I. CORE | II. CAPSTONE COURSE SERIES FOR MS | III. ELECTIVES FOR MS | IV. THESIS-BASED REQUIREMENTS
Please view the Course Tracker document to see the full list of courses, course requirements, and access syllabi.
I. Core Courses – Required 15 Credits
These courses are required for both the Master of Science and the Graduate Certificate in Shelter Medicine.
| Course # | Course Name | Credits | Type | Fall | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VME6810 | Integrating Veterinary Medicine with Shelter Systems* | 3 | Core | X | X | X |
| VME6811 | Shelter Animal Physical Health | 3 | Core | X | X | |
| VME6813 | Behavioral Health for Shelter Dogs and Cats | 3 | Core | X | X | |
| VME6815 | Animal Shelter Population Management by the Metrics | 3 | Core | X | X | |
| VME6816 | The Role of the Animal Shelter in Protecting Community and Public Health | 3 | Core | X | X |
*All students must take this course in their first semester as an introduction to the field of Shelter Medicine and course technology.
II. Additional Research, Communication, and Capstone Course Series for Non-Thesis Master of Science
| Course # | Course Name | Credits | Type | Fall | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VME6910 | Supervised Research in Shelter Medicine* | 3 | Master’s elective | X | X | X |
| VME6951 | Communicating Research About Shelter Medicine** | 1 | Master’s core | X | X | X |
| VME6950 | Capstone Project Presentation*** | 3 | Master’s core | X | X | X |
In order to prepare for and deliver a successful capstone project, students are encouraged to take VME6910, VME6951, and VEM6950 in consecutive order over 3 semesters.
*VME6910: Supervised Research in Shelter Medicine (should have successfully completed at least 2 semesters in the program prior to enrolling; recommended to enroll at least 2 semesters prior to expected graduation term to select Capstone topic and begin Capstone Project research) Counts as elective for Master’s
**VME6951: Communicating Research About Shelter Medicine (recommend completing at least 1 semester prior to Capstone Project Presentation; requires preapproval of Capstone topic prior to enrollment) Core requirement for Master’s
***VME6950: Capstone Project Presentation (required in student’s graduation term) Core requirement for Master’s
Non-thesis students are expected to (1) meet with their online advisor at least once annually to review progress, (2) keep an e-portfolio to document their learning and professional growth, and (3) to develop a “Capstone Project” approved by their advisor before the final semester of their program.
Thesis students are expected to (1) meet online with their committees at least twice annually to review their progress, (2) document teaching efforts, (3) attend online national rounds, and (4) develop and defend their thesis.
III. Electives – Required 15 credits for Master of Science
III-a – Electives in Shelter Medicine
To see a full list of available Shelter Medicine electives, please review the Course Tracker document.
III-b – Electives counted towards Certificate in Veterinary Forensic Sciences
Electives that count toward a Certificate in Veterinary Forensic Sciences can also count as your elective credits for your Master of Science in Shelter Medicine. To learn more about Veterinary Forensic Sciences courses, please visit the program website.
IV. Thesis-based Degree Requirements – 10-14 Credits
Students can choose to complete a thesis if they have outside funding. To learn more about completing a thesis with outside funding, please contact Dr. Julie Levy.
Courses and schedule are subject to change based on demand and availability.