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- Master's Programme in Precision Animal Health
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through selective admissions process each winter semester
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successful completion of master's thesis
Academic degree
Why study the Master's Programme in Precision Animal Health?
Digitalisation has already also found its way into the field of animal husbandry and veterinary medicine by means of innovative applications of information and communication technologies. This is the source of disruptive change in diagnostic and communication options for veterinarians, as well as those who care for animals, which can be used in improving animal health and well-being.
This master's programme is designed for students interested in further education at the interface between veterinary medicine, animal husbandry, animal production and modern, information-driven technologies.
During the master's programme, students acquire skills which enable them:
- to understand and explain the technological basics and principles underlying the application of information-driven technologies in the areas of veterinary medicine, animal husbandry and agricultural production,
- to translate the principles, needs and challenges of agricultural production and farming (with a core focus on livestock management) into the related technical language, to communicate with technical specialists and, as a result, to significantly facilitate technical innovation and solutions,
- to be involved in the development, implementation and distribution of new technology-based solutions along the animal care chain,
- to undertake specialist foundational, interdisciplinary and applied research at universities (PhD), universities of applied sciences and non-university research institutions in the area of digital animal health management and in collaboration with farms and companies in the agricultural sector and related industries,
- to rely on facts to reliably estimate the impacts of the use of precision animal health technologies in terms of socio-economic and ethical aspects as well as the goal of ensuring a sustainable and efficient use of resources.
Admission to the Master's degree programme Digitalisation in Animal Health Management - Precision Animal Health requires the completion of a relevant Bachelor's degree programme or Bachelor's degree programme at a university of applied sciences or another equivalent degree programme at a recognised domestic or foreign post-secondary educational institution with a minimum of 180 ECTS credits.
The diploma studies in veterinary medicine, studies in agricultural sciences as well as in the fields of agriculture and agricultural technology, informatics, biology, human medicine and medical technology are considered to be eligible.
The Master's programme comprises a total of 4 semesters with courses (compulsory and elective subjects including examinations), internships and the preparation of a Master's thesis totalling 120 ECTS points.
1st Semester
Module 1 – Monitoring Animal Health (10 ECTS)
- Principles of animal physiology, ethology, pathology and diagnostics
- Assessing animal behaviour and well-being
- An introduction to animal health monitoring and animal well-being in livestock and companion animal management
- The use of precision monitoring in animal research
- Socio-economic aspects I
Module 2 – Capturing Data and Parameters (6 ECTS)
- Hardware principles
- Capturing parameters
- Introduction to remote technologies (sensing, WiFi, GNSS/GPS)
Module 3 – Data Processing and Analysis (10 ECTS)
- Data law, IT security and technical data protection I
- Information technology basics IT I
- Information technology basics IT II
- Scripting basics and practice
- Statistics I
Further courses / examinations (4 ECTS)
- Electives
2nd Semester
Module 4 – Data Sources and Management (7 ECTS)
- Data sources and databases
- Data quality and preparation
- Statistics II
- Data law, IT security and technical data protection II
Module 5 – Monitoring Systems (4 ECTS)
- Image-processing systems; capture and analysis
- Modelling, system/process analysis, forecasting models and decision support
Module 6 – Applications of Precision Animal Health Management (8 ECTS)
- Analysing and interpreting animal health data and agricultural data
- Current applications of precision animal health and smart farming I
- Socio-economic aspects II
Other courses / components
- Internship (9 ECTS)
- Electives (2 ECTS)
3rd Semester
Module 7 – Applications and Implementation (20,5 ECTS)
- Precision measurement, monitoring & management – housing, feeding, animal, transport & processing
- Current applications of precision animal health and smart farming II
- Statistics III
- Implementing consultancy and application concepts in discussions with animal owners
- Interdisciplinary team projects
Module 8 – Innovation and Society (3,5 ECTS)
- Founding companies and innovation management
- Technology impact assessments: Application, acceptance, sustainability and social aspects
- Ethical aspects
Other teaching / courses
- Practical (3 ECTS)
- Electives (3 ECTS)
4th Semester
- Master’s thesis (27 ECTS)
- Master's examination (3 ECTS)
- Product development and research in veterinary technical and agricultural technical areas (in the private and public sectors)
- Specialist consulting for farms in terms of the deployment of smart farming technologies
- Consulting in the area of herd management at livestock farms
- Universities and other post-secondary educational institutions
- Non-university research institutions
