Bachelor of Animal Science

• to provide preliminary research training, under appropriate supervision, to a standard equivalent to the Honours year in the Faculty of Science; and
• to provide the opportunity for a student who is, or has been, enrolled in the Bachelor of Veterinary Science course to undertake advanced studies.

For each discipline the course is split into two subjects; a research project (90 points) and a seminar (10 points) totalling 100 points for the award of the degree. Students undertake both subjects from the same discipline. Assessment of the project is based on a thesis and assessment of the seminar on a presentation within the faculty's normal research seminar program.

In 2011, this course will normally be available only to BVSc students who have completed second year and who have not commenced third year.

Bachelor of Animal Science

Application

Students should first identify a supervisor of the project. The application is completed in liaison with the supervisor and must be endorsed by the Head of the Department of Veterinary Science. Applications for the Bachelor of Veterinary Science normally close at the end of October.

Selection

The Selection Committee will evaluate the applicant's ability to successfully pursue the course using the following criteria:

• successful completion of two or more years of the Bachelor of Veterinary Science course with at least H3 (65%) average for subjects from the previous year, or equivalent, and
• a letter of support from the proposed supervisor and from another member of academic staff indicating the applicant's aptitude for research, as demonstrated by performance in research-oriented components of the Bachelor of Veterinary Science previously completed.

The Selection Committee may conduct interviews and may call for referee reports to elucidate any of the matters referred to above.

The student will take leave of absence from the BVSc in order to complete the Bachelor of Animal Science. Following completion of the degree, the Bachelor of Veterinary Science may then be resumed.

The University expects its graduates to be educated and well-informed, able to contribute effectively to their communities wherever in the world they choose to live and work. It expects Melbourne graduates to have the following qualities and skills:

• profound respect for truth and intellectual integrity and for the ethics of scholarship;
• highly developed cognitive, analytic and problem-solving skills;
• capacity for independent critical though, rational inquiry and self-directed learning;
• intellectual curiosity and creativity, including understanding of the philosophical and methodological bases of research activity;
• openness to new ideas and unconventional critiques of received wisdom; and
• extensive knowledge of a particular discipline or professional area, including relevant professional knowledge and skills and informed respect for the principles, disciplines, values and ethics of a chosen profession;
• ability and self-confidence to comprehend complex concepts, to express them lucidly, whether orally or in writing and to confront unfamiliar problems;
• awareness of advanced communications technologies and modalities, sound working skills in the application of computer systems and software, and receptiveness to the expanding opportunities of the ‘information revolution';
• international awareness and openness to the world, based on understanding and appreciation of social and cultural diversity and respect for individual human rights and dignity;
• leadership capacity, including a willingness to engage in constructive public discourse, to accept social and civic responsibilities and to speak out against prejudice, injustice and the abuse of power;
• ability and confidence to participate effectively in collaborative learning as a team-member, while respecting individual differences; and
• ability to plan work and to use time effectively.

By the end of the course a student should be able to:

• plan, design and execute a small scientific investigation in that particular discipline;

• have developed competence with techniques and instrumentation used for scientific investigations in that discipline area;

• critically appraise and interpret scientific data and present results in both written and verbal forms;

• prepare the results of an investigation in a format suitable for publication in a refereed scientific journal or in the format of a thesis; and

• to participate as part of a research team to undertake comprehensive investigations under general supervision.

General Information

Use of animals in practical classes

Study in Veterinary Science does involve the use of animals in teaching. Students should be aware that the use of animals is an essential part of the course and exemptions are not available. All practical classes where animals or animal tissue are used have been approved by the University's Animal Ethics Committee.

Attendance requirements

Students are expected to work in the laboratory and/or undertake field work as directed by their supervisor. They are expected to meet regularly with their supervisor to discuss progress.

Plagiarism and collusion

The University policy on plagiarism and collusion will be applied to work submitted for assessment. Details are provided in the Course and Subject Guide issued to each student for each year of the course. The web site for the University of Melbourne's Policy on Academic Honesty and Plagiarism is http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/plagiarism/policy.html.

Where to go for assistance

Faculty Office staff at Parkville are available to answer questions on all administrative matters and can help direct you to assistance for personal and study problems. Telephone (03) 8344 7357. Students based at the Veterinary Clinical Centre, Werribee, may seek advice from staff in the Head of Department's Office (Werribee) in the first instance. Telephone (03) 9731 2000.

Other help procedures provided are:

• The student should consult their supervisor in the first instance
• The Associate Dean (Research), Prof. Glenn Browning
• The Associate Deans (Students), Dr. Simon Bailey in Parkville and Dr Michael Pyman in Werribee
• A mentor, who will be an academic staff member, is allocated to the student at the commencement of the course for the first two years and then again at the commencement of the clinical training.
• A subject coordinator is responsible for the management of a particular subject and is able to provide academic advice and receive feedback from students on the quality of the course delivery.

Is study overseas possible?

While the University has formal exchange agreements with a number of overseas universities, a few of which have a veterinary school, course structure and academic year differences have made it difficult to achieve any student exchanges. The Bachelor of Animal Science has a little more flexibility than the BVSc, so students should discuss exchange possibilities with their supervisor.

Taking leave of absence

The Bachelor of Animal Science is undertaken while on leave of absence from the BVSc.

Discontinuing your enrolment

If you wish to withdraw from the course altogether, you should request to discontinue your enrolment in the course by informing the Faculty Office at Parkville in writing. If you discontinue your course you may be eligible for a refund of fees depending on when the discontinuation take place. It is important to note that if you do not formally discontinue your studies by the census dates you will be liable for fees for those subjects in which you are still enrolled.

Re-enrolment

Most students will undertake the Bachelor of Animal Science from March to December and will not be required to re-enrol. They will, however, need to re-enrol in the Bachelor of Veterinary Science. The re-enrolment period is generally from mid-October to late November. You will receive a letter in early October outlining the exact dates of the re-enrolment period and how to re-enrol. If you do not receive this letter you should contact Student Administration.

Students who are not permitted to re-enrol will be contacted individually by the Faculty Office.

Resumption of course

Enquiries about resuming studies after termination from a course should be made to the Faculty Office. Students will be expected to have demonstrated some academic rehabilitation before any application will be considered.

The Bachelor of Veterinary Science with the Bachelor of Animal Science is considered as a combined course for the purpose of student benefits.