Faculty of Veterinary Science Research Areas

Introduction

This Master’s Degree by Coursework is purpose-designed to enable graduate veterinarians to access the professional knowledge they need to improve poultry productivity. Flexibility in course design provides basic and advanced knowledge, the development of problem solving skills and their application within both the modern (intensive) and the still-developing poultry industries.

• develop breadth and depth of knowledge in avian health and the allied production-related disciplines.

• attain an advanced level of skills in the diagnosis, prevention and control of infectious and non-infectious diseases of poultry.

• apply their developed professional competencies in avian health to achieving enhanced productivity and benefits.

• have developed preliminary research skills including the ability to search and critically review scientific literature;

• to analyse and interpret the results of experimental studies

• to write reports/papers in the field of avian health.

• be effective in spoken and written scientific communication at the professional, industry and community levels.

• conduct professional practice as specialist poultry veterinary practitioners and/or consultants in agribusiness, Government Departments of Agriculture and Universities in Australia or overseas.

• Have developed interpersonal and organisational skills and knowledge towards leadership within the veterinary profession and the community.
  
  
  

Entry Requirements

A BVSc, or an equivalent qualification from a Veterinary School listed in the World Health Organisation Directory of Veterinary Schools, is a prerequisite for the course and for individual subjects. Preference is given to applicants who have had some previous professional experience. Fluency in spoken and written English is essential. Minimum acceptable scores for this course are TOEFL 577 and Test of Written English (TWE) 4.5; Computer TOEFL of 237 and an Essay Rating Score of 4.5 or an IELTS of 6.5 obtained in the last 24 months.

Modes of Study

Full-time - Candidates will be expected to complete all requirements of the course within 12 months. A period of 12 weeks, being the period between mid- November and the end of the first week in February of the following year, are allowed for completion of the research project.

Part-time –Candidates may elect to complete the 6 course work subjects as well as the research project within a total period of 24 months from enrolment. A minimum progress requirement will be the completion of one subject during any 6 -month period

Single subject (non award) – Available for all subjects except the Avian Research Project
Students may enrol to undertake 1-2 subjects within any one year of the course, in order to obtain specialist knowledge in avian health-in- production. These candidates enrol under the Community Access Program (CAP) and may obtain an academic transcript at the completion of the subject assessment. Applicants with successful CAP studies will be considered for admission to the Master of Veterinary Studies course with credit, if the subjects have been completed within 3 years.

Course Requirements

The course comprises six course work subjects (three in each semester) and a research project. All subjects must be undertaken and passed for the award of the degree of Master of Veterinary Studies.

Areas of study

Details of all subjects can be found on the Current Courses Offered page

250637 Poultry Production/Health Interactions (21 July- 22 August 2003)
This subject is designed to give candidates a sound understanding of the key factors which can constrain production of the avian species and the interactions which can be occurring between production processes and health.

250638 Applying Pathology in Diagnosis (1 September- 3 October 2003)
This subject is designed to give candidates a sound working knowledge of the major disease conditions (infectious and non-infectious) of poultry, allied with the ability to develop adequate differential and then final diagnoses by using confirmatory laboratory backup as appropriate.

250639 Understanding and Using Microbiology and Serology (13 Oct- 14 November 2003)
This subject is designed to give candidates a detailed understanding of the microbiological culture and serological procedures which can be applied by laboratories in support of poultry disease diagnosis and prevention.

250640 Infectious Diseases: Successful Control and Prevention (9 February -12 March 2004)
This subject is designed to assist candidates to develop a thorough understanding of infections diseases and their prevention and control through using a combination of physical measures that can be integrated closely with microbiological and immunology-based understanding and methodologies.

250641 Product Safety, Public Health & Trade Issues (22 March - 23 April 2004)
This subject is designed to assist candidates to develop a firm basis of understanding of food and product safety so as to enable them to operate and advise competently in these vital areas of agribusiness as well as trade in Poultry products.

250642 Avian Veterinarians and Financial Decision-Making (10 May- 11 June 2004)
This subject will enable to assist candidate veterinarians to be able to undertake appropriate financial analyses of production data and the costs associated with these activities, and apply this competency towards achieving the most effective professional practices and advice to management.

250643 Avian Research Project
This subject will require the preparation of a Research Dissertation of some10,000 words, to be based on the international veterinary scientific and technical literature which relates to the approved topic. The topic must also be in an aspect of Avian Health which can usefully be related to a candidate’s workplace. The successful preparation of this Dissertation will require the candidate to have developed the ability to search and critically review relevant scientific literature and data bases, as well as to analyse and interpret, then compare and contrast the results of scientific studies and to discuss their significance.

While this subject can be undertaken by a candidate at any location of their choice, reports and evidence of satisfactory progress will require to be lodged monthly with the course coordinator.

Please Note: Scholarships are not available from The University of Melbourne for this course.