Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/Bachelor of Veterinary Science

Workplace learning

What will I learn?

You will develop skills in the diagnosis and management of disease in all common species of farm animals (cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry and fish) and companion animals (horses, dogs, cats, and others).
To achieve this, the course provides a solid grounding in agricultural production systems and the integration of nutrition, genetics, economics and epidemiology into the management of herds and flocks.

In addition to your scientific and technical training, you will also develop a range of life and business skills which will help you in your work as a rural veterinarian.

The course is broken into three phases.  Phase one takes place over years one, two and the first half of year three and consists mainly of traditional lectures and tutorials. This phase is the foundation of veterinary science and provides you with a high level of knowledge in relevant sciences including pathology, parasitology, microbiology, nutrition, reproduction and the integration of veterinary medicine into animal production systems.

Phase two takes place from the second half of year three, year four and the first half of year five. In this phase you have the opportunity to integrate all your prior learning in clinical, case-based contexts through a unique problem based learning (PBL) approach, internal rotations and in the spey clinic.  You will receive clinical teaching in surgery, anesthesia, diagnostic imaging, individual animal medicine and population medicine. You will develop the ability to solve problems in the health and disease management of individual animals, herds and flocks.

Your final phase, which takes place over the second half of year five and year six, fully prepares you to enter the workforce. You will cement your theoretical and practical knowledge through an extensive program of clinical rotations which take place in a wide variety of Veterinary practice settings.

How will I learn?

Your study will be based in a single rural site for the six years of your course. This creates a strong sense of collegiality between staff and students at all levels of the program. CSU also enjoys the support of an enthusiastic and interested rural community, ready access to a wide range of veterinary practices and farms, and the relaxed, enjoyable and affordable lifestyle which comes with living in a thriving regional centre of over 60,000 people.

The course has been designed to develop a well rounded foundation of knowledge and a well developed set of practical and communication skills. To achieve this you will study in a range of learning environments such as lectures, tutorials, self directed learning activities, practicals and workplace environments.

You will have the opportunity to develop very high level practical skills and the ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real life practice through a unique problem based learning program and through workplace learning opportunities.

Veterinary Science is an academically challenging course which requires a high level of self discipline. You should expect to spend a minimum of 50 hours per week in both structured and unstructured (self directed) learning tasks.

Workplace learning

CSU's Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/Bachelor of Veterinary Science is unique in its focus on development of practical skills and client communication, particularly to agricultural business clients.  Throughout your course you will consistently have the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to real life cases.

Students begin learning in a real life practical environment in the CSU livestock facilities from first year where you animal handling pracs which includes cattle, sheep, horse, dog and cat handling.

From the second half of year one, you will also begin attending placements in a wide range of vet clinics, some of which will occur during your holidays, building up to continuous three week rotations at a wide range of clinics, which may include participation in after hours patient care in your final year and a half of study.

In your fourth year you will move into working with private commercial farms and in the equine and small animal teaching facilities during internal rotations. Internal rotations involve attending five different rotations which include dairy, farm animal, small animal, equine and clinical (anesthetics and diagnostic imaging) and prepares you for the transition from theory to practice which you begin in the second half of your fourth year.  

During this practical component students will see a wide range of cases, develop important diagnostic, animal handling and client communication skills as well as a thorough understanding and familiarity with the way different clinics operate, all of which will provide them with a competitive edge as a new graduate.

In the first three years, students are required to travel to veterinary practices within a radius of about 100km of Wagga Wagga. Students will either need a car of their own or will travel with another student who may expect some contribution for travel expenses. The University does not contribute to these costs.

In the last three sessions of the course students will travel to several off campus locations in three week blocks of clinical rotations. Some funding is available to assist with these additional expenses.

Facilities

Students are afforded the opportunity to learn in some of the best facilities of their kind in the world. The purpose-built facilities are on a relaxed and spacious campus in one of the best cities in regional Australia.

Some of the on campus facilities include:

• animal handling facilities
• campus farm and field sites
• a state-of-the-art pre-clinical centre which includes the anatomy laboratory and museum
• modern large animal hospital
• modern veterinary teaching hospital (small animals)
• state-of-the-art veterinary diagnostics laboratory
• equine centre
• practical classrooms
• cutting-edge nuclear medicine (gamma camera)