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.

UF Students:

Non-UF Students:

Course Number: VME6015

Non-UF Graduate Student

Interested applicants must first apply as a non-degree student. If admitted, additional instructions for registration will be provided. Cost: $550/credit plus fees

Course Number: VME6015

Continuing Education

Applicants interested in Continuing Education needing credit for professional licensure or for professional/personal development must first apply as a graduate non-degree student. If admitted, additional instructions for registration will be provided.

Students must additionally contact Dr Larkin (ivlarkin@ufl.edu) and request to audit the course to receive their CE certificate. Cost: $550/credit plus fees.

Registration Deadline

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

Spring 2025

Registration Opens October 23, 2024
Application Deadline November 29, 2024 (considered until Jan 13, 2024)
Registration Closes January 17, 2025
Classes Begin January 13, 2025
Cancel with FULL Refund January 17, 2025
Tuition Deadline January 24, 2025 (3:30 pm EST)
Classes End April 23, 2025

For More Information:

Distance Learning Additional Dates

Frequently Asked Questions

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