling rather than the didactic-year break structure (see Year 3, below).
A Note on Scope
This document presents the anticipated academic calendar for the planned DVM Class of 2030 — the school’s inaugural cohort — across all three years of the program. All dates are anticipated and are provided for planning purposes. Individual course meeting times, examination schedules, and day-to-day timetables are published separately each term by the Office of Academic & Faculty Affairs.
Year 1 Academic Calendar
Year 1 comprises 44 total weeks across three semesters — an introductory summer semester, followed by fall and spring semesters that establish the foundational pre-clinical curriculum.
View Term Dates & Breaks
| Term | Classes Begin | Classes End | Length | Break Period(s) Following Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2027 Semester 1 | Monday, June 7, 2027 | Sunday, Aug. 29, 2027 | 12 instr. weeks | Inter-Semester Break: Aug. 30 – Sept. 5, 2027 (1 week) |
| Fall 2027 Semester 2 | Monday, Sept. 6, 2027 | Sunday, Dec. 19, 2027 | 16 instr. weeks | Thanksgiving Break: Nov. 24–26, 2027 Winter Break: Dec. 20, 2027 – Jan. 2, 2028 (2 weeks) |
| Spring 2028 Semester 3 | Monday, Jan. 3, 2028 | Sunday, May 14, 2028 | 16 instr. weeks | Spring Break: Mar. 6–17, 2028 (2 weeks) Spring–Summer Break: May 15 – June 4, 2028 (3 weeks) |
Semester 1 Highlights — Orientation & Assessment Weeks
New Student Orientation & White Coat Ceremony: Week of June 7–11, 2027 (Orientation begins Monday, June 7; White Coat Ceremony held that afternoon)
Mid-Term Examination Week: July 12 – 16, 2027 (Week 6)
Final Examination Week: Aug. 23 – 27, 2027 (Week 12)
Year 2 Academic Calendar
Year 2 comprises 46 total weeks across three semesters, completing the pre-clinical curriculum. Students transition directly into the Year 3 clinical curriculum following the close of Spring 2029.
View Term Dates & Breaks
| Term | Classes Begin | Classes End | Length | Break Period(s) Following Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2028 Semester 4 | Monday, June 5, 2028 | Sunday, Aug. 27, 2028 | 12 instr. weeks | Inter-Semester Break: Aug. 28 – Sept. 3, 2028 (1 week) |
| Fall 2028 Semester 5 | Monday, Sept. 4, 2028 | Sunday, Dec. 24, 2028 | 16 instr. weeks | Thanksgiving Break: Nov. 22–24, 2028 Winter Break: Dec. 25, 2028 – Jan. 7, 2029 (2 weeks) |
| Spring 2029 Semester 6 | Monday, Jan. 8, 2029 | Sunday, May 6, 2029 | 17 instr. weeks | Spring Break: Mar. 5–16, 2029 (2 weeks) |
Transition to the Clinical Year
Spring 2029 (Semester 6) concludes on Sunday, May 6, 2029. Students transition into clinical-year preparation ahead of the first rotation block, which begins May 29, 2029 (see Year 3, following page).
Year 3 Clinical Academic Calendar
The clinical year consists of thirteen four-week clinical rotation blocks (52 weeks total), running continuously from late May 2029 through late May 2030. Students complete required core rotations and elective rotations at UMES SVM’s affiliated clinical training sites.
View Rotation Block Schedule (13 Blocks)
| Rotation Block | Dates |
|---|---|
| Block 1 | May 29 – June 24, 2029 |
| Block 2 | June 25 – July 22, 2029 |
| Block 3 | July 23 – Aug. 19, 2029 |
| Block 4 | Aug. 20 – Sept. 16, 2029 |
| Block 5 | Sept. 17 – Oct. 14, 2029 |
| Block 6 | Oct. 15 – Nov. 11, 2029 |
| Block 7 | Nov. 12 – Dec. 9, 2029 |
| Block 8 | Dec. 10, 2029 – Jan. 6, 2030 |
| Block 9 | Jan. 7 – Feb. 3, 2030 |
| Block 10 | Feb. 4 – Mar. 3, 2030 |
| Block 11 | Mar. 4 – Mar. 31, 2030 |
| Block 12 | Apr. 1 – Apr. 28, 2030 |
| Block 13 | Apr. 29 – May 26, 2030 |
Clinical Year Attendance & Holiday Policy
The standard UMES SVM academic calendar — including its didactic-year observed holidays and breaks — does not apply to students on clinical rotations. Attendance is mandatory for daily clinical responsibilities, including evenings, weekends, and holidays when a student has case, treatment, or emergency-duty responsibilities. Rotation start/end dates, on-call schedules, and site-specific expectations are reviewed with each student during orientation at the clinical affiliate site.
Program completion follows the close of Block 13 in late May 2030; the commencement date for the inaugural Class of 2030 will be announced separately.
Key Dates at a Glance
The table below presents all major calendar milestones across Years 1–3 in chronological order.
View Full Chronological Calendar (26 Milestones)
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| June 7, 2027 | New Student Orientation begins – White Coat Ceremony (Semester 1) |
| June 7, 2027 | Semester 1 (Summer 2027) classes begin |
| July 12–16, 2027 | Semester 1 mid-term examination week |
| Aug. 23–27, 2027 | Semester 1 final examination week |
| Aug. 29, 2027 | Semester 1 classes end |
| Aug. 30 – Sept. 5, 2027 | Inter-Semester Break |
| Sept. 6, 2027 | Semester 2 (Fall 2027) classes begin |
| Nov. 24–26, 2027 | Thanksgiving Break |
| Dec. 19, 2027 | Semester 2 classes end |
| Dec. 20, 2027 – Jan. 2, 2028 | Winter Break |
| Jan. 3, 2028 | Semester 3 (Spring 2028) classes begin |
| Mar. 6–17, 2028 | Spring Break |
| May 14, 2028 | Semester 3 classes end – Year 1 concludes |
| May 15 – June 4, 2028 | Spring–Summer Break (Year 1 → Year 2 transition) |
| June 5, 2028 | Semester 4 (Summer 2028) classes begin – Year 2 begins |
| Aug. 27, 2028 | Semester 4 classes end |
| Aug. 28 – Sept. 3, 2028 | Inter-Semester Break |
| Sept. 4, 2028 | Semester 5 (Fall 2028) classes begin |
| Nov. 22–24, 2028 | Thanksgiving Break |
| Dec. 24, 2028 | Semester 5 classes end |
| Dec. 25, 2028 – Jan. 7, 2029 | Winter Break |
| Jan. 8, 2029 | Semester 6 (Spring 2029) classes begin |
| Mar. 5–16, 2029 | Spring Break |
| May 6, 2029 | Semester 6 classes end – Year 2 concludes |
| May 29, 2029 | Clinical Year Block 1 begins – Year 3 begins |
| May 26, 2030 | Clinical Year Block 13 ends – Program instruction concludes |
Questions About This Calendar
Contact the Office of the Dean, UMES School of Veterinary Medicine, at (410) 651-7163, or the Office of Academic & Faculty Affairs, for questions regarding this calendar or its anticipated updates.
