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.

18 hours of lectures, 5 hours of tutorials in term 1 and one full day and three half day site visits spread over semester 2

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Students will write an essay (2000-2500 words) reviewing an issue of welfare concern (50%) and write a report (50%) on how a specific exhibit meets the animal's welfare requirement; the latter is based on a formal welfare assessment taking place at one of the site visits in term 2..

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 animals are facing in various contexts.s.

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 wild animals

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