This course will give the student a critical understanding of the principles of welfare assessment, knowledge of scientific methods used to assess welfare and its application to different forms of human use of animals.

30 hours of lectures and practical workshops, and two half day site visits to two farms.

None

BIOL5126 Key Research Skills (Semester 1)

BIOL5127 Animal Legislation & Societal Issues (Semester 2) and BIOL 5114 Animal Ethics (Semester 2) for specialisation in Animal Welfare Science

Students will write a short piece (1000 words) synthesising information between two conflicting studies (25%), an essay (2000 words) reviewing an issue of welfare concern (50%) write a leaflet to the general public (25%) on welfare issues of brachycephaly.

The aim of the course is to provide students with an evidence-based critical and detailed understanding of the concept of welfare and the range of issues that are faced by animals from the full range of contexts.

By the end of this course students will be able to critically evaluate and discuss with respect to literature:

■ The complexity of the concept of welfare and critically analyse the application of different welfare concepts

■ Approaches for analysing and evaluating appropriate methods that can be used to assess specific welfare issues

■ The latest issues and outcomes of research into animal welfare issues

In addition, they will:

■ Obtain knowledge of welfare issues in different forms of human use of animals and be able to have an informed discussion and make critical judgements about a range of welfare issues

■ Apply critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis of principles of welfare to work with animals

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.