Animal Welfare

One year full-time or two years part-time.

The course aims to provide training for students in skills associated with postgraduate learning, particularly the approaches, methods and techniques required for research in the animal welfare field. It allows students the opportunity to extend their knowledge in this important area through the use of theoretical and practical fieldwork examples.

The course includes theoretical and practical based modules. Students will study the underpinning principles of animal welfare science as well as studying and developing techniques for assessing animal welfare in different settings. The course also includes consideration of human attitudes to animals and the influence this has on their welfare and care. The ways in which animals perceive their environment and the impact this has on their welfare is also discussed.

• First MSc exclusively in animal welfare in the UK
• Considers the measurement of welfare and behaviour as well as the relationships between human beings and animals
• Students can choose to study individual modules as they wish
• The course is mindful of employment prospects - in particular the opportunities opened up by the new animal welfare bill

• Animal cognition
• Assessing animal behaviour
• Attitudes to animals
• Principles of animal welfare science
• Research and analytical methods
• Research project
• The animal brain and behaviour

Dolan, K Ethics, Animals and Science 1999 Blackwell Scientific Publications

Lund, N Animal Cognition 2002 Pub. Routledge. Hove

Manning, A and Serpell, J Animals in Human Society: Changing Perspectives 1994 Pub. Routledge. London

Martin, P and Bateson, P Measuring Behaviour: An Introductory Guide. 2nd Edn 1993. Cambridge University Press

Webster, J Animal Welfare - Limping Towards Eden 2005 Blackwell Publishing.

All modules are assessed by coursework. There are no formal examinations, although time-constrained assessments are used as a means of assessing factual knowledge of theories and concepts. The course work takes a variety of forms with between two and three items of assessment per module.

Assessment methods are varied and include reports, essays, seminars, time-constrained assessments, fieldwork projects and a dissertation

Increasingly, students are finding that positions in the animal-related sector require postgraduate experience and skills. Graduates may find employment in a number of areas including work as scientific or technical officers within animal welfare organisations or as part of research organisations, animal welfare and health officers within local authorities, welfare inspectors, or working within animal collections. Alternatively, graduates may wish to pursue further study through the completion of doctoral programmes.