Why take Shelter Medicine Courses?
Animal welfare professionals in any position experience many unique challenges when working in shelter or rescue environments. That’s why the UF Veterinary Shelter Medicine Online Program is the perfect opportunity for all animal welfare professionals to gain critical knowledge in this growing field. The demand for well-trained professionals in all areas of shelter operations is vital to the care of animals in need. Career changers without a background in shelter medicine can ease into the program as a non-degree seeking student. Non-profit leadership courses can be particularly helpful for students interested in making a difference in the lives of animals but may not have an extensive science background.
What does it mean to be a Non-Degree seeking student?
UF’s online shelter medicine program offers the opportunity to enroll in no more than 2 courses as a non-degree seeking student. This gives professionals the chance to sharpen skills and focus on areas of interest specific to their line of work, without the demand of a full degree curriculum. It is recommended that you take VME 6810: Integrating Veterinary Medicine with Shelter Systems as it is the foundational course. Core course credits earned are fully transferable toward the graduate certificate or master’s degree in shelter medicine for students who wish to further their education.
What will you learn?
Non-degree (visiting) students are welcome to enroll in any course that does not require prerequisites. If a course lists prerequisites, enrollment for non-degree students is subject to those requirements. Check the course description or contact the department for guidance. These courses offer a wide range of topics for animal welfare professionals to hone in on skills or areas of interest specific to their role. Topics range from:
- Shelter health, behavior, and welfare
- Animal cruelty, forensics and crime scene processing
- Non-profit leadership, management, and fundraising
- Veterinary public health, disease control, and disaster response
How much is tuition?
Tuition is $525 per credit hour, plus fees for all shelter medicine courses. Please note, non-degree courses cannot be covered by Employee Education Program (EEP) or Florida State Tuition waivers. For more details on tuition, click here.
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General Request for Information – SM Program
An Application Coordinator will contact you with all the details about the online graduate program in Online Shelter Medicine.
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