Course overview

This course offers you the opportunity to study these closely related fields in an exciting and dynamic environment, and to learn from teaching staff who are at the forefront of research in this rapidly advancing field.

Although based on the BSc (Hons) Animal Behaviour, this course also contains important elements concerning animal welfare and animal health, and considers how these issues affect both wild and domesticated animals.

The animal behaviour element deals with a fundamental aspect of the modern life sciences, looking at how animals adapt their behaviour in order best to survive. An understanding of natural animal behaviour is also important in ensuring high welfare standards for farm and zoo animals.

Theoretical aspects will be covered in formal lectures and seminars while practical exercises will enable you to test these ideas by designing experiments, or by detailed field observations. The opportunity to take part in self-funded field trips to a range of locations will give you the chance to try out these skills in 'real life' situations.

This course presents an opportunity to study within an exciting and dynamic learning environment, close to the leading edge of this rapidly advancing field. It is also about providing you with a range of skills that are likely to be valued by potential employers in a variety of sectors.

The specific aims of this course are:

• to enable you to acquire and demonstrate core knowledge and understanding of the scientific discipline of Animal Welfare and sufficient knowledge in related fields, as appropriate;
• for you to acquire and apply skills of analysis, synthesis, evaluation and application in the context of Animal Welfare;
• to enable you to originate and test ideas scientifically through experiment and critically review the results obtained;
• to give you an appreciation of the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary nature of Animal Welfare;
• to develop your range of transferable skills (oral communication, writing, numerical and computational) relevant to a wider range of graduate employment opportunities;
• to help you acquire a range of practical skills and experience in Animal Welfare and related areas of science;
• to enable you to acquire an awareness of the wider social, economic and ethical aspects of Animal Welfare.

Additional course information

Upon completion of this course you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• the major aspects of the animal welfare pathway and providing the wider context required for the subject area, together with specialised in-depth study (often career-related) of some aspects of the discipline or subject area. This will include an emphasis on the need for an interdisciplinary and (where appropriate) a multidisciplinary approach in advancing knowledge.
• the essential facts, major concepts, principles and theories associated with the animal welfare pathway.
• information and data, and their setting within a theoretical framework, accompanied by critical analysis and assessment to enable understanding of the animal welfare pathway as a coherent whole;
• terminology, nomenclature and classification systems as appropriate;
• the appropriate contexts for their use through the study of texts, original papers, reports and data sets;
• practical and presentational techniques and methodologies relevant to the animal welfare pathway, including data analysis and the use of statistics. You will also be aware of the need for compliance with health and safety protocols, good laboratory practice, risk assessment and the importance of quality control and quality assurance in Science.
• some of the current developments in the animal welfare pathway and the philosophical, social and ethical issues involved. You will be aware of the contribution of Science to debate and controversies, and how this knowledge and understanding forms the basis for informed concern about the quality and sustainability of life.
• the applicability of the study of Animal Welfare to the career to which you hope to progress.

Module guide

Assessment

Modules are assessed in a variety of ways. Most are a mix of written assessments, computer-based assessments and written examinations. Additional methods of assessment may include spoken presentations, posters, portfolios and workbooks. Generally, written examinations have a higher weighting in Year 3, but all modules include a coursework component.

Facilities

As well as good teaching facilities, our department is fortunate to be located in Cambridge. The city provides a wealth of opportunities for attending lectures and visiting museums and libraries. Cambridge is increasingly becoming a world centre for the theory and practice of wildlife conservation, with prestigious organisations like Fauna and Flora International, Birdlife International and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre being based in the city. The Cambridge Natural History Society (established 1857) holds its meeting at Anglia Ruskin. We are corporate members of The Cambridge Conservation Forum and the Tropical Biology Association. If you are interested in captive animal behaviour, you can benefit from the animal facilities available at College of West Anglia at Milton in Cambridge.

Study abroad options

Our department has exchange links with two North American universities. An exchange for one semester may be possible as part of your course. This does depend, however, on the availability of equivalent modules at the host university. There may also be issues of accreditation requirements.

Special features

Our Animal and Environmental Biology Programme. which hosts this course, lays a special emphasis on the importance of fieldwork. You are given the opportunity to attend a range of day trips (funded by the department) as well as a wide range of residential field courses in the UK and abroad (cost covered by students). Highlights of the optional trips available include Rum National Nature Reserve in Scotland, the Farne Islands in Northumberland, the Red Sea to learn to dive and to survey the biodiversity of its stunning coral reefs, one of Europe's only remaining 'primeval' forests at Bialowieza in Poland, and a safari field course in Africa. For students interested in animal behaviour and animal welfare there is a study tour of four state-of-the-art Dutch zoos.

Work placements

There are no formal requirements for a work placement as part of the course. Nevertheless, the flexibility of the course allows you to take a break of a year to undertake a work placement, if you choose to do this.

Associated careers

Our course provides excellent general training as a scientist, enabling you to work in the field or in the laboratory for a wide range of organisations. Potential employers include: government agencies, environmental consultancies, wildlife conservation organisations, and educational and research establishments. Our course may also lead on to further postgraduate study and a research career.

UCAS Tariff points:	240
Additional Requirements:	Required subject(s): BTEC ND Animal Management DMM 280, GCE A-level Biology or Psychology GCSE(s) Required: 3 GCSEs at grade C including English and Maths

For students who do not meet the standard entry tariff but have at least 40 UCAS points, a 4 year (full-time) or 8 year (part-time) option is available.

Please note AS levels are acceptable only when combined with other qualifications.

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

We welcome applications from International and EU students. Please select one of the links below for English language and country-specific entry requirement information.

• International students
• EU students
• English language requirements