Online Courses – Shelter Medicine

VME 6810 Integrating Veterinary Medicine with Shelter Systems

• Gain an understanding and appreciation of the critical role played by shelter professionals in protecting the health and welfare of sheltered dogs and cats, and establish a foundation of knowledge and expertise in shelter medicine; 3 credits, letter-graded.
• Next taught: Fall/Spring/Summer.

VME 6811 Shelter Animal Physical Health

• Construction, critique, and implementation of policies and protocols to protect and enhance the physical health and well-being of sheltered dogs and cats, including recognizing and responding to threats to physical health; 3 credits, letter-graded.
• Next taught: Fall/Spring/Summer.

VME 6812 Problem-Oriented Approach to Shelter Animal Behavior and Welfare

• Concepts, evaluation, and implementation of quality in shelter behavior programs, changes to promote shelter animal behavior and welfare. The course builds on VME 6813 Behavioral Health for Shelter Dogs and Cats. It is recommended for medical and behavioral staff members; 3 credits, letter-graded.
• Next taught: Summer.

VME 6813 Behavioral Health for Shelter Dogs and Cats

• An introduction to canine and feline behavior. How and why dogs and cats end up in shelters, what can be done to enhance and manage behavioral health in dogs and cats while in the shelter, and how behavior influences adoptions and retention; 3 credits, letter-graded.
• Next taught: Fall/Spring.

VME 6814 Principles of Teaching for Animal Shelters

• Skills necessary for effectively teaching in the setting of an animal shelter; 3 credits, letter-graded.
• Next taught: Summer.

VME 6815 Animal Shelter Population management by the Metrics

• Fundamentals of using shelter data to make data-driven decisions to enhance animal health and improve operational efficiency; 3 credits, letter-graded.
• Next taught: Fall/Spring.

VME 6816 The Role of the Animal Shelter in Protecting Community and Public Health

• This course enhances the ability of animal shelter professionals to serve as informed and active protectors of human and animal health in their communities; 3 credits, letter-graded.
• Next taught: Fall/Spring.

VME 6817 Humane Euthanasia Practices for Animal Shelters

• Best practices for coaching shelters in humane euthanasia.  Prerequisites: to have access to an animal shelter where you can observe and discuss euthanasia practices. Registration is departmentally-controlled to ensure that each student will be prepared to complete the course requirements; 3 credits, letter-graded.
• Next taught: Summer.

VME 6818 High-Quality High-Volume Spay Neuter

• Gives students in-depth knowledge of HQHVSN (High Quality High Volume Spay/Neuter) and introduces skills necessary for evaluating, improving, and developing successful HQHVSN programs based on community need; 3 credits, letter-graded.
• Next taught: Summer.

VME 6819 Principles of Leadership in Animal Shelters

• A survey course to introduce students to core skills relevant to leadership in an animal shelter setting based on theories from sociology, psychology and organizational science; 3 credits, letter-graded.
• Next taught: Spring.

VME 6820 Introduction to Veterinary Disaster Response

• Be prepared to respond to veterinary disaster events as a volunteer. Standards of care for operating emergency animal shelters and transporting pets before and after disaster events.  Need to maintain all-hazard plans and adapt plans in pandemic situations in animal shelters; 1 credit, letter-graded.
• Next taught: Summer.

VME 6905 Problems in Shelter Medicine

• Participate in weekly Grand Rounds and Online Journal Club for the semester, Academic Advisor must approve registration. Course credit does not count toward the GPA; 1-3 variable credits, S/U graded.
• Next taught: On student request.

VME 6910 Supervised Research in Shelter Medicine

• Academic Advisor must approve of research plan. Course credit does not count toward the GPA; 1-3 variable credits, S/U graded.
• Next taught: On student request.

VME 6934 Principles of Management in Animal Shelters

• A survey course to introduce students to management skills applicable in an animal shelter setting. The course credit does not count toward the GPA; 1-3 variable credits, S/U graded.
• Next taught: Fall.

VME 6934 Principles of All-Hazard Responding in Animal Welfare

• The all hazards approach to emergency planning and response; how it affects people and animals. Pre-requisite: VME 6820 Introduction to Veterinary Disaster Response (but it can be taken concurrently); 3 credits, letter-graded.
• Next taught: Summer.

VME 6934 Communication and Marketing for Animal Welfare Organizations

• The unique benefits and challenges of external communications and marketing in animal welfare organizations; 3 credits, letter-graded.
• Next taught: Spring.

VME 6934 Life-Enhancing Strategies of Animal Welfare Organizations

• Explore innovative, life-enhancing programs and strategies that promote optimal animal health and welfare, ideal community and personnel involvement, and organizational success of animal welfare organizations; 3 credits, letter-graded.
• Next taught: Spring.

VME 6934 Infectious Disease Management for Animal Shelters

• An introduction to all aspects of practical infectious disease management in animal shelters, including prevention, diagnosis, management, and outbreak investigations; 3 credits, letter-graded.
• Next taught: Spring.

VME 6934 Fundraising and Development for Animal Welfare Organizations

• Understand how to create and maintain a successful development program that supports the important mission of an animal welfare organization; 3 credits, letter-graded.
• Next taught: Summer.

VME 6939 Topics in International Shelter Medicine

• An introduction to the unique challenges of practicing shelter medicine in international, resource-limited environments; 3 credits, letter-graded.
• Next taught: Fall.

VME 6950 Capstone Project Presentation

• Design and presentation of a culminating project. E-portfolio demonstrates knowledge and skills gained during the master’s program in Veterinary Medical Sciences, Concentration in Shelter Medicine. Capstone project proposal must be approved, and work on the project is mostly completed before enrolling; 1-3 variable credits, letter-graded.
• Next taught: Spring/Summer/Fall.

VME 6951 Communicating Research about Shelter Medicine

• Principles of good writing and strong visual layouts for research communication during your Capstone Project Presentation or other professional settings. This course fulfills the “Writing in the Sciences” requirement for the MS Concentration in Shelter Medicine; 1 credit, letter-graded.
• Next taught: Spring/Summer/Fall.

VME 6971  Research for Master’s Thesis in Shelter Medicine

• Students who pursue the thesis-option must enroll in this course during their final semester (2-3 credits).  With approval of the student’s Supervising Thesis Committee, up to six credits may be taken during pursuit of the degree; 1-6 credits, letter graded.
• Next taught: On student request with approval of the Committee.