About the Online Shelter Medicine Master’s Degree
The University of Florida’s fully online Master of Science in Veterinary Medical Sciences with a concentration in Shelter Medicine prepares professionals to address the complex health, welfare, and operational challenges of animal shelters. Students examine how decisions about an individual animal affect the larger shelter population and how shelter practices connect to the communities they serve.
The 30-credit curriculum combines required courses in animal health, behavior, population management, and community and public health with electives that let students explore their professional interests. Students learn from instructors with extensive experience in shelter medicine and animal welfare, including veterinarians who are board certified in Shelter Medicine Practice and other specialties, as well as professionals who have led shelter and community programs.
The degree can be completed in as little as two years. Courses are asynchronous, with no scheduled live classes or campus visits.
Who is this Program For?
This degree is designed for professionals who work in animal shelters or want to enter the field. It welcomes veterinarians, veterinary students, veterinary technicians, shelter operations staff, shelter volunteers and other animal welfare professionals seeking a deeper understanding of shelter animal health, welfare, and management.
Why Shelter Medicine?
Shelter Medicine is a veterinary specialty recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Caring for animals in shelters requires professionals to consider individual health, population health, and the realities of shelter operations at the same time. The advanced training provided in this program helps veterinarians and shelter professionals navigate those competing needs and improve the care they provide.
What Will You Learn?
The required courses build a foundation in shelter animal health and welfare, population management, and the shelter’s role in community health. You’ll learn to:
- Apply the Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ Guidelines for Standards of Care to evaluate shelter practices
- Develop approaches to protecting the physical health of dogs and cats in shelters
- Assess and support the behavioral health and welfare of shelter dogs and cats
- Use shelter data and population-level metrics to inform decisions about animal care and operations
- Understand how shelters help protect community and public health, including through zoonotic disease prevention and collaboration with other agencies
Required courses include:
- VME 6810: Integrating Veterinary Medicine with Shelter Systems
- VME 6811: Shelter Animal Physical Health
- VME 6813: Behavioral Health of Shelter Dogs and Cats
- VME 6815: Population Management by the Metrics
- VME 6816: The Role of the Animal Shelter in Protecting Community and Public Health
Electives allow you to build on that foundation in areas that match your interests and professional goals. Options cover infectious disease management, advanced behavior and welfare, shelter leadership and operations, communications and fundraising, disaster response, and other aspects of animal sheltering.
How Much Does it Cost?
The estimated cost of the 30-credit master’s degree is approximately $16,850 in tuition and required fees, plus any course materials. View the full tuition and fee breakdown.
Financial aid is available to eligible students. Explore financial aid options.
Minimum Admission Requirements
Applicants to the Shelter Medicine Master’s degree must have:
- A bachelor’s degree or a DVM/VMD degree from an accredited institution recognized by the University of Florida Graduate School
- An upper-division GPA of 3.0 or better
The GRE is not required. Additional documentation, including proof of English proficiency, may be required for international applicants. View the full graduate master’s admissions requirements and application instructions.
Learn More
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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