Applied Animal Studies

Three years full-time or five to six years part-time.

Students will be given a grounding in the basic principles of animal science with more advanced modules covering specialised interests in the areas of zoo management, animal behaviour, animal conservation, animal welfare, animal health and animal science.

Students study a generic first stage in animal handling, animal biology, conservation, behaviour, welfare and animal health. In the second and third stages, students specialise in two of the following areas of zoo management, veterinary health, animal science, animal behaviour, animal conservation or animal welfare. The pathways available may be influenced by student numbers.

Stage one

This course has a common first stage with all students taking a set of core modules. These provide a mixed theoretical and practical base and allow for informed choice of specialisms in stages two and three. First stage study includes underpinning aspects of animal science, animal handling and management, introduction to behaviour, introduction to ecology and animal health and welfare.

Stage two

In addition to core modules in law, business and research methods, students choose two of the following streams: zoo management, veterinary health, animal science, animal behaviour, animal conservation or animal welfare for further detailed study.

Stage three

All students study a research project in an area of their own interest in addition to continuing study in their two chosen areas of specialism.

• Range of options covering career choice
• Practical and commercial facilities, including on-site animal therapy centre, veterinary practice, farm and animal unit
• Potential to study part-time
• Successful record of student achievement

• Animal anatomy and physiology
• Animal law and ethics
• Animal learning and cognition
• Complementary animal therapies
• Ecological survey techniques for fauna
• Introduction to animal behaviour
• Zoo animal management
• Zoos and conservation

This course includes a wide variety of assessment methods including written work, presentations, practical project work and time constrained assessment. The assessment is continuous throughout the course.

Recent graduates are employed in the animal sector in zoos and national animal welfare organisations such as the RSPCA and WSPA. Other employment avenues include animal welfare groups, animal conservation organisations (both in the UK and overseas), local authority animal welfare officers, animal breeding companies, animal nutrition companies, veterinary and medical laboratories, veterinary surgeries, HM Customs and Excise, racehorse stables and educational institutions. Students have also progressed onto MSc programmes in animal behaviour and wildlife conservation.