Designed for veterinary and livestock professionals looking to advance their careers.
The Master of Veterinary Science (MVS) degree with a major in Livestock Systems Health is designed for professionals who seek to lead in modern livestock production, animal health, and systems-based problem solving. Our online program offers flexible, applied, and interdisciplinary learning experiences that reflect the complexity of livestock industries today.
The program is uniquely positioned at the intersection of animal health, data analytics, and business management, aiming to cultivate the next generation of leaders. Engaging with faculty boasting over 25 years of experience outside the University of Illinois, students benefit from their expertise in managing livestock operations and developing veterinary medicine curriculums.
Designed for
- Veterinarians who desire to advance their career
- Livestock Producers
- Farms and Farm Managers
- Feed and supple sales people
- Government and employees in safety and regulation
- Research and development professionals working in product development
Limited capacity. We only admit 8 students per cohort due to the intensive one-on-one faculty mentorship with each student.
MVS: Livestock Systems Health Program Details
Program Objectives:
- Interpret and apply the foundational principles of animal science, husbandry, and health to real-world problems.
- Concisely define, assess, and prioritize problems, formulate specific testable questions about problems, and seek out and critically evaluate evidence to support conclusions about answers to questions.
- Apply structured problem-solving and solution design methods to generate, communicate, and implement solutions for complex problems.
Courses & Curriculum
The curriculum is flexible with 20 hours of electives to allow professionals to fill their own knowledge gaps to help them advance their careers.
The MVS degree requires: 32 Credit Hours (12 at the 500 level)
- 4 credit hours of biostatistics (VCM 565)
- 8 credit hours of a capstone project (VCM 595)
- 20 credit hours of electives
*Transfer Credits: 11 credit hours from the EVP program may be transferred in to count for this degree program.
Capstone Project
To successfully complete the degree program, students will design, execute, and evaluate a capstone project that aligns with their career goals. The capstone is a year-long project that requires over 200 hours of independent work under the direction of a faculty advisor. Students must have access to the resources and environment they need to complete the project.
Application Information and Admissions
Admissions information and requirements can be found here:
For the Livestock Systems Health Major, applications will be evaluated, and top applicants will be invited to an interview.