Master of Veterinary Public Health

Master’s Programme in Veterinary Public Health

The study programme is organized in accordance with Executive order no. 682 of 16 August 2002 concerning certain master’s degree programmes at universities for students admitted before 1 September 2010 and in accordance with Executive order no. 1187 of 7 December 2009 concerning master’s programmes at universities for students admitted from 1 September 2010. The programme is under the Veterinary Study Board at the Faculty of Life Sciences (LIFE) at the University of Copenhagen (KU).

 

Graduation confers the degree Master of Veterinary Public Health (in Danish, master i husdyrsundhed og
–økonomi).

 

Chapter 1. The programme’s objective and competence profile

1.1 Programme objective

The objective of the programme is to give master students with practical professional experience a scientifically based continuing education in the control and prevention of animal diseases, including zoonoses.

In addition to a broad knowledge on the control and prevention of disease, the student will attain competence within several fields: evaluation of disease occurrence and their causes, decision processes, development, planning, implementation and evaluation of programmes for disease control, disease surveillance and risk assessment at all levels – on-farm, regional, national as well as international.

 

1.2 Programme general profile

The programme includes fundamental disciplines as prerequisite for more specialized subjects. The student is required to gain knowledge within compulsory disciplines including basic biostatistics and data management, epidemiology, animal health economics and all aspects of disease control. The programme also includes supplementary elective courses.

Courses are organized as a combination of distance learning (e-learning) and on-campus learning. Activities include lectures and theoretical and practical exercises with independent as well as group studies, in order to train and qualify students in the application of theoretical knowledge. Each course is completed with the evaluation of submitted material and reports and/or examination.

 

1.3 Programme competence profile

On completion of the programme, the graduate is required, at a minimum, to demonstrate knowledge, skill and competence within the programme’s compulsory subjects and subject areas, as listed below. Additional qualifications may be acquired by participation in elective courses.

 

1.3.1 Knowledge

The graduate must be able to

• Define, identify and describe disease problems in animals on a herd, regional, national and international level and identify questions where more knowledge is needed
• Demonstrate overview in relation to methods of disease control at the highest international level
• Evaluate the efficacy of applied and alternative methods of disease control

1.3.2 Skills

The graduate must be able to

• Collect pertinent data on diseases and their possible causes
• Analyze data to identify the causes of disease occurrence
• Discuss relevant problems and questions both scientifically and generally
• Communicate and pass on results to relevant parties

1.3.3 Competence

The graduate must be able to

• Combine practical disease control with existing laws and regulations
• Collaborate within and between specialists/professionals involved in disease control, e.g. veterinarians, laboratory and other technicians, biologists, statisticians, law enforcers as well as emergency forces and resources
• Develop, plan, manage, implement and evaluate disease control in complex and often unpredictable situations, which may necessitate novel solutions and approaches
• Work independently, take responsibility and make decisions

1.4 Programme employment prospects

The programme qualifies for employment in public and private institutions, e.g. the veterinary services, universities and research institutions, and trade organizations in animal agriculture, dealing with prevention and control of contagious diseases within animal and food production.

 

Chapter 2. The programme structure and content

2.1 Courses

The programme is set at 60 credits which is the equivalent of one year’s full time study. The programme comprises compulsory courses, a Master’s project and a number of elective credits (Table 1).

 

Table 1. Programme composition:

Course category	Credits
Compulsory courses	35-38
Elective courses	5-11
Compulsory Master’s project	12-20

 

Table 2. Compulsory courses in the Master’s Programme in Veterinary Public Health:

Module no.	Course no.	Danish title	English title	Credits	Grading	Examiner
1a	LFKM10186/ 1502111	Statistik for dyrlæger	Statistics for Veterinarians	9	7-point scale	Internal
1b	LFKM10187/ 1502121	Anvendt statistik for forskere og udviklere	Applied Statistics for Researchers and Developers	6	7-point scale	Internal
2	LFKM10189/ 150221	Epidemiologi modul 1	Veterinary Epidemiology, part one	6	P/NP	Internal
3	LFKM10192/ 150231	Management af sygdomsudbrud	Disease Outbreak Management	5	P/NP	Internal
4	LFKM10357/ 150234	Sygdomskontrol og –dynamik	Disease Control and Dynamics	5	7-point scale	Internal
5	LFKM10197/ 150233	Kvantitativ risikoanalyse	Quantitative Risk Assessment	5	7-point scale	Internal
6	LFKM10195/ 150240	Husdyrsundheds-økonomi	Animal Health Economics	8	7-point scale	External
		Masterprojekt	Master’s project	12-202	7-point scale	External

¹ It is compulsory to take one of the two courses in module 1

² The Master’s project must consist of a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 20 points. The size of the project will be adapted to the other modules in cooperation with the Study Director.

 

Elective courses:

- LFKM10193/150222 Veterinary Epidemiology, part two - 6 credits

- LFKM10367 Companion Animal Internal medicine - Diagnosis and treatment of patients with gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases - 5 credits*

- LFKM10368 Companion Animal Internal medicine - Diagnosis and Treatment of Patients with Endocrine and Urological Diseases - 5 credits*

- LFKM10369 Companion Animal Internal medicine - Diagnosis and Treatment of Patients with Haematological, Infectious and Critical Medical Diseases – 5 credits*

- LFKM10364 Companion Animal Surgery - Soft tissue surgery – 5 credits*

- LFKM10365 Companion Animal Surgery – Orthopedic Surgery – 5 credits*

- LFKM10366 Companion Animal Surgery – Cancer Surgery – 5 credits*

- LFKM10370 Companion Animal Cardiology - Applied Clinical Cardiology – 5 credits*

- LFKM10371 Companion Animal Cardiology - Diagnostic Cardiology – 5 credits*

- LFKM10372 Companion Animal Cardiology - Advanced Clinical Cardiology – 5 credits*

- LFKM10373 Companion Animal Neurology - Basic Clinical Neurology – 5 credits*

- LFKM10374 Companion Animal Neurology - Advanced diagnostic approach to the neurological patient – 5 credits*

- LFKM10375 Companion Animal Neurology - Advanced Clinical Neurology – 5 credits*

- LFKM10361 Veterinary Clinical Pathology - Test Validation/Clinical Decision Making I – 5 credits*

- LFKM10362 Veterinary Clinical Pathology - Laboratory Management – 5 credits*

- LFKM10363 Veterinary Clinical Pathology - Clinical Decision Making II – 5- credits*

- LFKM10376 Companion Animal Oncology - Medical Oncology I – 5 credits*

- LFKM10377 Companion Animal Oncology -Medical Oncology II – 5 credits*

- LFKM10378 Companion Animal Oncology -Surgical Oncology – 5 credits*

- LFKM10358 Companion Animal Diagnostic Imaging -Cross Sectional Imaging, CT and MRI – 5 credits*

- LFKM10359 Companion Animal Diagnostic Imaging - Ultrasonography – 5 credits*

- LFKM10360 Companion Animal Diagnostic Imaging - Advanced Diagnostic Imaging – 5 credits*

 

Courses are planned as an interaction between lectures, exercises and self-study. Each course ends with the evaluation of submitted assignments and/or an examination. Several courses are partly conducted as distance learning (e-learning). Elective master courses may be chosen from the list above within or outside the Faculty of Life Sciences and the choice must be approved by the Veterinary Study Board.

 

* To participate in the courses it is mandatory to possess the following qualitifications: A candidate degree inVeterinary Medicine/Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and at least two years of relevant work experience in Companion Animal practise. In addition the participant must possess the title of certified Danish Fagdyrlæge according to the regulations of the Danish Veterinary Association (www.ddd.dk). Participants possessing post-graduate education equivalent to the Danish fagdyrlæge-title but from other countries must provide documentation of education and recertification.

 

2.2 Curriculum outline

The programme is structured so that it can be completed as a part-time study within a maximum of 3 years. The modules need not be completed in numerical order. However, modules 1 to 4, as well as the elective credits, must be completed and passed before module 5 (the Master’s project) can be completed. The Master’s project is written in accordance with the rules set out in the common part of the curricula for the Master’s programmes.

 

Chapter 3. Requirements for admission and enrolment

3.1 Admission to the programme

A BSc or MSc degree in veterinary or human medicine, agricultural or natural science, or engineering science, plus at least two years of relevant full time working experience, is required. Qualifying working experience is experience as veterinary practitioner, participation in disease control, planning, administration or management. Furthermore, arguments for the needs for this education are emphasized.

Following specific assessment, KU-LIFE can admit applicants who do not comply with all requirements, if they satisfy comparable educational accomplishments. However, the condition two years relevant working experience, cannot be deviated from.

 

English-language skills corresponding to B level must have been passed before commencing studies, cf. the common part of the curricula for the Master’s programmes, chapter 9.4.

 

3.2 Admission to single courses and modules

The admission requirements for the programme also apply to the courses unless otherwise indicate din the course descriptions.

To participate in the courses marked with * it is mandatory to possess the following qualitifications: A candidate degree inVeterinary Medicine/Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and at least two years of relevant work experience in Companion Animal practise. In addition the participant must possess the title of certified Danish Fagdyrlæge according to the regulations of the Danish Veterinary Association (www.ddd.dk). Participants possessing post-graduate education equivalent to the Danish fagdyrlæge-title but from other countries must provide documentation of education and recertification.

3.3 Enrolment in the programme

The programme courses can be followed in the order in which they are given. Enrolment can take place any time of year in accordance with deadlines for forthcoming planned courses and modules. These deadlines are to be found at

http://www.life.ku.dk/English/education/continuing_education/mvph.aspx,

in Danish at http://www.life.ku.dk/efteruddannelse

or directly at http://www.life.ku.dk/mvph

Enrolment is completed when LIFE has received and recorded payment for participation.