BSc (Honours) (Top Up) in Animal Behaviour and Welfare

AC071

1 year full time.

Top up your Foundation Degree level qualifications with this level H programme which has been developed to enable you to obtain a BSc Honours award.

Qualification

BSc (Honours) Top - Animal Behaviour and Welfare (Bournemouth University)

Course Content

This top−up (level H) programme has been developed to enable students with prior qualifications at Foundation Degree level to complete a BSc Honours award.

The course provides an ideal foundation in the developing and highly competitive areas of animal management, welfare assessment and conservation (in and ex−situ). Typical employers will include animal welfare charities, NGOs, conservation organisations and those animal collection facilities pursuing conservation programmes, inspection and enforcement bodies as well as providing an ideal basis for those wishing to pursue additional research studies in animal behaviour and welfare.

Personal Research Dissertation
The Personal Research Dissertation provides an opportunity for you to gain experience of independent research in a topic of your own choice and to demonstrate your ability to report that research. Such experience is considered essential, not only to merit the award of an honours degree, but also as a preparation for subsequent academic research and professional work at a high level of responsibility and achievement.

Animal Cognition and Behaviour Management
This unit aims to consolidate your existing knowledge in relation to the development of animal behaviour and develop critical understanding of cognition and meta cognition in a broad range of vertebrate species. This unit will critically analyse the contributions made by experimental psychology, comparative psychology and ethology to our understanding of animal learning and the animal mind. It will cover the philosophical basis of the study of the animal awareness and the scientific assessment of animal cognition and consciousness, placing these abilities in their evolutionary and functional context.

You will be equipped to sensibly argue the ethical, moral and political implications of establishing a view that is removed from anthropocentrism in respect of cognitive ability and further evaluate the merit of a cognitive approach to behaviour management, reviewing the problems seen in a range of captive animals, their diagnosis and treatment. This unit will debate the philosophical basis of the study of behaviour problems and their scientific assessment. It will facilitate the application of underpinning knowledge to propose novel approaches to corrective training and behaviour modification procedures.

Anthrozoology
This unit aims to consolidate your existing knowledge in relation to a broad range of human-animal interactions ( HAI ). This unit will critically analyse the underpinning physiological and psychological basis of scenarios where both animals and man derive a benefit (mutualistic) and those where man alone principally benefits (exploitative).

In addition, this unit will develop your understanding of human psychology and require application of key concepts (e.g. social dominance theory) to the critical evaluation of individual and cultural attitudes to animals and their welfare. It will cover companion, commercial, research and wild animals and you will be equipped to synthesise considered responses to a range of husbandry and management challenges based on established research and moral and ethical considerations. Discussion of social behaviour will include a review of the evidence for ‘personality’ in non-humans.

Plus two of the following options:

Behavioural Ecology
This unit aims to consolidate your existing knowledge in relation to the development of animal behaviour and put the relationship between environmental and evolutionary pressures into context. It will facilitate the application of underpinning knowledge to the modern approach that is behavioural ecology.

The unit will critically analyse the relationship between ecology, behaviour, evolution and survival and evaluate the relationship between evolutionary adaptations and the concept of ‘relative fitness’.

Case Law and the Role of the Expert Witness
This unit aims to consolidate your existing knowledge in relation to your understanding of the current legislative framework pertaining to both animal welfare and related or subsidiary issues. This unit will critically analyse the application and subsequent effectiveness of animal-related legislation, including the contribution of case-law and you will debate the use and application of those ‘bench mark’ terms within animal welfare legislation that are inherently subjective in nature.

You will develop critical understanding and comprehension of the legal process in the UK , including the role of the expert witness. Duties of an expert and the particular need to reasonably anticipate defence and prosecution arguments will be discussed within a broader consideration of court practice and procedures (both civil and criminal). Based on case law scenarios you will develop clear and reasonable understanding of key terms (to include: ‘admissible evidence’, ‘hearsay’ ‘reasonable doubt’ ‘ex improviso’) and demonstrate the ability to produce ‘expert reports’ synthesised from existing subject knowledge.

Epidemiology, Health and Welfare
The aim of this unit is to allow you to develop and apply your knowledge of anatomy and physiology, animal disease, production issues, legislation and ethics to the study of disease and disease prevention in populations. The unit will place a special emphasis on genetic selection in prophylactic and therapeutic (animal) disease management programmes, particularly as relates to animal collections and conservation programmes.

A cumulative aim of all aspects of this unit is that you will be able to deliver an informed and considered evaluation of the potential implications of the spread of a major outbreak of disease such as has been recently been demonstrated by the Foot and Mouth epidemic and Avian Influenza. You will be aware of a range of commercial/legislative constraints on disease control in a variety of diverse situations and the ever increasing impact this will have on both management of animal collections, animal production industries and conservation programmes.

Entry Requirements

For 2013 entry:
Pass in relevant HND or FdSc (preferred subjects include Animal Science, Animal Management, Animal Behaviour, Animal Welfare or Animal Conservation)

GCSEs
Minimum of 4 GCSEs grades A* to C, including Maths and English or appropriate Level 2 or equivalent.

In order for you to contribute fully to your course and enjoy your learning experience with us, you'll need to have the right skills to study with us. For that reason, we need to be sure that you can express yourself in written English, have basic numeracy skills and have an understanding of the subject area. We usually use Level 2 of the National Qualifications Framework as a demonstration of these skills. Level 2 includes GCSEs and Key Skills Level 2. If you are a mature candidate who does not have formal qualifications to this level, we may still be able to consider your application - please contact the Admissions Team to find out more.

IELTS 6.0 or above (with minimum 5.5 in each component).

Price

£8,200 pa.

Includes a 5 day field trip to Lundy Island (Behavioural Ecology)