HV0196, Advanced animal welfare and animal protection, 15.0 Hp
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Syllabus

Finalized by: PN-VH, 2024-04-23
Valid from : Autumn semester 2025 (2025-09-01)

Level

Second cycle (A1F)

Main field of study

Biology, Animal Science

Biology Area

Zoology (animal biology)

Grading Scale

5 / 4 / 3 / U

The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.

Course language

English

Entry Requirements

Objectives

The course intends to provide in-depth knowledge and a holistic view of the interdisciplinary subjects animal protection and animal welfare. This includes both theoretical and applied knowledge and skills related to these subjects. The course aims to provide students with the necessary skills required to be able to contribute to the development of animal protection and animal welfare in society after completing the course, regardless of whether they continue in postgraduate education or work with more applied tasks directly or indirectly related to animals.

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• synthesize and evaluate theoretical and practical knowledge and apply these in various areas related to animal welfare and animal protection, nationally and internationally,
• analyse various animal welfare and animal protection issues by formulating and solving relevant problems and applying the results to work to reduce these problems,
• apply different scientific methods to contribute to the development of knowledge in animal welfare,
• apply existing evaluation methods and tools for animal protection and animal welfare in an appropriate way and discuss how they can be developed,
• discuss and argue animal welfare and animal protection from different ethical and cultural angles.

Content

The course gives the student a specialisation in the interdisciplinary research topics animal welfare (the animal’s perspective) which includes e.g. ethology, physiology, animal environment and health and different ways of evaluating animal welfare, and animal protection (the human’s perspective) which include e.g. legislation, private regulations, control and various interactions between humans and animals. In addition, animal ethics will also be brought up. The course is based on problem-based learning and has an interdisciplinary approach where both natural and social science subjects are included. The course consists of learning activities consisting of self-study, group work, keynote lectures, seminars and exercises. The student will carry out in-depth work in groups or individually which is presented in writing and orally. Compulsory activities occur, e.g. seminars, oral and written presentation, study visits and examination.

The following generic competencies are trained in the course:

• taking responsibility for your own learning, as well as responsibility for teaching other students in defined areas. It includes evaluation of one’s own work and that of others,
• analysis of complex problems with interdisciplinary approach,
• general scientific skills with special emphasis on critical thinking.

Examination Formats and Requirements for Passing the Course

Passed written or oral examination, passed participation in compulsory course components.

•  If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
• The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
• If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
• For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Responsible Department/Equivalent

Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare

Supplementary information

Included in program

• Animal Science - Master's Programme

Module set

Title	Credits	Code
Animal Welfare and Protection (presentations)	6.0	0102
Animal Welfare and Protection (written examination	7.0	0103
Animal Ethics	2.0	0104

Other Information

To assimilate the course content, students should have very good prior knowledge in animal welfare, animal protection and scientific methods (within animal science). The course is designed partly as a distance course. It is a necessity for the student to have access to a computer and an internet connection. Expenses related to study visits may occur.

• The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
• If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.