Principles of Animal Behaviour, Welfare and Ethics

Undergraduate | 2026

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Area/Catalogue
ANIM 1001
Course ID icon
Course ID
200361
Level of study
Level of study
Undergraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course level icon
Course level
1
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Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
Yes
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
Yes
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
Yes
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Note:
Course data is interim and subject to change

Course overview

The course will provide the students with an introduction to the principles of animal ethics, behaviour and welfare. Subject areas which will be covered include introduction to animal welfare; animal welfare issues and current developments; animal welfare legislation; introduction to animal ethics; the history of animal behaviour; introduction to animal behaviour in the wild and domesticated species. Knowledge gained in the lecture material will be put into practice in the practical exercises.

Course learning outcomes

  • Outline the historical study of animal behaviour, and give examples of factors influencing animal behaviour (e.g. nature/nurture, social interactions)
  • Describe the meaning of sentience, and the evidence for varying levels of cognition in animals
  • Apply learning theory to the training and management of animals
  • Compare and contrast different conceptions of animal welfare and apply and interpret behavioural and physiological measures to assess an animal’s welfare
  • Describe the main philosophical frameworks used in animal ethics and compare and contrast the many factors (e.g. public opinion, science, economics) that influence decisions about animal use and reflect on your own ethical judgements
  • Demonstrate appropriate written and oral communication skills; and the ability to work effectively as part of a team and provide constructive feedback to other team members

Prerequisite(s)

N/A

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

N/A