FdSc in Animal Management (Behaviour and Welfare)

The FdSc Animal Management (Behaviour and Welfare) is designed to enable career ready, confident, inquisitive, critical thinking and empowered professionals and focuses on foundational skills at Levels 4 and 5, emphasizing the importance of understanding the behaviour of a variety of animal species to better support positive health and welfare.

Through interactive tuition from a range of experienced academic staff, professionals and guest lecturers, theoretical modules are aimed at enabling students to recognise and understand the underpinning knowledge required and apply that theory to the care provided for a variety of animal species. Developing the practical skills, demonstrating appropriate transferable skills, self-awareness and the capacity to engage in reflective practice is made attainable through the tuition provided by experienced teaching staff who have all worked in the animal industry.  

Students will learn to recognise signs of health and disease in a variety of animal species, as well as how to manage animals to promote good health and prevent disease. Students will also learn how to measure animal welfare including how to conduct an animal welfare assessment. 

Students will learn to conduct behaviour observations and reach conclusions about animals’ behaviour, as well as making recommendations for modifying/managing behaviours. They will also explore the application of behaviour science to the management of animals in a variety of contexts. 

Students will study core concepts of good husbandry practice, Health and Safety and animal management techniques, as well as practical aspects of handling, accommodation, provision of feed and legislative requirements relevant to animal husbandry. 

This module develops knowledge of the biological systems of animals, with a detailed look at functioning. It will require students to analyse the interaction of systems and how environmental factors may impact an animal’s health. 

Students will define the macro and micro-nutrients and how each constituent contributes to balanced animal nutrition and influences metabolism. They will also explore the importance of hydration and acid-base balance within homeostasis and examine how dietary requirements vary with life-stage, health status, reproduction and activity levels and learn how to calculate feed rations for a range of animal species. 

Students will gain insights into the wild diets of animals and how nutritional and behavioural needs can be met in captivity. Students will also develop their knowledge of exotic animal health, identifying and managing a wide range of diseases and disorders. 

This module aims to enable students to develop personal and professional skills by engaging in practical activities within a relevant workplace. It is designed to hone both hard and soft skills that are transferable to future employment. 

This module allows students to examine the human-animal interaction, exploring the variety of ways in which animals are utilised in human society both nationally and internationally and how they can be exploited. 

Completing this module will provide students insight into the diversity of animals’ physiological systems. This module will also let students explore behavioural adaptations exhibited and learn about the processes by which they developed.  

The module aims to provide an overview of the links between animal behaviour and biology, and how management strategies for both captive and wild animals are informed by robust scientific research. 

This module will allow students to examine anthropomorphic attitude to animals, with topics including the history of human-animal relationships, the theories involved and the factors determining the humanisation of an animal. 

This module offers students the opportunity to engage in research in a specific field of study. It also develops students  ability to identify a research theme, develop research aims, objectives and outcomes, and present the outcomes of such research in both written and verbal formats, as well as encouraging reflection on the research process.