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Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Part A (VETS90076)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 37.5Not available in 2017
Overview
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This subject is strongly focused on clinical veterinary medicine and surgery, both the general principles of veterinary clinical practice, and the specifics of approaches to diagnosis, management and prevention of disease in the major domestic animal species. In the first unit of study, students will be introduced to principles of the diagnostic process, consultation technique, history taking, clinical examination and emergency examination, surgery, anaesthesia and analgesia, principles of imaging, preventative medicine and nutrition. Later in the year topics will include economics, business skills, ethics and the law (incl. medical records), emergency and notifiable diseases and comparative and wildlife medicine. Throughout the year students will be given opportunities to apply these principles in the context of particular species and disease states, and to acquire proficiency in a defined list of clinical skills.
Subsequent units will introduce students to the diagnosis, management and prevention of the range of specific disease conditions of domestic animals (including horses, cattle, small ruminants, pigs, poultry and caged birds, dogs, cats and other small companion animals). Units will be delivered based on clinical presentation, an approach that is designed to support students in development of their diagnostic reasoning skills, and encourage a comparative view of veterinary medicine and surgery.
First Half Year
- Unit 1 Principles of Professional Practice Part 1
- Unit 2 Reproduction & Obstetrics
- Unit 3 Itchy, lumpy, hairy & bald; Sore eyes and blind
- Unit 4 Lame
- Unit 5 Nasal discharge, sneezing, snuffling; Stridor/cough / dyspnoea
- Unit 6 Production Animals (including Pigs and Aquaculture)
Second Half Year
- Unit 7 Ruminant abdomen; Vomiting and regurgitation, dyschezia & constipation; Diarrhoea; Abdominal pain & distension
- Unit 8 Jaundice and pallor; The neonate
- Unit 9 Seizures / tremors / ataxia / recumbency; Episodic collapse / weakness /paralysis; Sudden death
- Unit 10 Polyuria/Polydipsia ; Incontinence/stranguria
- Unit 11 Weight Loss and Poor Performance
- Unit 12 Principles of Professional Practice Part 2
Intended learning outcomes
This subject aims to equip students with a thorough understanding of the principles of veterinary clinical and professional practice, and the range of diseases that affect domestic animal species, such that they are prepared for their transition to the final year of clinic based teaching (DVM4).
In addition, students successfully completing this subject will have demonstrated competency in a designated list of clinical skills, and have developed communication skills appropriate for clinic based interactions with clients and colleagues.
Generic skills
Students completing this subject will have developed:
- An in-depth understanding of specific veterinary clinical disciplines
- Manual dexterity and technical skills in the practical application of these disciplines
- The ability to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical setting, to trouble-shoot technical difficulties and to seek accurate solutions to complex biological problems
- The capacity to apply a rigorous, critical and logical approach to problem-solving
- Advanced experience in observation, interpretation of complex data, problem-solving, time management, record-keeping and communication in both written and verbal formats
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
Students must also take the following four subjects concurrently with this subject:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
VETS90080 | Professional Portfolio Part A | Not available in 2024 |
6.25 |
VETS90078 | Veterinary Research Project Part A | Not available in 2024 |
6.25 |
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
This assessment is a combined assessment for both VETS90076 Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Part A and VETS90077 Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Part B.
Unit 1 - 10% of overall assessment
- 2-hour intra-semester written examination, held early in semester 1 (90%)
- 4 X online assessments, due early in semester 1 (10%)
Unit 2 - 10% of overall assessment
- 3-hour written examination, held in mid-semester 1
Unit 3 - 10% of overall assessment
- 3-hour end-of semester written examination, held in semester 1
Unit 4 - 10% of overall assessment
- 3-hour end-of-semester written examination, held in semester 1
Unit 5 - 10% of overall assessment
- 3-hour end-of-semester written examination, held in semester 1
Unit 6 - 7.5 % of overall assessment
- 2-hour end-of-semester written examination, held in semester 1 (90%)
- Written assignment - small ruminants, due end of semester 1 (10%)
Unit 7 - 10% of overall assessment
- 3-hour written examination, held in mid-semester 2
Unit 8 - 7.5% of overall assessment
- 2-hour end-of-semester written examination, held in semester 2
Unit 9 - 10% of overall assessment
- 3-hour end-of-semester written examination, held in semester 2
Unit 10 - 5 % of overall assessment
- 2-hour end-of-semester written examination, held in semester 2
Unit 11 & 12 - 10% of overall assessment
- 3-hour end-of-semester written examination, held in semester 2
Clinical Proficiency assessment: HURDLE REQUIREMENTS
- Clinical skills proficiency testing, held early in semester 2
- Cattle prac examination, held in mid-semester 2
- Horse practical examination, held in mid-semester 2
- Caged birds practical examination, held in mid-semester 2
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
Not available in 2017
Time commitment details
950 hours
Additional delivery details
Students who take this subject must also enrol into VETS90077 Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Part B which is the second part of this subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Subject notes
To enrol in this subject, students must have satisfactorily completed all subjects in the second year of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Doctor of Veterinary Medicine - Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Last updated: 3 November 2022