Faculty of Veterinary Science : Guide to courses 5. Bachelor of Veterinary Science

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5. Bachelor of Veterinary Science
    5.1. Course aims
    5.2. Course objectives
    5.3. Course outline
    5.4. Course structure and requirements
        5.4.1. Veterinary first to fourth year
        5.4.2. Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours)

5. Bachelor of Veterinary Science

5.1. Course aims

The aim of the BVSc course, in acknowledgement of the aims, guiding values and objectives of the University of Melbourne, is to educate students of veterinary science to the best international standards and to prepare them for careers in professional work, research and public service.

5.2. Course objectives

This course has as its objectives that graduates:

• have acquired the essential information and understand the principles appropriate to each level of achievement;

• can relate the scientific knowledge gained to the technical and vocational aspects of veterinary practices;

• have acquired academic and technical competence with animals and animal production systems, their pathogens, diseases, welfare and management;

• can organise knowledge and ideas systematically, discriminate amongst relevant data, and generalise safely;

• have developed skills in problem definition and solution, in decision-making and in program design and implementation;

• can design and conduct scientific enquiries;

• have developed leadership skills and an ability to interact effectively and communicate with professional colleagues, individuals and the general community; and

• understand the rights, privileges and responsibilities of membership of learned societies and professional associations.

5.3. Course outline

The BVSc course requires five years of University study. There are two routes of entry. Some students will be admitted on the basis of Year 12 studies into a pre-veterinary year of science at this University. Others will be admitted after completing at least one year of an approved science course at a university. The BVSc degree is required for registration to practise as a veterinary surgeon. Part-time study is not available.

The veterinary science course curriculum is arranged within several frameworks which allow lateral and vertical integration of subject matter. Key among these is the animal framework. The central focus in this framework is the management of animal health and disease. Work covers subjects which lead to the understanding of the normal and abnormal animal, how disease is produced, and how animals and their welfare are managed in the agricultural and companion animal industries.

Other frameworks are herd and flock (management of numbers of animals), production systems (for example, piggeries and vaccine laboratories), community (dealing with the two-way interaction of professionals with the community), and personal development (providing opportunities for personal development as scientist, veterinarian, environmentalist and community leader). These frameworks also link to particular subjects of the BVSc course or are a synthesis of skills acquired across the whole course.

First and second-year subjects are discipline-based. Subjects of the clinical years are based first on body systems (for example, the cardiovascular system), then on animal species and throughout on practical clinical experience.

Lectures and practical work are required in almost all subjects. Laboratory experiments, demonstrations, clinical work and vacation work on farms and with veterinarians reinforce the theoretical content of lectures. Students work under supervision in the Veterinary Clinic and Hospital at Werribee in conditions similar to those they will encounter after graduating.

Some practical work involving the use of animals in experiments is an essential part of the course.

5.4. Course structure and requirements

The pre-veterinary year in the Faculty of Science has set full-time studies in biology, chemistry and physics (together 75 points) and a choice of subject(s) for the remaining 25 points of the year's work load. Students will be enrolled in a veterinary science stream within the BSc course and must pass all subjects to be able to proceed to the first year of the BVSc course.

5.4.1. Veterinary first to fourth year

The veterinary science course is a set course which means all subjects must be studied and completed satisfactorily. Some subjects are year long, with the others taught only in either Semester 1 or 2. Each subject in a year must be passed to pass the year and to be able to proceed to the next year of the course.

In addition to formal classes in listed subjects, practical work requirements linked to specific subjects must be completed between academic semesters or terms and between years. The requirements are summarised as follows but reference should be made also to the details of the relevant subjects and rules published for students in each year manual:

• experience in animal handling, care and management.

  At least six weeks of practical experience on commercial farms, and up to two weeks at urban animal shelters such as the RSPCA and licensed wildlife rescue centres. (Both linked to the subjects Animal Health and Management 1 and 2 and to be completed during the first and second years of the course.)

• extramural work with veterinarians appointed by the faculty as academic associates.

  Twelve weeks to be completed by the end of the final clinical year for Professional Practice 3.

• practical training rostered in the Veterinary Clinic and Hospital.

  Two weeks for Professional Practice 1

  Two weeks for Professional Practice 2

• practical instruction in clinical techniques with dairy cattle at the Rural Veterinary Centre at Maffra in Gippsland, hosted by the Maffra Veterinary Centre.

  One week for Professional Practice 2.

5.4.2. Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours)

The BVSc(Hons) may be awarded to students who achieve a high standard throughout the four years of the BVSc course.

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