Sea Turtle Medicine & Rehabilitation (Spring)

Course Information

Sea Turtle Medicine and Rehabilitation is designed to give veterinary and graduate students foundational knowledge in sea turtle biology, anatomy, and physiology and how each of these factor into the clinical care and management of sea turtles during rescue events and in rehabilitation settings. Each module of the course includes lectures by well-known experts in the field of sea turtle medicine and rehabilitation.

This course is offered entirely in an asynchronous online format and relies primarily on recorded lectures and assigned readings either from book chapters or primary scientific literature. Rather than having formal exams throughout the semester, students will participate in active and collaborative learning assessments that aim to enhance critical thinking skills and application of course material. Relevant case studies will be used to supplement each learning module topic to provide students with real-world examples of clinical applications in sea turtle medicine.

Course Syllabus 2025

Course Objectives

• Identify all seven sea turtle species and describe the biology and physiology of these species at each different life stage.

• Examine the role that anatomy and physiology play in the clinical treatment of sea turtles in a rehabilitation setting.

• Explain the process of sea turtle rescue and examine the factors involved in determining the need for rehabilitation.

• Identify common injuries, illnesses, and pathologies observed in sea turtles and assess different therapies/treatments utilized for each.

• Examine the principles of sea turtle husbandry and nutrition in a rehabilitation environment.

Course Topics

• Anatomy & Physiology
• Stranding Response & Rescue
• Physical Exam & Diagnostic Imaging
• Critical Care & Emergency Medicine
• Necropsy & Clinical Pathology
• Therapeutics
• Surgery, Endoscopy, & Wound Care
• Water Quality & Nutrition
• Behavior, Enrichment, & Welfare
• Injury, Illness, & Disease
• Hatchling & Post-Hatchling Care & Management

Registration Information

How to Register

There are multiple ways to register for each course. Please review the Non-UF Student, Continuing Education and UF Student descriptions below in order to decide which method is most appropriate for you. You may also want to review our FAQ page or Contact Us to help differentiate between these options.

Student Enrollment Options:

Please note steps for application depend on current education level and University of Florida affiliation. Please see below for details to determine your application steps.

Non-UF Students:

• If you are interested in learning more about the courses offered by the UF Aquatic Animal Health Program, or the Care and Conservation Certificate, please complete a Course Interest Form
• Non-degree students pay the Capital Improvement and Technology fee.

UF Students:

• UF Tuition and Fee Rates
• University Registrars Office
• ONE.UF

Registration Deadline

Note: This class has limited enrollment and may fill up prior to the end of drop/add so we suggest registering early.

For More Information:

Distance Learning Additional Dates

Frequently Asked Questions