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LSC-30072 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2023/24 Last Updated: 13 February 2024

LSC-30072 - Animal Welfare
Coordinator: Kate Baker Tel: +44 1782 7 33417
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2023/24

Whether considering pain-perception in fish or prosthetic limbs in pets this module aims to bridge the gap between science and ethics in the animal industry. You will consider what animal welfare is before applying this to current topics in the field in an attempt to help you to develop your own opinions based on scientific fact and interpretation of physiological and behavioural parameters. You will be assessed through your contribution to a group-led teaching session and a weekly journal club. This module builds on previous animal behaviour and physiology modules and will prepare you for a broad range of animal-related careers.

Aims
This module aims to critically analyse the current methods used to evaluate animal welfare. Students will then review the current topics in animal welfare and critically appraise publications with reference to both these parameters and legislation taking into consideration a range of ethical view points.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Discuss the physiology of 'welfare' and evaluate the evidence for sentience and emotions in a range of animals: 1,2
Critically evaluate the current methods used for assessing and measuring animal welfare including both physiological and behavioural indicators: 2
Critically appraise a range of ethical viewpoints and perspectives on animal welfare: 1,2
Review the current effectiveness of welfare legislation and organisations: 1
Appraise a range of journal articles and present their findings in a logical and concise manner: 2

Study hours

Journal club Tutorials: 12
11x 2 hours engagement with asynchronous topics.
Preparation for journal club tutorials: 36
Preparation for group presentation: 10
Independent study: 70

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Presentation weighted 30%
Group Presentation
Working in small groups of 2 to 5 students you will be expected to give a 30-minute presentation based on a current animal welfare topic. A group mark will be allocated for the content, format and delivery of the presentation. Additionally, an online resource for peer and self-assessment will be used to facilitate peer moderated marking between groups and individual contribution within-group. The peer review marks will be averaged to give a total mark for the peer review section. The peer assessment score will be used to scale the group project mark to allocate an individual presentation mark.

2: Exercise weighted 70%
Journal Club
Each week students will be allocated a current animal welfare topic to discuss. The basic historical relevance will be given to the students in a flipped-classroom style presentation during a lecture. Following this a minimum of 2 publications will be made available to the students. Students are expected to contribute to a journal club during the tutorial sessions and initiate a discussion about the topics (this could be online or in a group tutorial). The initial discussion will be based around the publications but wider reading on the topic is expected. At the end of the module students will be expected to collate 3 topics for which they would like their contribution to be assessed and submit them on the proforma provided.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 13 February 2024