Doggie Degree

[Huntia]

I was just reading an article in a bulletin for work when I came across a media release for UNE about a degree in Animal Science where you can specialise in Canine and Equine science (amongst other things).

They were talking about distance ed students who were doing the "working canines" unit residential school.

"During the 4 day residential school, the students also travelled to a farm to see sheep dog demostrations, to the Armidale greyhound racing Club to see racing grey hounds in training, practised obedience training with dogs of mixed breeds, a saw a sled dog demonstation by Neen Brown...." They also participated in detector dog training sessions.

From what i can gather from the release it is a degree for people wishing to work with dogs in customs, military, police and corrective services ( and future areas of cancer detection and wildlife conservation)

It sounds like a wonderful degree....a career working with dogs

[sandgrubber]

Hate to be cynical, but sounds like a 'bums on seats' program to me, and I would look closely at job prospects and course requirements before enrolling.

Within an Australian university there's a lot of competition between schools for student enrollments. Your budget depends on your enrollments. So schools offer whatever sounds 'sexy'. For example, in recent years there are many new programs in forensic this and that . . . probably taught without a single forensics professional and requiring a pile of existing classes. How many forensics jobs come available each year in Australia? Will those jobs place students with a degree in forensics, or go instead with proven physicians, computer security professionals (or hackers) . . . etc?

[Huntia]

Hate to be cynical, but sounds like a 'bums on seats' program to me, and I would look closely at job prospects and course requirements before enrolling.

Within an Australian university there's a lot of competition between schools for student enrollments. Your budget depends on your enrollments. So schools offer whatever sounds 'sexy'. For example, in recent years there are many new programs in forensic this and that . . . probably taught without a single forensics professional and requiring a pile of existing classes. How many forensics jobs come available each year in Australia? Will those jobs place students with a degree in forensics, or go instead with proven physicians, computer security professionals (or hackers) . . . etc?

I can only go on whats in the media release (which is a PR job for UNE naturally), but it had the detection course being taught a quarantine dog handler /trainer and said that quarantine/customs were going to be interested in the graduates because alot of what the course covered is what they teach when training individuals for the job, so therefore they would have jobe ready applicants waiting to fil positions.

It still sounds like a great course to me....sepecially as I am about to go back to work on Monday teaching hogh school kids

[Dogsfevr]

The quarantine jobs very rarely go to anyone outside.

They have to advertise outside but they normally employ those already in the system who now the law requirements &knowledge of the field & then they train those people to become handlers which takes months & months.

That is how it always worked with the beagle brigade .

I only now of one person who got a job within one of these fields without prior knowledge but they where very good trainer/handler already & could prove how much of an assest they would be before learning all the other aspects

[Pretty Miss Emma]

I think it sounds like a good course. Sometimes it doesn't matter if there arson prospects directly related to the course, do something you're interested in and will enjoy. There's heaps of jobs out there where there is no specific course to set you up for it you need a skill set and why not get that skill set through a course you're interested in!

Mind you I also think if you're interested in learning go ahead and learn! It sounds interesting to me other than it's at a uni and I have no desire to go back to that level of study!

If you have a weblink to the course could you PM it to me as I'd love to have a look!

[Tralee]

I was just reading an article in a bulletin for work when I came across a media release for UNE about a degree in Animal Science where you can specialise in Canine and Equine science (amongst other things).

They were talking about distance ed students who were doing the "working canines" unit residential school.

"During the 4 day residential school, the students also travelled to a farm to see sheep dog demostrations, to the Armidale greyhound racing Club to see racing grey hounds in training, practised obedience training with dogs of mixed breeds, a saw a sled dog demonstation by Neen Brown...." They also participated in detector dog training sessions.

From what i can gather from the release it is a degree for people wishing to work with dogs in customs, military, police and corrective services ( and future areas of cancer detection and wildlife conservation)

It sounds like a wonderful degree....a career working with dogs

Hi Huntia. :)

There are 'soft' and 'hard' courses.

There is a very real distinction between Animal Science courses and Veterinary Science ones.

At the moment the BScV at UQ looks like the real deal.

I mention this because in a kennel situation I think it would be useful to be able to do some of the things that need to be done in a clinic.

I believe the Americans can do their own vaccinations.

That's a minimum of 2nd year nursing for administering injections here in Aus or it used to be.

The UNE course is probably one of the soft ones but I don't know a lot about it.

It would be good I think if you had employees and wanted them to have qualifications.

But if it is no better than a tafe course, then why bother with the time and money?

Px

[Jigsaw]

More info about the course My link

I'm not doing the course but have looked at some of the units within the course.

[jr_inoz]

Hate to be cynical, but sounds like a 'bums on seats' program to me, and I would look closely at job prospects and course requirements before enrolling.

Within an Australian university there's a lot of competition between schools for student enrollments. Your budget depends on your enrollments. So schools offer whatever sounds 'sexy'. For example, in recent years there are many new programs in forensic this and that . . . probably taught without a single forensics professional and requiring a pile of existing classes. How many forensics jobs come available each year in Australia? Will those jobs place students with a degree in forensics, or go instead with proven physicians, computer security professionals (or hackers) . . . etc?

slightly OT - but this is definitely the case with a few of the courses at my local Uni. "International Tourism" is one of those courses. Not a single subject in the whole course that isn't from another discipline. It attracts lots of overseas students.

[Huntia]

More info about the course My link

I'm not doing the course but have looked at some of the units within the course.

If this link doesn't work just google UNE Animal Science and it will come up :)

I just looked it up and with it being 4 years full time, I can't see myself doing it unfortunately.

With 5 years already spent at uni, and a young family that much more time studying doesn't appeal, but I still think some of the units would be extremely interesting to do :D

Edited January 28, 2012 by Huntia

[Flick_Mac]

Sorry Tralee but you really can't compare a science degree with a veterinary science degree.

The degree at UQ, and all other Australian universities undergoes accreditation assessment regularly to ensure the degree is up to standard with regard to material taught, facilities and staff: student ratios. To say that UQ 'looks the real deal' is neither here nor there - graduates have the title of veterinarian and are able to diagnose, treat and do surgery on your animals. Someone who has done an animal science degree is qualified as a handler, technician or assistant at best. It's similar to comparing a doctor with an optometrist. Similar fields but worlds apart in what is actually done.

ETA any lay person can give an injection (perhaps not legally) but there's more to giving vaccinations than jabbing them - you need to conduct a physical exam to ensure there's nothing underlying that would affect the animal if it was vaccinated, and lay people treating for diseases that they diagnose is equally as dangerous.

Edited January 28, 2012 by Flick_Mac

[Tralee]

From what I can gather from the release it is a degree for people wishing to work with dogs in customs, military, police and corrective services (and future areas of cancer detection and wildlife conservation).

It sounds like a wonderful degree....a career working with dogs

Someone who has done an animal science degree is qualified as a handler, technician or assistant at best.

Hi Flick Mac. :)

My point was:

But if it is no better than a tafe course, then why bother with the time and money?

[efowler]

Vet and Animal Science degrees are worlds apart.

A Bachelor of Animal Science is in no way a lower degree it is just different but has so many fields to work in and the careers are very diverse.

The comment about being an assistant or handler is just wrong and you have obviously not looked into the degree at all. It is more than any Tafe course can provide and is aimed at producing animal scientists!

I am currently studying a Bachelor of Animal Science through CSU in Wagga. Our course is one of the best in

the country. I am in my final honours year. I am the first

at specialize in companion animal welfare, behaviour and management. This year I am evalutating the policies of many pounds and shelters in regional/rural NSW to assess which policies affect euthanasia rates, as well as doing temperament testing and other statistics. This is all for cats as very little work has been done in this area.

Then I hope to continue on with a phD in feral cat management. Using science to better control populations. These are huge issues for every council/area in Australia. Scientists are the ones who go and research and find all evidence so policies and regulations can be changed.

My future career opportunities include working for government, councils, lecturering, continue researching, etc.

The differences between vet and animal science are;

Vet science produces vets.

Animal science produces scientists, lab researchers, ag representatives, nutritionists, reproductive specialists,

behaviorists, educators, government reps, drug developmentors, drug company reps, the list is endless in these fields.

I have a friend who just graduated and is now doing a phD

on welfare and conditioning at Dubbo Zoo. Others are working in labs on parasites which greatly affect the livestock industry. Others are nutrionists for hills.

It depends on what you want to do.

If you want to be a zoo keeper, vet nurse, shelter assistant, etc then tafe is the best place.

If you want to study hard and work in a science based field than do go to uni.

Edited January 28, 2012 by efowler

[Tralee]

efowler :)

Hi, and thanks for putting all the options on the table.

I wasn't being lazy just sceptical.

It is good to hear that the new Animal Science Degrees are high powered courses.

I was at CSU WAGGA WAGGA the year before the new Veterinary Facilities were opened and I am aware of the opportunities that are now offered.

I, myself, teach Science and personally hold qualifications from seven universities.

But I am approaching the end of my career and the point about taking on more clinic responsibilities is related to my interest in spending more time in our kennels and personally providing more of that type of care for our dogs.

If my local Vet can make a total 'balls up' of the simplest procedures then I'm sure I couldn't do any worse.

Good Luck with your work in pounds and shelters.

Px

Edited January 28, 2012 by Tralee