Bachelor
The Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing is the first para-professional veterinary nursing qualification of this level available in Australia.
It is designed to produce highly skilled clinicians with exceptional levels of practical skill, knowledge and in-depth understanding gained through a stimulating exploration of the academic underpinnings of the field.
A semester-long industry placement in second year provides the opportunity to apply the theory and practices learned on campus in a range of areas of interest. This placement, along with ongoing comprehensive practical clinical experience will ensure that graduates are 'Future ready' and highly employable.
In third year, students can opt to undertake paid work in veterinary practices (outside of classes). Throughout their course, students undertake WIL placements in various industry settings including hospitals, animal shelters and farms. Students are fully supervised by experienced veterinary team members while at external placements.
This course is delivered in partnership with Melbourne Polytechnic at Epping. For more information please visit the Melbourne Polytechnic website.
The qualification awarded on graduation is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) as Level 7.
Please note, the following course structure is indicative and subject to change depending on your course location, offer year or how you tailor your course with specialisations, majors, minors and electives. Structures for the following year are not normally finalised until October, so the sample provided is based on the most recently approved structure. For more information, please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook.
To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing, students must complete a total of 360 credit points across 3 years.
Year 1 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:
Year 2 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:
Year 3 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:
Core subjects are required subjects in your course. You need to complete these subjects to attain your degree.
Subject name Subject code Year Credit points ACADEMIC INTEGRITY MODULE LTU0AIM 1 0 WOMINJEKA LA TROBE: INDIGENOUS CULTURAL LITERACY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION ABS0WOM 1 0 ANIMAL CARE AND MANAGEMENT VET1ACM 1 15 APPLIED VETERINARY NURSING PRACTICE A VET1VNA 1 15 COMMUNICATION FOR THE VETERINARY TEAM VET1CVT 1 15 FOUNDATION STUDIES FOR VETERINARY NURSING VET1FSV 1 15 INTRODUCTION TO VETERINARY NURSING PRACTICE VET1IVN 1 15 VETERINARY CLINICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ANIMAL FORM, FUNCTION AND HEALTH B VET1AFB 1 15 VETERINARY CLINICAL PERSPECTIVES: ANIMAL FORM, FUNCTION AND HEALTH A VET1AFA 1 15 APPLIED VETERINARY NURSING PRACTICE B VET2VNB 2 15 DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING AND ANAESTHESIA VET2DIA 2 15 EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE FOR VETERINARY NURSES VET2EBN 2 15 INTRODUCTION TO ADVANCED VETERINARY NURSING VET2IAN 2 15 VETERINARY NURSING AND ANIMAL DISEASE VET2VAD 2 15 VETERINARY PRACTICE MANAGEMENT VET2PRM 2 15 THE PRACTICING VETERINARY NURSE VET2PVN 2 30 ADVANCED VETERINARY SURGICAL PATIENT CARE VET3ASC 3 15 APPLIED RESEARCH PROJECT 1 AGR3RP1 3 15
A range of standalone elective subjects is available in this course. Some electives are recommended for your course, but you may also be able to choose from a range of University-wide electives or electives from other interest areas or disciplines. Note these electives may have their own prerequisites and other requirements. Please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook for the subjects available. The following electives are recommended for Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing.
Subject name Subject code Year Credit points AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY AGR1AST 1 15 AGRONOMY 1 AGR1AGR 1 15 APPLIED EQUINE BEHAVIOUR AND PRACTICES AGR2AEP 1 15 ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS SCI2ECO 1 15 EQUINE ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY AGR1EAP 1 15 EQUINE HEALTH SYSTEMS VET1EHS 1 15 EQUINE LOCOMOTION AND EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY AGR2ELP 1 15 EQUINE REPRODUCTION AGR2EQR 1 15 LIVING SYSTEMS 1 SCI1LS1 1 15 PLANT PESTS AND PATHOGENS AGR2PPP 1 15 RURAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AGR1RBM 1 15 SMALL ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR AND TRAINING VET1SAB 1 15 STATISTICS AND EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN SCI2SED 1 15 STUD AND STABLE MANAGEMENT AGR1SSM 1 15 TURF MANAGEMENT 1 AGR1TM1 1 15 TURF MANAGEMENT 2 AGR1TM2 1 15 VINEYARD MANAGEMENT AGR1VM 1 15 WINE CHEMISTRY 1 AGR2WC1 1 15 WINE EVALUATION 1 AGR2WE1 1 15 WINEMAKING 1 AGR1WIN 1 15 ADVANCED EQUINE HEALTH CARE VET3AEH 3 15 AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND COMMODITY TRADING AGR3MCT 3 15 AGRONOMY 2 AGR3AGR 3 15 EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL CARE VET3ECC 3 15 EXOTICS, AVIAN AND WILDLIFE CARE VET3EAW 3 15 INTEGRATED PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT AGR3IPM 3 15 INTERNATIONAL WINE STYLES AGR3IWS 3 15 LARGE ANIMAL HEALTH CARE VET3LAH 3 15 MARKETING OF RURAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AGR3MRP 3 15 PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR VETERINARY NURSING PATIENTS VET3VPT 3 15 THE AUSTRALIAN WINE INDUSTRY AND ITS WINES AGR3AWI 3 15 VETERINARY SHELTER MEDICINE AND PATIENT CARE VET3VSM 3 15 VINEYARD AND WINERY ENGINEERING AGR3VWE 3 15
Core choice subjects are one or more subject groups you need to select in your course. Core choice subjects may be specific to your course, major, minor, specialisation or other learning requirements.
Subject name Subject code Year Credit points ADVANCED EQUINE HEALTH CARE VET3AEH 3 15 EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL CARE VET3ECC 3 15 EXOTICS, AVIAN AND WILDLIFE CARE VET3EAW 3 15 LARGE ANIMAL HEALTH CARE VET3LAH 3 15 PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR VETERINARY NURSING PATIENTS VET3VPT 3 15 VETERINARY SHELTER MEDICINE AND PATIENT CARE VET3VSM 3 15
Capstone subjects are required subjects in your course or major that help you integrate and apply the knowledge and skills you gain to solve real world problems. Capstone subjects are often taken towards the end of your course.
Subject name Subject code Year Credit points ADVANCED VETERINARY MEDICAL PATIENT CARE VET3MPC 3 15 APPLIED RESEARCH PROJECT 2 AGR3RP2 3 15The Handbook contains detailed course information designed for enrolled students, including course structures, electives and options. The delivery of this course can vary between campuses.
To view other campus handbook course details, please select relevant campus in the drop down.
Graduate employment opportunities will be available in the private and public sectors, including veterinary clinics and hospitals as nurses and/or practice managers, or roles in large organisations that specialise in veterinary pharmaceutical or nutrition.