BSc (Hons) Animal Science

The animal body is remarkably well designed. Different parts of the body must work together in perfect harmony to maintain life. Health may seem to be the normal situation, but for the body to maintain life, incredibly complicated processes must occur. The relationship between disease and anatomy is strong. Disease affects anatomy and abnormal anatomy causes disease. Normal anatomy and physiology are essential for the animal’s health, welfare and survival. The study of anatomy and physiology gives insight into each animal species and gives us the ability to influence an animal’s survival, when there is dysfunction of the normal anatomy and physiology.   

Assessment:

This module is designed to develop your understanding of the immune system in a variety of species and how it mediates a response to destroy pathogens. You will examine the organs and cells involved in the defence of the body and explore immunodeficiencies and immunosuppression. You will explore the range of common pathogens that effect species such as farm animals, companion animals, small animals, equines and exotic species. You will identify and appraise environmental factors affecting health and the immune response and explore how risks to animal health may be controlled in a real-life establishment.  

Assessment:

Employees in the Animal Care sector will typically be involved in the care, handling and husbandry of a variety of different species, in a potentially wide range of different situations e.g. zoos, aquaria, rehabilitation, rescue, pet shops, breeders, livestock etc. This module aims to develop key skills required in this field, enhancing the employability of graduates.  Animal care, handling and husbandry is governed by legislation and guidelines in the United Kingdom which aims to promote the welfare of vertebrate / cephalopod species. You will investigate these and review their impact on common husbandry procedures.   

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This module provides you with the essential background knowledge in cellular and molecular biology with an emphasis on genetics and evolution. You will become familiar with cellular structures and functions and the classification of living organisms.   The module aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of plant and animal physiology alongside with the homeostatic processes that are essential in ensuring the survival of the organism in constantly changing environments.   

The module introduces you to the mechanisms of heredity including cell division, sex determination and the laws of inheritance.   You will also examine the processes which drive evolution, the concepts of natural selection and events which upset the population genetics including genetic drifts and founder effect.  

This module aims to develop your observational and practical skills using light microscopy, breeding Drosphila melanogaster and using molecular techniques such as electrophoresis. These practical activities will improve your understanding and practical skills in biological science, the fundamental processes in living organisms and of contemporary scientific technologies.  

Assessment:

Professional and Academic Skills is a core module and designed to aid your success in your programme of study.   

This module aims to:  

Having completed this module, you should be able to:  

Whilst delivery and the learning outcomes are generic the content and output of your work will reflect to programme specialism you are studying towards.  

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The number of species moving towards extinction is increasing due to many factors e.g. climate change, loss of habitat due to human population growth and resource removal. Habitat is lost due to urbanisation, agriculture and pollution, while individual species are treated as resources and exploited for food, medicines, pets and scientific research. If we are to maintain the Planet’s biodiversity species conservation in situ must be a priority. Where species are already on the brink of extinction captive breeding programmes are often viewed as the only hope of maintaining and enhancing wild populations.  

Monitoring existing populations and habitats is critical in assessing the urgency of the issues involved in wildlife conservation and sustainable population management and techniques utilised are discussed.   

This module will develop your understanding of the problems facing wildlife and the implications thereof. The conservation and management of wildlife in situ is considered. The issue of human intervention and its nature is reviewed, together with the ethical and legal implications of wildlife management practices.

Assessment:

The provision of an adequate diet is fundamental to the keeping and management of production, collection, and companion animals. It is therefore essential that those involved in these activities have a sound theoretical and practical knowledge of the subject to ensure the health and welfare of the animal(s) in their care. 

This module focuses on the physical and chemical properties of important biological molecules and dietary constituents and how this information applies to ration formulation. You will develop an awareness of the dietary needs of a variety of animal species, along with the range of factors important in designing suitable feeding regimes.

The module covers factors that affect the nutritional requirements of a range of animals and considers the health and welfare effects of failing to meet an animal’s nutritional needs. This module can be contextualised to allow you to focus on the range of animals you are studying. It provides a solid foundation in the concepts used in all areas of animal nutrition and, as such, is delivered in the first year of the programme. This ensures you are better positioned to benefit from other modules covering various aspects of animal nutrition in greater depth.

Assessment:

This specialist module will appeal to you if you have an interest in, or work with  animal collections or zoological and conservation societies. Students may be working in zoos, safari parks, aquaria, bird sanctuaries and other exotic animal collections and wish to enhance their knowledge and skill set.     

In this module, emphasis is placed on your study of current zoo husbandry techniques, modern enclosure design, good management to promote high welfare standards, and skills that are required by keepers to be effective members of the zoo community.  In undertaking this module, you will examine the management of health, welfare, and nutrition for a range of zoo species. The scope of your studies will also encompass key topics such as handling, welfare, behaviour, training, record keeping, enclosure design, legislation, and the global community in a zoo context.     

The module aims to provide you with the knowledge and skills you would require for work in the zoo industry, specifically managing captive species. Components of the European Professional Zookeeper Qualification Framework (EPZQF) will be incorporated into this module, assisting students to build competencies that are required and recognised across the European Zoo Industry.  

Assessment: 

The provision of an adequate diet is fundamental to the keeping and management of production, collection, and companion animals. It is therefore essential that those involved in these activities have a sound theoretical and practical knowledge of the subject to ensure the health and welfare of the animal(s) in their care. This module focuses upon the physical and chemical properties of important biological molecules and dietary constituents and the application of this information to ration formulation. You will develop an awareness of the dietary needs of a variety of animal species along with the range of factors that are important in the design of suitable feeding regimes. The module covers factors that affect the nutritional requirements of a range of animals. It also considers the health and welfare effects of failing to meet an animal’s nutritional requirements. This module can be contextualised to allow you to concentrate on the range of animals that you are studying. It provides a sound background to the concepts used in all animal nutrition and as such should be delivered in the first year of the programme. This will ensure that you are in a better position to benefit from other modules that cover various aspects of animal nutrition in greater depth.  

Assessment:

The relationships between animals and humans are long standing, complex and continually evolving. The nature of our use and involvement with animals reveals much about the nature of human values and society itself. Domestication, production livestock, wildlife utilisation, working animals, sport use and pet keeping feature in societies throughout the world. Attitudes to animals vary widely, therefore an open mind, appreciation and tolerance of these differences is required. This module develops your knowledge of the historic and changing modern roles of animals in human society. It is designed to encourage you to analyse and appreciate the factors that influence human attitudes towards animals and the status and roles animals play in different societies and cultures.

Exploring mythological, religious, cultural, and fictional representations is likely to raise fascinating concepts and lively discussion. You will examine the issues arising from integration and evaluate society’s provision regarding these issues. Costs and benefits of animal-human relationships will be identified. Human perceptions may lack factual basis, and preconceptions or prejudices may be challenging to address effectively. Controversial issues and differing stakeholder opinions will be discussed, and the views of various modern philosophers will be researched. The subject is intrinsically linked with animal welfare, ethics, and legislation, offering potential for integration with other modules.

Assessment:

The need to understand and improve the breeding of animals has become an important aspect of this industry particularly as animal welfare gains a higher profile in our society. Successful breeding requires a sound knowledge of genetics, heredity and the management of both breeding and young stock. This applies to breeders of animals in all sectors of the industry from breeders of companion animals and other pets to production animals, animal collections and wild populations.  

 This module is designed to develop your understanding of the issues and processes involved in a successful breeding programme. It explores both the mechanics, ethics and welfare considerations of breeding, factors that effect and influence breeders and stock, reproductive strategies and technological advances used in animal reproduction.  

You will develop an understanding of how and why genetics influence breeding programmes and bloodlines in different animals. You will explore ethics, welfare and management of breeding and young stock in order to optimise production and ensure health and welfare of the animals bred. The module will also touch upon the ethical and legislative elements (including Animal Welfare law) of breeding animals and explores how the technological world has and will influence reproductive potential.  

Assessment:

This module is designed to help you further develop the learning and development skills introduced in the Higher Learning Skills module in Year 1 (or its equivalent). It offers the opportunity to focus on practice-based research and evaluation skills.

The module will enhance your understanding of qualitative and quantitative methodologies, research methods, and critical thinking skills relevant to the subject area. This will lay the foundation for research at Level 6.

 Assessment:

Animal welfare is a high priority for anyone working with animals, and a thorough understanding of the factors that influence welfare and an ability to recognise indicators in animals is essential. This module explores both positive and negative welfare states and examines how physical, behavioural and emotional factors impact on quality of life. Welfare frameworks such as the Five Welfare Needs and Five Freedoms are debated. This module introduces a number of scientific methods for the assessment of animal welfare and the value of physiological responses and changes in behaviour as indicators of overall welfare are explored.   

A range of welfare assessment methods are applied to a research project which involves gathering, analysing and presenting data. This develops research skills which are required in an Honours degree and may prepare for study at higher levels in this developing field. Animal Welfare Science is a rapidly emerging area of research and is increasingly informing and influencing legislation and policy worldwide. The knowledge and skills obtained from this module will also enhance the quality of work in many different animal industries.  

This module evaluates the influence of genetics and environment on normal and abnormal behavioural development. It will develop an appreciation of the natural behavioural patterns of animals and how they are of key relevance when determining an animal’s captive requirements. This module will present the scientific basis for the modification of animal behaviour as a way of improving animal welfare.   

Assessment:

Nutrition is a broad discipline, encompassing elements of biochemistry, physiology, endocrinology, immunology, microbiology, and pathology. Throughout this module you will revise the major principles of nutrition of both domestic and wild species, taking a comparative approach, recognising that there are considerable differences in nutrient digestion, metabolism, anatomy and physiology and daily energetic requirements.  An advanced understanding of the range of nutritional needs of animals is a key factor for anybody working with in a land-based setting.  

The main focus will be on mammalian (wild, farm, equine, companion and small animal species) and avian (wild, exotic and domestic) species exploring differences in food selection, acquisition and digestive strategies. The nutritional needs of case study species will cover a broad range of topics including digestive physiology, metabolic disorders, and specific feed requirements within life stages and for differing workloads with particular attention being paid to nutritional and metabolic idiosyncrasies. You will revise and consolidate previous study of nutrition and apply this to complex situations in selected species.  

Assessment:

Conservation Biology is the scientific study of biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, habitats and ecosystems. In this module you will review biodiversity and its importance. Threats to biodiversity will be critically analysed within the context of sustainability.  Global climate change is a significant factor affecting the distribution of the flora and fauna of planet Earth. Maintaining biodiversity with a growing human population must be a priority. Recent research suggests that the Earth is experiencing its sixth mass extinction event in its history and much of this is attributed to habitat degradation arising from human development and overexploitation of the Earth’s resources. Some species are more vulnerable to extinction than others. In this module you will review the drivers of extinction utilising the IUCN Red List and other conservation assessment tools to assess the conservation status of individual species and to identify which species to save.   The ethics of saving only charismatic species, umbrella species and flagship species versus saving other species will be examined.  

There are a range of conservation management strategies, and some are more successful than others. You will appraise the features of effective conservation programmes and identify reasons for failures of others. Methods for measuring outcomes in conservation will be critically analysed. Animal welfare is a significant factor in saving species from extinction. You will explore which aspects of animal welfare are fundamental to the success of captive breeding programmes. Comparing and contrasting issues and case-study examples from in-situ and ex-situ breeding programmes will enable students to justify the most effective approaches for breeding animals in captivity for conservation. The vital roles of population structure and genetic diversity will be evaluated alongside welfare aspects within the context of releasing animals from captive breeding programmes into the wild to create sustainable wild populations. Field study excursions to a range of collections will support research into welfare and population management.  Through understanding the processes involved in breeding and managing captive species, you will be encouraged to question traditional and modern techniques in conservation.  The core of the module will be delivered by Easton College campus staff together with significant input from practicing researchers and practitioners in conservation. Guest speakers from ancillary businesses, conservation projects and charities will also be involved.   

There may be the additional opportunity, subject to interest and current travel parameters, to undertake a residential field trip to the Durrell Institute in Jersey, a world-renowned conservation and research facility, to support the study of this module and provide appropriate content towards assessments. This trip would provide hands on experience coupled with lectures delivered by the institutes qualified staff members. The cost of this trip would be in addition to course fees and would need to be met by the student in full by a specified date to ensure a guaranteed place on the trip. Specific costings for a student place will be calculated each year and are subject to change.  

Assessment: 

This module allows you to work on an academic research project of their own choosing,  utilising evidenced based methodologies and using appropriate research tools. This research project could be completed in conjunction with local businesses/charities, as well as either utilising existing data, collecting your own data or undertaking an evaluative project. You will be allocated a supervisor who will advise on choice of topic and on the progress of the work. You will be encouraged to use the research project as a summative exercise. Through which to evaluate their own academic progress during the degree programme. The dissertation may take the form of either a discursive, structure and evaluative thesis or a data-based project. Learners completing a project will be given an opportunity to envisage, design, and implement a piece of research that will entail collecting, analysing, and interpreting. original data in the light of extant knowledge. It will also provide you with practical skills in participant recruitment, research ethics and design, project management, data analysis, and communication that will galvanise your employability profile.  

Assessment: 

This module aims to give you an understanding of how modern science is disseminated to the public via a range of science communicators and how science is communicated to governments, politicians, and policy makers.  You will examine strong and poor strategies for communicating science to various audiences and how science information and misinformation can be used to change public perception.   

You will examine the role of written press, TV, radio, websites, blogs, etc. and using case studies, will look at the approach of the press and the impact on the public and government policy.   Examples utilised will be current within the industry and research fields, which may include topics such as livestock management, GMO, captive animal welfare, and domestic species breeding practices.  You will use reflections on these strategies to create select forms of media to engage a range of audiences.  

This module aims to provide you with a series of multidisciplinary skills for use in industry and academia. Continuous technological advancements mean that animal scientist roles can range from fieldwork to marketing and liaising with the public or government officials.   

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