Master of Veterinary Studies

The EpiCentre offers an Master of Veterinary Science degree with endorsements in either Veterinary Epidemiology or Veterinary Public Health.

The MVS degree provides specialist skills in the application of epidemiological methods to the investigation, analysis and solving of health and food safety problems, and offers opportunities to apply these skills to the prevention and control of animal diseases and human diseases arising from interaction with animals. The degree takes a “health management” approach, and candidates are exposed to a range of epidemiological applications, covering most parts of the world, and a variety of animal species, both domestic and wild. Material is presented by lecturers who have broad experience in veterinary practice and the provision of veterinary services at international, national and individual animal enterprise levels. Where possible, the teaching is adjusted to the needs of individual candidates, while maintaining a teaching atmosphere in which candidates are strongly encouraged to learn from each other as well as from the formal teaching sessions.

The MVS degree with endorsement in Veterinary Epidemiology is designed to offer you specialist skills in the application of epidemiological methods in animal health and producitivity. Candidates will be exposed to a range of real life epidemiological problems, covering most parts of the world and a variety of animal species, both domestic and wild.

The programme has a strong emphasis on skills based training, reflected in the small group teaching approach, extensive use of workshops and practicals and encouragement of peer-to-peer learning. Candidates will learn to use a wide variety of different software programmes for data management, storage, analysis and reporting, including custom designed epidemiological software developed by the EpiCentre. Where possible, teaching is adjusted to the needs and learning goals of individual candidates. The EpiCentre prides itself on graduating candidates with advanced epidemiological skills, and the ability to to function independently or in a team, in applying those skills to novel situations.

To obtain an MVS with a Veterinary Public Health endorsement, your course of study must include:

116.726 Veterinary Public Health, 60 credits, offered every year. 
AND one or two of:

195.720 Animal health investigation, 60 credits, offered in 2010.
195.721 Analysis and interpretation of animal health data, 60 credits, offered in 2010.
195.722 Animal health management, 60 credits, offered in 2009, next in 2011. 
AND either:

116.804 Dissertation for MVS, 60 credits, or
116.805 Thesis for MVS, 120 credits.
Remaining credits may be obtained from other papers, including:

116.721 Veterinary Diagnostic Pathology, 60 credits.
116,722 Applied Veterinary Parasitology, 60 credits.
116.723 Applied Veterinary Microbiology, 60 credits.
116.724 Veterinary Anatomical Pathology, 60 credits.
116.727 Veterinary Clinical Pathology, 60 credits.
116.728 Wildlife Health, 60 credits.
116.783 Special topic, 60 credits.

Full-time students can enrol in a maximum of 120 academic points in any one year. Full-time students are expected to reside within the Palmerston North area. In between modules full-time students will have time to work on their research projects and other aspects of their studies. As a full-time student you can expect to complete the MVS in two years.