Veterinary Diagnostic Pathology & State Medicine (VETS5020)

Course overview

This course develops students' knowledge and applied skills in performing a thorough gross necropsy and selecting appropriate specimens for diagnostic testing. When investigating an understanding of pathological processes must be achieved such that a diagnostic plan and appropriate testing to arrive at a diagnostic outcome. Concepts and skills in clinical pathology will also be developed. All training is case-based, as students will work through cases submitted through the Veterinary Laboratory Services as well as materials in scenario-based modules. A veterinary regulatory medicine component is also included, where clinical contextualisation of regulatory requirements for practice are carried out. Additional abattoir-related training will be provided to review the basic concepts of animal health, welfare, and One Health aspects of food safety.

Veterinary diagnostic pathology is an important part of clinical training, providing theoretical knowledge and practical skills that are essential to competent practice and professional registration. Anatomic and clinical pathology are key to understanding the pathophysiology of disease processes and to learning appropriate diagnostic skill sets. In this course, students will develop and apply their knowledge and skills in the diagnosis of veterinary disease in both the antemortem and postmortem context and learn the importance of this information for both individual patients and herd health situations. Instruction in diagnostic pathology will be predominantly through clinical cases performed by the VLS or on rotations, and via self-directed learning opportunities. Students will become competent with in-house clinical pathology analysers, perform and interpret clinical pathology tests (e.g. haematology, biochemistry, urinalysis), manage clinical autopsy cases and perform a veterinary regulatory medicine online experience. Competency will be assessed through performance assessments, online quizzes, necropsy case presentations, completion of veterinary regulatory medicine online modules, and a capstone examination.

VETS5020 includes a capstone Veterinary Regulatory Medicine component of instruction. The learning objective for this module is to consolidate and contextualise your understanding of veterinary regulations to facilitate your transition to practice. This module includes completion of the Animal Health Australia Emergency Animal Disease training modules. Instruction of this module will be via self-directed learning, with students demonstrating competency via the completion of a quiz.

Course requirements

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

VETS4010, VETS4022, VETS4034, VETS4035 & VETS4040

Restrictions

Enrolment restricted to Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) students only.

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

Clinical Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Placement Schedule

Prior to enrolment in the final year of the Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) program, you will be allocated a schedule of Clinical Work Integrated Learning (WIL) placements in UQ’s placement management system, InPlace. A condition of your enrolment in 5th year courses with a Clinical WIL placement requirement is the completion of all scheduled WIL placements, including internal and external WIL placements, as per your allocated InPlace schedule. Once published, variations to your InPlace schedule can only be approved by the School of Veterinary Science Chief Examiner via a Deferred Examination Request. Variation requests will be considered in line with the conditions outlined in the UQ deferred examination policy. Deferring an exam - my.UQ - University of Queensland. 

Acceptable grounds for a request to vary your schedule include: 

• Medical grounds 
• University-sanctioned commitments e.g., registered elite athlete/performer 
• Compassionate grounds e.g., death or serious illness of a family member or close relative 

Schedule variation requests will NOT be considered for the following reasons: 

• Birthdays, weddings, other cultural or social events 
• Pre-booked holidays – you should not make any travel or vacation plans at any time during the full calendar year of the final year of your program 

To request a change to your schedule, submit a deferred assessment request via mySI-net Requests and include documentary evidence of the reason for your request.

See Learning Activities > Additional Learning Activity Information for more information about Attendance and Absence.

Aims and outcomes

The diagnostic anatomic pathology component aims to enhance students’ abilities to interpret gross pathological and histopathological findings within a practical context, and also submit appropriate samples to laboratories to maximise diagnostic opportunities.

The diagnostic clinical pathology component aims to ensure students are competent and confident in the analysis and interpretation of blood, urine, and cytology samples for core veterinary species.  

The veterinary regulatory medicine component aims to ensure students have an adequate understanding of basic zoonotic diseases, food production security, and veterinary regulations as they apply in practise.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.

Assessment details

Diagnostic Pathology Performance

• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Activity/ Performance

Category

Placement

Weight

47%

Due date

Assessed during the two week rotation.

Other conditions

Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Task description

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Please refer to ADDITIONAL COURSE GRADING Information > Attendance and absence

Autopsy Case Study Presentation

• In-person

Mode

Oral

Category

Presentation

Weight

18%

Due date

Performed within the last week of the scheduled pathology rotation

Other conditions

Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Task description

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Skills list

• Hurdle
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Notebook/ Logbook

Weight

Pass/Fail

Due date

Submitted within 2 weeks of Diagnostic Pathology rotation

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

Procedures undertaken are logged by the Pathology Residents, and will be checked off on students' MKM app following each post mortem session.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Clinical Pathology Case Log

• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Notebook/ Logbook

Weight

15%

Due date

28/01/2025 - 19/10/2025

To be submitted once sufficient case numbers are recorded, or the final day of core rotations, 19 October 2025.

Other conditions

Work integrated learning.

See the conditions definitions

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit your log to Blackboard with the file name: VETS5020 ClinPath Cases_SURNAME_Gr#ﾔ. Example: VETS5020 ClinPath Cases_SMITHS_Gr2

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Veterinary Regulatory Medicine Quiz

• Hurdle

Mode

Written

Category

Quiz

Weight

Pass/Fail

Due date

28/01/2025 - 19/10/2025

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

This quiz is delivered through the VETS5020 Blackboard site.

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Late submission

You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.

Abattoir EMS

• Hurdle

Mode

Activity/ Performance

Category

Placement

Weight

Pass/Fail

Due date

AALR completion certificate to be submitted within 2 weeks of completion of your scheduled Abattoir visit.

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

Australian Abattoir Learning Resource (AALR) course is available online

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Animal Health Australia Exotic Animal Disease Foundation Course

• Hurdle
• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Quiz

Weight

Pass/Fail

Due date

28/01/2025 - 19/10/2025

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

The course is found online: https://animalhealthaustralia.com.au/online-training-courses/

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Late submission

You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.

Capstone Examination

• Identity Verified
• In-person
• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

20%

Due date

Second End of Semester Exam Period

8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025

Other conditions

Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Task description

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

Attendance and absence 

Attendance is required at all rostered shifts during each clinical rotation, and forms part of the professionalism criteria on the assessment tasks for each rotation. 

• Students are expected to remain until all cases are up-to-date and treated. 
• Students must take appropriate breaks as required (at least 10 minutes’ break every two hours) to ensure health and wellbeing. 
• Students should check with their rotation supervisor prior to taking a break or leaving for the day. 

All students MUST follow the instructions in the Learning Activities > Additional Learning Activities Information section of this course profile to notify of any absence 

Grade calculations 

When rounding final marks for grade calculations, part marks of <0.5 will be ROUNDED DOWN to the nearest whole number, and part marks of >/= 0.5 will be ROUNDED UP to the nearest whole number.  

To pass VETS020, a student must:

• Achieve a score of 50% or greater for course summative assessment, AND
• Pass each of the pass/fail assessment tasks, AND
• Receive a grade of 1 or 2 for all criteria in final versions (i.e. including on completion of FALP remediation following initial failure) of the diagnostic pathology performance assessment rubric.

Rotation Performance Assessment and FALP 

Students who receive a “Does not meet standard,” in any category, will be required to undertake a “Formalised Additional Learning Plan” (FALP). A FALP is tailored to the individual student to provide opportunities to improve on and/or demonstrate achievement of the learning objective not met in the performance assessment. ﾠ 

• The FALP may include a repeat of up to 50% of the total rotation time for students who receive a “Does not meet standard” in one or two categories and up to 100% for students who receive a “Does not meet standard” for more than two categories.  
• FALPs may also include clinical case scenarios, written assignments, HUB skills demonstrations, or oral viva-type examinations. ﾠ 
• Upon completion of a FALP, and demonstration of satisfactory performance the mark in that category, the mark in the related category may be adjusted to no greater than 1.0 ("Meets standard"). 
• If the remediation is judged, by the course coordinator, to be unsuccessful, it remains a “Does not meet standard”, the grade remains a zero in that category,ﾠand the student will formally fail the rotation and the course. Students who fail the course may be eligible for a supplementary assessment. 

Details of the FALP will be recorded in the online marking platform, written by the Course Coordinator in collaboration with the student. It will clearly state the deficiency, remediation required and time commitment. The student, in consultation with the Course Coordinator, will be booked in for additional learning as required by the plan by the SVS administration team. The plan should be completed, if possible, no later than one week before the final grade upload for graduation in the current year. Students must make themselves available when additional learning is offered.  

If the plan cannot be completed before grade upload, students will be awarded an INC (Incomplete grade) and may miss graduation for that year.  

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply. 

Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.  

If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.  

Supplementary assessment can take any form (such as a written report, oral presentation, examination or other appropriate assessment) and may test specific learning outcomes tailored to the individual student, or all learning outcomes. 

To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment

Additional assessment information

Assessment Task Marking Guides

Refer to each assessment item for specific marking criteria/rubrics and their weightings. As there are internal and external providers assessing students within this course, the rubrics could not be standardised across all components of the rotation.

Autopsy Reports

It is expected that the student-generated reports will be sent to the on-duty pathologist as requested within the schedule (i.e. autopsy report by 10am the business day following the necropsy). Timely submission of these reports is essential for the professionalism and communication criterion within the Performance Assessment.ﾠ

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

SSWS + UQU

Maintaining a work-life balance and seeking help early is crucial for successful university studies. UQ Student Support and Wellbeing Services (SSWS) and the Student Union (UQU) offer numerous resources for UQ students. Student Services provides various mindfulness programs and counselling services to boost confidence and improve overall physical and mental wellbeing. UQU also offers a range of support, welfare, and wellbeing resources.

For immediate assistance, please call the 24/7 UQ Counselling and Crisis Line at 1300 851 998.

The Hub

The Student Clinical Skills Hub is a purpose-built, state-of-the-art self-directed learning facility located centrally in the School (John Mahon (8105), Room 101) with two main areas and an online resource community available for all veterinary students.

The Hub has a lab where students can practice their clinical skills using standard veterinary equipment, on simulators and/or models in conjunction with supporting audio-visual resources and a smaller communications suite with two working consult rooms, a viewing room and a debriefing space.

The Hub aims to provide a safe, authentic, self-directed learning environment where students can practice their clinical skills according to their competence, beyond the scheduled contact hours of their programs and further enhance their capacity for self-directed, lifelong learning. As BVSc5 students, you will have swipe card access to the Hub from 6am-10pm, 7 days a week from December of BVSc4. See the Hub's Blackboard organisation for induction and OH&S requirements for access.

If you cannot access the community or have other questions, please get in touch with the Hub Coordinator via svs-hub@uq.edu.au or ext 15046.

Clinical Pathology Websites

• e-Clinpath:ﾠhttp://www.eclinpath.com/ﾠ

Online veterinary clinical pathology textbook run by Cornell Veterinary College. Excellent resource although keep in mind it's North American, so will not provide all Australian differential diagnosis and may speak to diseases not relevant in Australia.ﾠ

• IDEXX Learning Centre:ﾠhttps://www.idexxlearningcenter.com/

ﾠOnline access to in-house analyser competencies as well as clinical pathology information (webinars, information sessions, handouts)

Veterinary and Comparative Pathology resources:

• Davis-Thompson Foundation: https:// davisthompsonfoundation.org/ 

Online resources dedicated to furthering the international advancement of education in veterinary and comparative pathology. General information on classic veterinary diseases in the form of photographic records or Diagnostic Exercises.

Online regulation and data reference sources include:

• Export Control (Meat) Orders 2005: http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2014C01057
• Australian Standard for Hygienic Meat Production: http://www.publish.csiro.au/pid/5553.htm
• Australian Food Safety Centre of Excellence: http://www.foodsafetycentre.com.au/
• Understanding the WTO agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary measures, http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/sps_e/spsund_e.htm
• OzFoodNet: http://www.ozfoodnet.gov.au/
• CDC FoodNet: http://www.cdc.gov/foodnet/
• SafeMeat Australia: http://safemeat.com.au/index.html
• Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority: http://apvma.gov.au/

Library sites

Presentations, posters and infographics https://web.library.uq.edu.au/node/4290/4#4

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Additional learning activity information

Attendance at Clinical WIL placements 

Clinical WIL placements are a compulsory component of the final year of the Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) program. Attendance at all Clinical WIL placements as per your InPlace schedule is expected, and full attendance is required to be eligible to pass the course. The requirements for attendance will be communicated via the course Blackboard site and shift times will be advised by the Course Coordinator / Rotation Supervisor (internal placements) or the Placement Supervisor (external placements). 

Absence from clinical placements 

Attendance at a clinical placement is treated in the same way as a course assessment item. Acceptable reasons for absence from clinical placement are in line with the Acceptable reasons for an extension to assessment due date. 

In the event you are unable to attend a clinical placement due to illness or other exceptional circumstances, you must take ALL the following steps: 

1. Notify your placement site prior to your shift start time by phone or email; AND 
2. Email the relevant Course Coordinator and svs-studentabsence@uq.edu.au prior to your shift start time; AND 
3. Submit documentary evidence for your absence (i.e., medical certificate, statutory declaration) no more than 48 hours from when the absence occurred to svs-studentabsence@uq.edu.au. 

Rescheduling missed day/s 

To make up for the lost time resulting from your absence to meet the placement requirements of your course, the following options are available and will depend on the duration/timing of your absence. 

Option 1: Make up day/s 

If it is possible to schedule and complete the required make up day/s within the existing dates of the scheduled placement, this can be arranged directly with your Placement Supervisor/Course Coordinator and ‘resolved’ within the scheduled placement. 

Option 2: Extension 

If it is NOT possible to schedule and complete the required day/s within the existing scheduled dates, you must apply for an extension to your placement dates via the my.UQ Extension to Assessment Due Date process to arrange for the make up day/s to be scheduled at a later time. 

If approved, the SVS Placements Team will liaise with the placement site and adjust your InPlace schedule as required. Where possible*, the make up day/s will be scheduled to occur within a holiday period in your schedule. 

Option 3: Deferral 

If you are absent for the entire scheduled placement or have missed enough day/s to require rescheduling of the entire placement, you must apply for deferral of your placement via the mySI-net Deferring an exam process, to be considered by the SVS Chief Examiner. 

If approved, the SVS Placements Team will liaise with the placement site and adjust your InPlace schedule as required. Where possible*, the deferred placement will be scheduled to occur within a holiday period in your schedule. 

*Options 2 and 3: Possible delayed graduation 

Scheduling make up days or deferred placements within the same academic year will depend on the capacity of the placement site (internal or external) and the student’s individual InPlace schedule. 

In some cases, it may not be possible to schedule make up day/s or reschedule the placement prior to the end of year results release, which may result in delayed completion of the course and program requirements and potentially affect your eligibility to graduate. 

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course:

• Fitness to Practise Policy
• Work Integrated Learning and Work Experience Policy