One master’s degree. Three distinct capstone experiences. Find the path that aligns with your interests and career goals.
| Capstone detail |
Applied Veterinary Science (AVS) Online
|
Applied Veterinary Science (AVS) On-Campus
|
Livestock Systems Health (LSH) Online
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Online | On campus | Online |
| Length | One semester | 24-week mentored project (second 8 weeks of fall through spring semester) | Two semesters |
| Credits | 4 | 4 or 8 | 8 |
| Learning experience | Collaborative problem-solving with individual and team components | Hands-on, mentored project experience | Individualized, applied project designed around a real-world challenge or opportunity |
Students’ goals vary, and their capstone projects do too, creating opportunities for personalized learning and meaningful outcomes.
Explore Each Pathway:
Applied Veterinary Science (AVS) Online
Explore possibilities. Build your plan.
A good fit if you’re: preparing for veterinary school, exploring careers in animal health, or building professional skills while learning online.
How it works: Over one semester, you’ll work on your own and with a team to investigate veterinary science problems, evaluate evidence, and propose practical solutions, with faculty guidance throughout. You’ll also map out your next career step.
What you’ll gain: Experience tackling real-world challenges, collaborating with others, communicating solutions, and developing a clearer direction for your career.
Example project ideas:
- Animal health case analysis
- Industry research and trends
- Career planning and exploration
Applied Veterinary Science (AVS) On-Campus
Learn by doing.
A good fit if you’re: looking for hands-on experience in veterinary science settings and the chance to work alongside faculty researchers and professionals.
How it works: Over 24 weeks, from the second half of fall semester through spring, you’ll contribute to a faculty-mentored project in an area such as biomedical research, clinical medicine, wildlife health, animal welfare, or animal health innovation. Faculty match you with a project based on your interests and career goals, and you and your mentor set expectations together in a learning contract.
What you’ll gain: Practical experience, professional connections, technical skills, and a project you can discuss with future employers or veterinary school admissions committees.
Example project ideas:
- Clinical medicine and diagnostics
- Biomedical and laboratory research
- Wildlife health and animal welfare
- Animal health innovation
- Livestock health and production
Livestock Systems Health (LSH) Online
Solve a challenge that matters to you.
Best suited for: Professionals working in livestock production, animal agriculture, or related industries who want to address challenges within their field.
Unlike the collaborative AVS online capstone, LSH students take primary ownership of their projects. The capstone extends over two semesters, allowing time for deeper investigation and application.
A good fit if you’re: working in livestock production, animal agriculture, or a related industry and want to address challenges in your field.
How it works: Over two semesters, you’ll lead your own project on a real-world challenge in livestock health, production systems, management practices, or animal agriculture. With a faculty mentor, you’ll define the problem, build a project plan, investigate solutions, and apply what you find.
Projects may address livestock health, production systems, management practices, or other challenges affecting animal agriculture.
What you’ll gain: Experience leading an independent project, applying evidence to professional challenges, and developing solutions that can make an impact in your workplace or industry.
Example project ideas:
- Livestock health and disease
- Production systems and management
- Industry challenges and solution
- Applied research and data analysis
- Opportunities within animal agriculture
Not sure which path fits?
Some students arrive with a clear goal; others are still exploring. Our team can help you weigh your interests, experience, and goals so you can choose the pathway that makes sense for you.
Come with a dream. Leave with a plan.