Master of Veterinary Studies in Conservation Medicine

About the Course

The Murdoch University Master of Veterinary Studies (Conservation Medicine) has been developed to provide graduate veterinarians with the opportunity to obtain training and expertise in wildlife, zoo and conservation medicine. It will also be relevant to graduates seeking to incorporate wildlife and exotic animal medicine into private practice.

Conservation medicine is an emerging discipline that involves the integration of veterinary medicine, conservation biology and public health in order to: advance biodiversity conservation; address issues associated with the inter-relationships between human, animal and ecosystem health; and study the effects of global environmental change on these health inter-relationships. There is increasing recognition that veterinarians have an important role to play within interdisciplinary teams working on environmental conservation projects. Wildlife agencies, zoos, agriculture departments, landcare groups and other non-government organisations require veterinary expertise for wildlife and biodiversity conservation projects.

The course can be undertaken by veterinarians resident in Australia or overseas and may be entirely coursework based, or may involve a field placement with a conservation project either in Australia or overseas. Veterinarians undertaking this course by distance education are strongly advised to study in part-time mode.

The Wildlife and Conservation Units/Placements have been established in collaboration with staff at the Perth Zoo Veterinary Department.

Course Structure

Course Checklist

The course will be delivered online and will be available both at the Murdoch Campus and by distance education. Enrolment in this course in internal mode is subject to approval by the Program Chair. Completion requires one year of full-time study (12 points of required units and 12 points of electives) but the course can be undertaken in part-time mode.

Required Units
VET630 Conservation Medicine	4 points
VET631 Wildlife Medicine	4 points
VET639 Conservation Medicine Field Placement/Project	4, 6, or 8 points
Students wanting to undertake a field placement associated with VET639 must comply with Murdoch University field placement regulations. Further information

Electives*

VET641 Principles of Epidemiology	4 points
VET642 Practical Applications of Epidemiology	4 points
VET640 Infectious and Emerging Diseases	4 points
VET621 Clinical Pathology	3 points +
VET620 Diagnostic Imaging	3 points +
MSC545 Communication and Conflict Management	4 points
EDU627 Development and Conflict: Educational and Social Issues	3 points
EDU450 Environmental Education	4 points
BIO550 Conservation Biology (available 2006)	4 points
STP412 Ecologically Sustainable Development	4 points
ENV412 Global and Regional Sustainability	4 points
STP576 Ecology, Society and Human Health	4 points
AST450 Society, Culture and Ecology in South-East Asia	4 points
STP406 Environmental Ethics	4 points
ENV450 Environmental Monitoring	4 points
ENV424 Geographic Information Systems for Environmental Management	4 points
ENV428 Environmental Policy and Law	4 points
ENV516 Environmental Policy for the 21st Century	4 points
ENV521 Business and the Environment	4 points
STP456 Marine Conservation Policy and Coastal Sustainability	4 points

* Some electives may not be available in the external mode or on offer in a particular year. Students must check availability and mode of unit offerings at the on-line university handbook web-site http://handbook.murdoch.edu.au Some electives have specific entrance requirements and students will need to check with the course coordinators to determine their eligibility for these units.

+ VET620 and VET621 focus on domestic small animals. Both units have specific eligibility criteria. For further information on these units please contact Margaret Setter (61 8) 9360 2581 M.Setter@murdoch.edu.au

Admission Requirements and Fees

The course is available only to students with a veterinary degree. The veterinary degree can be an Australian or international degree. The course is offered on a full-fee paying basis only. Australian residents may be eligible for the Postgraduate Education Loan Scheme.

Application Process:

In order to apply for postgraduate coursework programs in Conservation Medicine, applicants will need to lodge their online application at the following website: http://www.murdoch.edu.au/Future-students/

Applicants are also required to download the Postgraduate Studies in Conservation Medicine Application Document and post it directly to: Postgraduate Studies in Conservation Medicine, Postgraduate Office - School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, MURDOCH Western Australia 6150.

Contact Us

For information please contact Ms. Ann Glaskin, Postgraduate Studies in Conservation Medicine on (08) 9360 2640 or conservationmedicine@murdoch.edu.au