Course:APBI496
| Applied Animal Biology Practicum | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| APBI 496 | ||
| Section: | n/a | |
| Instructor: | Sara Dubois | |
| Email: | sara.dubois@ubc.ca | |
| Office: | off campus | |
| Office Hours: | contact via email | |
| Class Schedule: | n/a | |
| Classroom: | off campus | |
| Important Course Pages | ||
| Student Experiences | ||
APPLIED ANIMAL BIOLOGY PRACTICUM
An experiential and credited course for learning in the fields of wild, companion, lab, and farm animal welfare and management. Continue below to learn more.
Course Description
The practicum is an in-person or remote career-related experience that can take place in any term (Summer, Winter 1, 2 or 1-2), full-time or part-time, as based on the needs of the practicum location and as agreed on with the student at the time of acceptance into the course. This is an experiential learning course where students will explore opportunities in general animal husbandry and facility operations, animal health and welfare management, policy and research, and learn from professionals and collaboration with others.
Credits: January, May, July, and Sept placement start options may be available for both three (3) or six (6) credits
Time commitment: 150-200 hours for three (3) credits and 300-400 hours for six (6) credits, plus assignments
Guidelines:
- Work completed in a practicum must be unique and cannot overlap with another Practicum, Directed Studies, Undergraduate Essay or Undergraduate Thesis
- Participation in two separate practicums may be possible at different locations and if not exceeding experiential learning credits for degree
Application Process
- Review the course syllabus
- Look over available opportunities for the respective term (see below)
- Apply directly to the chosen practicum location by the respective deadline
- Students chosen for interviews will be contacted by potential Practicum Supervisors
- If offered a placement, forward confirmation of your acceptance and request course registration documents from Dr. Sara Dubois
- Submit course registration documents to Dr. Sara Dubois in order to confirm your enrollment at least 3 weeks in advance of term start
Please consult the Academic Supervisor Dr. Sara Dubois (working remotely) with any questions well in advance of registration deadlines.
Course Format
This is an experiential learning course where students will get hands-on experience with general animal husbandry and facility operations, animal health and welfare management, and learn from professionals. The practicum can take place in any term, as based on the needs of the field location. The student’s weekly work schedule is agreed upon and set out in writing by the Practicum and Academic Supervisors, and before the student starts their work experience.
The 6-credit practicum:
- 300-400 hours of experience plus a half-term progress report
- A 5,000 word final report (min 20 primary refs)
- An applied communications piece such as a poster, brochure, video, infographic, webpage, manual, blog, podcast etc. that can be used at the field location
The 3-credit practicum:
- 150-200 hours of experience plus a half-term progress report
- A 2,500 word final report (min 10 primary refs)
- An applied communications piece such as a poster, brochure, video, infographic, webpage, manual, blog, podcast etc. that can be used at the field location
Guidelines:
- Your experience hours must be completed within a maximum of eight (8) consecutive months; most practicums are 2 or 4 months
- Final report and applied communications piece are due within 30 days of the last practicum work day, unless graduation deadlines require earlier submission
- For more details on learning assessments and marking schemes, see the syllabus
Is APBI 496 the Right Course for Me?
This course may be right for you if:
- You are in your 3rd or 4th year of study
- You have taken APBI 314 and/or APBI 315 (recommended)
- You are highly self-motivated, hard working and flexible to the location's needs
- You would like to gain hands on experience working with animals in your field
Read about previous student experiences in this practicum course.
Current Opportunities (updated Feb 2025)
2025 Summer Term Opportunities
Animal Welfare Program - Practicum Research Assistant (Agassiz, BC)
Multiple practicum opportunities available - 6-credit part-time in-person working at the UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre (UBC DERC). Students will live at the farm can take other courses in term but must be remote only) and participate in the day-to-day care of farm animals involved in ongoing animal welfare research activities being undertaken at the UBC DERC. Email cover letter and resume to Malina Suchon at malina.suchon@ubc.ca - Summer Term applications open. See practicum details.
Animal Health and Reproduction Practicum Student (Agassiz, BC)
Multiple practicum opportunities available - 6-credit part-time in-person working at the UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre (UBC DERC). Students will live at the farm (can take other courses in term but must be remote only) and participate in the day-to-day care of farm animals involved in ongoing animal health and reproduction activities being undertaken at the UBC DERC. Email cover letter and resume to Jessica Dos Santos Marques at jessica.dossantosmarques@ubc.ca - Summer Term applications open. See practicum details.
For both DERC opportunities:
Other APBI courses that can be taken in hybrid format while living on the farm: APBI 312 Reproductive and Digestive Physiology & APBI 410 Applied Animal Health and Physiology
DERC Student Housing Tour Video
Touring the Westgen Calf Research Facility Video
Vancouver Aquarium - Marine Mammal Rescue Practicum (Vancouver, BC)
Multiple practicum opportunities available - 6-credit full-time in-person working at the Marine Mammal Rescue (offsite Aquarium on Main Street docks). Students will work alongside the veterinary staff and volunteer teams to aid in the rehabilitation of marine mammals admitted to the centre. Key duties include general husbandry, meal preparation, gavage feeding, helping admit animals, administering subcutaneous fluids, wound management, prepping medications, and potential to assist with rescues and releases. Summer Term applications open - deadline Feb 24. Placement options are only offered from June-August (~400 hours). See practicum and application details.
Wildlife Rescue Association (Burnaby, BC)
Multiple 6-credit practicum opportunities in-person available part-time or full-time (Sept-Dec, Jan-Apr, May-Aug) at the Wildlife Rescue Association's Burnaby rehabilitation center. Submit application including resume and cover letter as one document as per instructions (applications reviewed on first-come basis, so apply early!). See practicum details. Summer Term applications now open.
Roles include: 1) Wildlife Helpline and Admissions Practicum (min. 300 hours); 2) Animal Care Practicum (min. 160 hours); 3) Wildlife Rehabilitation (min. 300 hours, Seasonal); 4) Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation Release (min. 300 hours, Seasonal) - Complete practicum form
BC SPCA - Wild ARC (near Victoria, BC)
Multiple 6-credit practicum opportunities in-person available part-time or full-time (2, 3, 4, or 6 month options) at the BC SPCA's Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre in Metchosin (45 mins outside Victoria). Must arrange for own housing and transportation needs as Wild ARC is not on a frequent transit route. Practicums include Wildlife Rehabilitation & Herbivore Specialist. Submit application including resume, cover letter and references as per instructions in practicum info. Summer Term applications open - see practicum details, deadline Feb 22.
BC SPCA - Vancouver Shelter, Animal Behaviour (Vancouver, BC)
Multiple practicum opportunities available: 6-credit part-time (20 hrs/wk) in-person and remote positions available for students with specific interest in shelter animal behaviour and welfare. In-person opportunity with have hands on work with animals following behaviour modification and enrichment protocols. Remote opportunity will assist in the development of a shelter enrichment manual. Email cover letter and resume to Kim Monteith, Manager, Animal Welfare kmonteith@spca.bc.ca See practicum details. Summer Term applications open.
BC SPCA - Community Outreach (Vancouver, BC)
One practicum opportunity available: 6-credit part-time in-person working with Charlie's Food Bank and clients who face barriers due to mental health issues, drug addiction and/or financial issues while trying to care for their pet. The student shall learn approaches to supporting and managing the health and welfare of animals in this unique community on the Downtown Eastside. Must be available Thursdays from 8am-1pm weekly and other hours are flexible. Email cover letter and resume to Diane Waters, Outreach Specialist, dwaters@spca.bc.ca - See practicum details. Summer Term applications open.