1	To increase the knowledge and skills associated with a particular aspect of veterinary medicine/science
2	To be able to critically appraise a topic based on an important aspect of the elective topic using the principles of evidence-based veterinary medicine

The elective course will cover a continuous 3 week period. Within this time, students will be expected to attend sessions as appropriate and required.

Some out of hours and weekend work may be expected within the period.

Students will participate in a variety of activities to allow for a broad exposure to the elements of their topic of choice. These activities can include clinical rounds, case reviews, tutorials, surgery, farm visits, laboratory activities, diagnostics cases, participation in a research project, etc. Students will be expected to prepare daily for their activities. An average day will consist of approx 8 hours, with additional preparation time dependent on the natureof the activities. The workload for each elective will have to be approved by the SAVS LTCC.

Content will vary with individual elective topics and topic availability will vary between years. A list of available topics will be provided by the beginning of each year for students to nominate a preference.

Examples of available elective topics are:

Emergency and critical care in equine medicine

Pre-requisite rotation: VET SC 7300RW Clinics in Equine Studies

Learning objectives:
To examine and evaluate emergency and critical care cases including physical examination, laboratory & other diagnostic testing and emergency procedures
To monitor a critical care case and develop an advanced monitoring plan

Syllabus:
Basis of emergency and critical care
Evaluation of emergency and critical care cases including physical examination, laboratory & other diagnostic testing and emergency procedures
How to interpret, monitor and support a critical care horse with the goal of maintaining adequate delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the tissue and treating the underlying problem
Mainstay of support: fluid therapy
Determine and monitor hydration status
Understand basic procedures of fluid therapy
Determine which fluid products and equipment needed to develop and monitor fluid therapy plan
Variable emergency and critical care cases
Colic and other gastro-intestinal diseases including post-operative critical care
Neonatal care
Respiratory and cardiovascular critical care

Veterinary Entrepreneurship & Leadership
Pre-requisite rotation: N/A

Learning objectives:
To identify the attitudes, values, characteristics, behaviour, and processes associated with successful business and entrepreneurial behaviour
To be able to articulate/develop a comprehensive assessment, feasibility report, proposition and/or plan for a veterinary business
To be able to apply negotiation skills for resolving disputes and conflicts and management of change

Syllabus:
The elective will be a combination of face-to-face tutorials/workshops and on-line self-directed learning utilising components already developed by the Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation and Innovation Centre (Faculty of ECMS).

Laboratory Animal Medicine
Pre-requisite rotation: VET SC 7304RW Pathology & Diagnostic Services and VET SC 7303RW Comparative Diagnostic Imaging, Anaesthesia & Analgesia

Learning objectives:
To be able to explain the discipline of comparative medicine to a lay person and how it is distinct from the various species or discipline specialities that comprise it
To understand the ethical review process and the role the veterinarian plays in it
To demonstrate a basic knowledge of the biology of laboratory animals including, but not limited to, gestation periods, weaning ages, nutritional requirements
To show a basic knowledge of common lab animal diseases which impact on animal welfare or research outcomes
To be able to name commonly used animal models for major disease research areas (eg, cancer biology)
To be able to advise a researcher on appropriate anaesthesia and analgesia for research use taking into consideration the various research, equipment and economic issues influencing this choice
To understand health screening principles in order to be able to devise one for a facility, based on risk analysis, species, production status, etc

Syllabus:
The role of the laboratory animal veterinarian in research
Review of the legislation related to animal research in Australia and common ethical frameworks
Facility management – housing systems, biosecurity
Animal models of human disease; techniques of experimentation
Species medicine: mice, rats, rabbits, primates, amphibians & reptiles
Basic biology, breeding systems, disease/health status, anaesthesia

Assessment Task	Task Type	Due	Weighting	HURDLE	Learning Outcome
Attendance/Participation	Formative	Throughout Course	0%	YES	1
Learning Objectives	Summative	Throughout Course	70%	YES	1
Critical Review	Summative	Throughout Course	30%	YES	2

HURDLES:

To pass this course students must:
1. Attend each full day of the elective course.
· Students that fail the attendance hurdle will not be offered an additional or replacement assessment and will be required to repeat the rotation in its entirety.

2. Achieve a minimum of 50% in the assessment of the Learning Objectives.

3. Achieve a minimum of 50% in the Critical Review
·   Students that fail either of hurdles 2 or 3 will be provided with an additional piece of assessment.

Attendance & Participation (0%). Attendance at each day of the elective will be compulsory. Students will be able to apply for an approved absence with appropriate supporting documents, but must
attend a minimum of 12 days (with approved absences) to be able to complete the course. Students absent without approval will automatically fail the course. Students will be expected to actively participate in the course activities.

Learning Objectives (70%). Within each elective topic, individual supervisors will have prescribed
learning objectives that students will be assessed against. Each set of learning objectives and their assessment strategy will have been pre-approved by the Program Co-ordinator & LTCC

Critical Review (30%). Students will complete a critical review of up to 3000 words on an area
based around an aspect of their elective topic using the principles of evidence-based veterinary medicine. Each review will be assessed by a rubric. The review will be due by the Monday morning following the
completion of the course.

Late Submission

If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply.  A mark of zero will be allocated to late submitted assessment.