1. Handbook
  2. Majors, Minors and Specialisations
  3. Veterinary Bioscience

Veterinary Bioscience

MajorYear: 2023

You’re viewing the 2023 Handbook:
Or view archived Handbooks
You’re currently viewing the 2023 version of this component

Overview

The Veterinary Bioscience major will provide a springboard for students wishing to progress into the graduate entry professional veterinary program (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, DVM) at the University of Melbourne. Graduates of this major will develop understandings of the determinants of health in populations of domestic and production animals and in particular the impact of welfare, housing, nutrition and infectious agents on domestic animal health. This major will integrate knowledge from a range of disciplines including veterinary anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, nutrition, microbiology and pathology as they apply to the health of domestic and production animals.

Students will also develop skills in clinical investigation and problem solving, through an integrated systems-based approach to organ structure and function that will be the foundation for their studies in the graduate professional entry DVM program.

Students will also develop and demonstrate competencies in risk assessment and safe restraint / handling of domestic animal species and in foundational clinical and professional skills.

The Veterinary Bioscience Major is only available to students who have received a provisional/conditional course offer to commence the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine following successful completion of the Bachelor of Science. The approval of the Faculty of Veterinary & Agricultural Sciences is required to enrol into all subjects in this Major.

Science students should not select this Major as part of their study plan during re-enrolment; it will be added to the study plans of approved students as part of their conditional DVM offer.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this major, students should be able to:

  • Effectively collect and integrate information across the disciplines of anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and pathology in order to describe diagnostic processes and disease mechanisms in animals
  • Explain the relationship between animal management practices, animal and public health, and environmental sustainability
  • Demonstrate the capacity to work effectively and adaptively in diverse teams to address animal health and management related challenges
  • Communicate effectively the principles of animal health to a scientific audience and to the lay public through the spoken word as well as in written communication
  • Describe ethical and legal frameworks that guide the societal responsibilities relating to the care and management of animals including the role of the veterinary professionals
  • Demonstrate a range of technical skills appropriate to safe handling of domestic animals and laboratory assessment of animal health
  • Critically evaluate the scientific literature and apply appropriate methods of research and investigation to solve problems in animal management.

Last updated: 10 November 2023