MCM Curriculum

The interdisciplinary nature of conservation medicine requires practitioners to be skilled in a specific area, but also proficient at communicating with others outside of their field, and capable of catalyzing, organizing and producing integrated analyses or practical plans. Tufts University's innovative program in Conservation Medicine is a professional master's degree, which will build upon the expertise each student brings to the program. The curriculum is designed to provide graduates with foundational knowledge in the various contributing fields for conservation medicine, and develop their team building organizational and leadership skills necessary for successful implementation of real world conservation efforts.

The MCM program is a twelve-month program with a curriculum that consists of small seminar style courses, journal club and independent team-project-based activities culminating in an individual case study. Students must complete a four-week preceptorship in a conservation medicine related setting. In addition, students must choose two elective courses from many different disciplines available to augment their educational and professional goals. No thesis is required.

If funding is available, select students may have the option of continuing with a research fellowship for another twelve months conducted under the mentorship of a program faculty member.

The following team-taught, interdisciplinary courses are specifically designed to address the needs of the conservation medicine professional.

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

Summer Semester

Couse Descriptions

VET 580
Ecology and Conservation Biology
3 credits
The concept that the health of the environment influences the health of humans and animals means that all practitioners of conservation medicine must understand fundamental principles of ecology and conservation biology. This course will ensure all students possess foundational knowledge, including: an understanding of ecosystems, community, population ecology, demography, population genetics, population viability and conservation of biodiversity.
VET 581
Health, Disease and the Environment
3 credits
In this course, students will acquire a basic understanding of disease mechanisms, host defenses against disease, the role of vectors in spreading and maintaining disease, and basic principles of disease ecology. This class will also review the diseases of major concern for conservation medicine and ecosystem health. Emphasis will be placed on the integration of animal, human, and environmental health, and the environmental, economic, and anthropogenic factors promoting the emergence or persistence of infectious diseases and other major health threats.
VET 582
Research Skills I - Systematic Review and Analysis
2 credits
This course will familiarize students with how to access, organize, analyze, interpret and communicate data from existing sources, including published research, databases of electronic medical records, bioinformatics and gene banks. Students will also have a chance to refresh their skills in biostatistics, with an emphasis on applications in population health.
VET 583
Field and Laboratory Techniques
2 credits
Conservation medicine requires empirical health assessments of individuals and populations. Through this course students will become familiar with commonly used field and laboratory methods. This hands-on course covers methods for estimating the size of populations, sample collection and handling, field capture, restraint and anesthesia (including animal welfare considerations). In addition, student will participate in practical session on laboratory diagnostics and commonly used laboratory research techniques (including PCR, ELISA, microarrays and applications of molecular genetics).
VET 584
Journal Club
1 credit
Journal club will familiarize students with topical scientific papers relevant to conservation medicine, help students become conversant in the language of different contributing disciplines and enhance the skills of analytical reading and critique. Papers will be coordinated with course material. Students take Journal Club in both the Fall and Spring semesters.
VET 585
Case Study
6 credits
The case study will provide a capstone exercise that builds on a student's knowledge and skills to produce a comprehensive conservation medicine analysis of a current health problem and recommend strategies to address identified challenges. Each student will identify an issue and will be charged with leading a collaborative team involving other students and appropriate faculty. Cases will undergo a peer-review evaluation through our network of conservation medicine partners. At the end of the year, case studies will be compiled and submitted for publication. Students register for the Case Study during the fall and spring semesters, and are expected to complete their Case Study during the summer.
VET 586
Human Dimensions of Conservation Medicine
3 credits
Human political, economic, and cultural considerations help create the conditions that govern animal, human, and environmental health, and establish the context in which conservation medicine solutions are implemented. This course will examine the roles of economics, local, national and international governmental regulations, treaties and policies. It will also explore the influences that communities and local culture have on agriculture, trade, conservation, environment, land use, and public health.
VET 587
Engineered Solutions
2 credits
Innovation and applied technology will play an increasingly significant role in developing sustainable solutions for many conservation medicine issues. Conservation professionals need to understand the options and potential of engineered solutions in both natural and built environments. In this course students will work within the context of systems engineering as a basis for problem solving. Applied topics will include: ecological engineering, hydrology, remote sensing (satellite, biological and chemical), engineered natural systems and environmental impact assessment methodologies.
VET 588
Research Skills II - Surveillance Methods and Techniques 
2 credits
This course will familiarize students with methods for collecting data on health events, disease incidence and prevalence, including participatory methodologies. Students will be introduced to modeling of disease dynamics and processes and disease mapping using GIS technologies. Students will also acquire familiarity with the use of telemetry for monitoring wildlife populations, and the analysis of wildlife data using GPS and GIS and emerging web-based technologies such as Google Earth.
VET 589
Project Management and Communication
2 credits
This course will cover important communication skills that will enhance collaboration and dissemination of information to stakeholders (scientific community, public and government agencies) as well as the practical skills needed to initiate, fund, and manage research projects. Style and strategies for publication in scientific and lay journals, delivery of legislative briefings, and use of other media will be explored. Project development topics will include team building, seeking funders, grant writing, project development and management, and program and policy evaluation. Sessions on collaborative writing, data visualization, team management and leadership will be included.
VET 590
Preceptorship
3 credits
Students will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in conservation medicine work in a wide variety of settings for four weeks during the program year. The preceptorship will provide students with insight into how conservation medicine issues are addressed and how interdisciplinary approaches can be applied in a real world setting. Students will be able to select from field experiences, clinical experiences, analytical experiences, laboratory-focused experiences, and project management or policy experiences. The preceptorship will be completed either during the winter break or Summer semester, depending upon the project.
VET 517
Elective Courses
4 credits (2 credits per course)
Students will select two elective courses during the program to augment their educational and professional goals. Choices may be made from a wide variety of course options offered across the University, including the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering, The Center for Animals and Public Policy, The Fletcher School, Tufts Medical School, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Selections must fit within the scheduled time allotted to complete these electives. Sample of potential electives are given below. However, offerings are subject to change and not all courses are offered every year.
  • Principles of Biodefense
  • Epidemiology of Zoonotic Infections
  • Parasite Biology
  • Stress in Animals
  • Antibiotic Resistance
  • Animal Law
  • Seminar in Darwinian Medicine
  • Biology of Marine Fishes
  • Tropical Ecology and Conservation
  • Environmental Law
  • Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
  • Methods in Environmental Impact Assessment
  • Environmental Ethics
  • Environmental Statistics
  • River Hydraulics and Restoration
  • Site Remediation
  • Biology of Water and Health
  • Environmental Epidemiology
  • Infectious Disease Epidemiology
  • International NGOs: Ethics and Management Practices
  • Seminar on International Environmental Law
  • International Environmental Negotiations
  • Seminar on Leadership Challenges
  • Seminar on Agriculture and Rural Development in Developing Countries
  • International Environmental Politics