Skip to main content

AQUAVET® I and II - Information for 2025

AQUAVET®  Background Information

  • Need for trained veterinary professionals
    • contribute to the health/welfare of aquatic animals and their environment 
    • Began in the spring of 1977 
  • Historically sponsored by 
    • University of Pennsylvania
    • Cornell University 

AQUAVET®  Course Information

  • Four opportunities 
    • AQUAVET® 
      • Introduction to Aquatic Veterinary Medicine
      • 4 week course
    • AQUAVET® II 
      • Comparative Pathology of Aquatic Animals
      • 2 week course
    • AQUAVET® Summer fellowship 
      • Usual Location: Fish Diagnostics Lab at Cornell
      • Usual Topic: a selected fish viral disease
      • Duration: 8 weeks

Logistics – AQUAVET® I & II

  • Roger Williams University - Bristol, RI
    • Classrooms and labs
    • Library
  • Tuition covers course work, housing and most meals
  • Housing – suites with kitchen and 2 bedrooms 
    • 4 students per suite
    • roommate
    • no pets
  • Meals – cafeteria meal plan
    • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
    • 5-10 stations

COURSES at RWU

AQUAVET® I: An Introduction to Aquatic Veterinary Medicine

                                    4 weeks: total immersion course

                                              26 May to 22 June 2025

                                    22-24 Students 

                                    Approx. 46 invited faculty

AQUAVET® II: Comparative Pathology of Aquatic Animals 

                                    2 weeks: total immersion course

                                              26 May to 8 June 2025

                                    12-18 students

                                    Approx. 15 invited faculty

AQUAVET® I - Introduction to Aquatic Veterinary Medicine

  • Four weeks – begins May 26 and ends June 22
  • Classes routinely five and one half days a week   (and most evenings)
    • Water Quality
    • Invertebrates to marine mammals
    • Lectures and laboratory sessions 
    • Student seminars
    • Field trips

Invertebrates to marine mammals

  • Aquatic invertebrates
    • Fish
    • Amphibians and Reptiles
    • Sea Turtles 
    • Aquatic Birds
    • Marine Mammals
  • Field trips
    • Intertidal Invertebrate Collecting
    • Mystic Aquarium 
    • New England Aquarium
    • Atlantis Marine World
    • Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation
    • WHOI (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute)
  • Tuition for Students - $3,050 
    • Less $200 from anonymous donor = $2,850
    • Includes
      • Tuition
      • Room and board (almost all meals) - 4 weeks
  • Required to attend class
    • Foundation covering 2/3 of cost
    • Credit Available – depending on school
    • Evaluation based on 
      • Participation in all aspects of the course
      • Especially student seminars

AQUAVET® I  Cost Comparisons

  • Tuition - $3,050  - $200 = $2,850 
    • Compare:
    • AQUAVET®I – 4 weeks
      • about $710/week - Includes
      • Tuition
      • Room and board (practically all meals)
    • MarVet – 1-2 weeks
      • About $1,500/week
      • Includes only some meals
    • SeaVet – about $575 for 10 days
      • About $400/week
      • Includes only some meals
      • Doesnt include housing
  • Classes
    • routinely 5.5-6 days a week
    • (and most evenings)
    • Required to Attend Class
    • 8 am to noon
    • 1 pm to 5 pm
    • 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm or later

AQUAVET® I Student Seminars

  • Student seminars required
    • 25-30 minute
    • PowerPoint
    • Topics
      • Invertebrates to marine mammals
      • Marine plants
      • Ecology
    • prepare early

AQUAVET® II - Comparative Pathology of Aquatic Animals

  • Prerequisites: AQUAVET® I or equivalent
  • Two Weeks – May 26 to June 8, 2025
  • Classes 5.5-6 days a week and most evenings
  • Lectures, slide review, and occasional wet labs
    • Primarily Fish and Invertebrates
    • Comparative Anatomy
    • Parasites
    • Bacterial, Viral and Fungal Diseases
    • Toxicology
    • Histopathology
  • Student Tuition - $1,825
    • Includes course instruction and room and board 
    • Required to Attend Classes
    • Foundation covering 2/3 of cost
  •  Course Credit possible
    • Depends on school requirements
  • Evaluation
    • Based on class participation

AQUAVET® Summer Fellowship

  • Research project under guidance of AQUAVET® faculty
  • 8 week duration (July and August)
  • Aquaculture Based Project (funding requirement)
  • Limited positions – usually 1
  • Pays stipend of $3,800 after finishing all 8 weeks
  • Publication often generated at the end of project