This course will give the student a rigorous founding in relevant ethical frameworks and pluralism and its application to issues of animal use in our society, animal sentience. This then provides the basis for an evidence-based understanding of the relevant legislation around using animals in different contexts such as in scientific research, at zoos or on farms.

This course is made up of lectures, tutorials and practical classes in semester 2.

None

Oral Presentation - (50%) tests ILOs 1-3 in a 15 min oral presentation

Position Paper - (50%) tests ILOs 3-5, 2000 words

The aim of this course is twofold. First, to provide students with an awareness of the principles of relevant animal ethics frameworks and how these may be applied to consider the moral implications of different forms of human use of animals. Second, to provide students with a rigorous evidence-based understanding of key features of relevant legislation and societal issues regulating the use of animals in various contexts. Students will also explore relevant legislation on a specific issue relating to animal use in a country of their choice.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Recognise, evaluate and critically discuss a range of animal ethics frameworks.

2. Critically discuss, evaluate and reflect on ethical issues relating to different forms of human use of animals, contrasting our treatment of animals in different contexts

3. Recognise and discuss ethical dilemmas, employing ethical reasoning and applying ethical principles in the context of relevant case examples.

4. Critically discuss principles of legislation protecting animals in different contexts and how legislation is underpinned by ethical principles and current research in animal welfare science.

5. Critically discuss how societal influences affect public attitudes towards human uses of animals, especially with respect to controversial issues.

6. Recognise and evaluate how changes in legislation come about and how to communicate with the relevant stakeholders on animal welfare issues.

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