University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2015/16 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Health Sciences > Bristol Veterinary School > Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science (BSc) > Specification
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Programme code | 8MVSF016U |
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Programme type | Single Honours |
Programme director(s) |
Andrew Butterworth
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Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
School/department | Bristol Veterinary School |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Accrediting types: |
This course has been validated by the ASAB Accreditation Committee as delivering the academic elements necessary for an individual to achieve ASAB certification as a clinical animal behaviourist. |
Relevant QAA subject benchmark groups |
Agriculture, horticulture, forestry, food and consumer sciences (2019) (benchmark statement)
Biosciences (2023) (benchmark statement) |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 3 years (full time) |
This programme aims to develop the student's interest in and knowledge and understanding of the scientific process and its application to animal behaviour and the assessment of animal welfare.
The history, philosophy and practice of science form the cornerstones of this programme. Methods of accessing, analysing and interpreting qualitative and quantitative data are key features.
Animal behaviour is the integrated output of all internal and external influences acting on an animal. A deep understanding of the factors influencing animal behaviour: evolutionary, functional, developmental and causal is required. The scientific methods and approaches that have been developed to analyse animal behaviour are covered in this programme.
Animal behaviour, as the integrated endpoint of physiological and environmental information, provides a source of important methodology for the assessment of animal welfare. Other methods of assessing animal welfare, e.g. the interpretation of physiological indices, are also included in this programme.
The ways in which animals are treated, used and included in society raise complex ethical issues. Frameworks for considering the place of animals in society are a core theme of the programme. There will be opportunities to observe and work with animals in varied contexts. Graduates from this programme will be able to communicate effectively about issues of animal use, critically evaluate current practices and propose new solutions to ethical and practical problems.
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Methods of Assessment | |
Unseen examinations |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Self-directed study and set assignments |
Methods of Assessment | |
Essays, summaries and assignments |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Lectures |
Methods of Assessment | |
Essays, summaries and assignments |
Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level C/4 - Certificate |
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Level I/5 - Intermediate |
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Level H/6 - Honours |
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The intended learning outcome mapping document shows which mandatory units contribute towards each programme intended learning outcome.
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the undergraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
Workload Statement
Full time attendance is compulsory unless absence is formally approved.
Years 1 & 2 consist of a 30 week academic year which follows the standard University terms. Academic activities are timetabled throughout the 5-day week, with the exception of Wednesday afternoons. In Year 1 a student can expect an average of 21 hours of contact teaching per week. The Faculty anticipates that a student will spend a further 20 hours a week on preparation of coursework and self-directed learning (this may vary with the ability of the student). In the second year of the programme the contact time falls to about 16 hours per week on average, as greater emphasis is placed on individual coursework (projects) and self directed learning.
In the clinical-years (Yrs 3-5) the teaching year is extended and averages 42 weeks per year. The month of August is a vacation period, free of teaching, and the standard National holidays are honoured; the final year finishes in June with graduation in July. Clinical activities take place from Monday-Friday (between 08.00-18.00), and occasionally students are expected to stay late, or overnight, to observe out-of-hours activities. Year 3 students may request permission to be absent on Wednesday afternoons, On average in the clinical-years less than 10% of the year is lecture-based teaching, but a further 35% is staff-led teaching in clinical settings. The remainder of the time is set aside for students to develop their clinical skills, to do project work and to do preparative and reflective self-directed learning.
Assessment Statement
Please select the following links for statements about assessment. This is University of Bristol access only.
The entire programme is distinctive and made possible by the unique combination of research strengths in animal behaviour and animal welfare at the University of Bristol.
Dr A Butterworth
Please note that BIOL11000 and BIOL12000 are must pass units.
For the definition of a must pass unit please see the Glossary of Terms from Annex 1 to the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/esu/assessment/annex/glossary.html
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Biology 1A: Diversity of Life | BIOL11000 | 40 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Biology 1B: Life Processes | BIOL12000 | 40 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Key Concepts for Biologists | BIOL10002 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
20 credit points from the following list: | ||||
Introduction to Developmental Psychology | PSYC10008 | 10 | Optional | TB-2C |
Introduction to Biological Psychology | PSYC10009 | 10 | Optional | TB-2D |
Current Topics in Biology | BIOL10001 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Certificate of Higher Education | 120 |
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Animal Behaviour | VETS23000 | 40 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Animal Welfare 1 | VETS23001 | 40 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Scientific Method and Ethics 2 | VETS23002 | 20 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Work Placement | VETS23003 | 20 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Diploma of Higher Education | 120 |
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Animal Behaviour 3 | VETS33000 | 40 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Animal Welfare and Disease | VETS33001 | 20 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Advanced Scientific Method and Application | VETS33002 | 20 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Dissertation | VETS33003 | 40 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science (BSc) | 120 |
Unit Pass Mark for Undergraduate Programmes:
For details on the weightings for classifying undergraduate degrees, please see the Agreed Weightings, by Faculty, to be applied for the Purposes of Calculating the Final Programme Mark and Degree Classification in Undergraduate Programmes.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
Please refer to the specific progression/award requirements for programmes with a preliminary year of study, the Gateway programmes and International Foundation programmes.
All undergraduate degree programmes allow the opportunity for a student to exit from a programme with a Diploma or Certificate of Higher Education.
Integrated Master's degrees may also allow the opportunity for a student to exit from the programme with an equivalent Bachelor's degree where a student has achieved 360 credit points, of which 90 must be at level 6, and has successfully met any additional criteria as described in the programme specification.
The opportunities for a student to exit from one of the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry with an Award is outlined in the relevant Programme Regulations (which are available as an annex in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes).
An Ordinary degree can be awarded if a student has successfully completed at least 300 credits with a minimum of 60 credits at Level 6.
The pass mark for the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine and Dentistry is 50 out of 100. The classification of a degree in the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry is provided in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
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