BSc (Hons) in Animal Behaviour and Welfare

Delivered at University of Chester

• Research Methods
• Experiential Learning*
• Behavioural Ecology*
• Adaptations to the Environment*
• Wildlife Crime and Conservation*
• Welfare and Behaviour Management
• Marine Animal Behaviour*
• Learning in the Wider World*
• The Study Abroad Experience (120 credits)*
• Enhancing your Employability through Work Based Learning*

* Denotes optional modules

Delivered at University of Chester

• Dissertation^†
• Animal Behaviour and Conservation*
• Physiology and Behaviour*
• Zoo Biology and Management
• Stress and Welfare Assessment in Animals
• Applied Conservation Genetics*
• Managing Marine Environmental Impacts*
• Behavioural & Evolutionary Ecology*
• Domestic Animal Behaviour and Welfare*
• Parasitology*

* Denotes optional modules

† Dissertation is a double-weighted module, worth 40 credits. Therefore, only five modules are selected for study at Level 6 (Year 3).

Click here to view the module descriptors.

Please note that availability of optional modules is subject to availability of subject-specialist staff and the recruitment. Should a module not be deemed viable for operation then all students whom selected for that module will be communicated to in writing in advance of the academic year, and will be informed of the alternative options available to select from.

Students will be expected to make their module choices for the following academic year during March/April, via on online module selection service. Confirmation of module selections will be provided via email following approval.

Overall workload

Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assessment activity, plus field trips. Your actual contact hours may depend on which optional modules you select, but the following information gives an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities at each year of the course:

Year 1: 30% of your time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activity

Teaching, Learning and Assessment:       364 hours

Independent Study:                                        836 hours

Class sizes average between 50-60 for modules exclusively delivered at University Centre Reaseheath (Year 1). In Years 2 & 3 (University of Chester), class sizes for optional modules range between 25-65 students, with core modules delivered across programmes likely to be higher.

Percentage of course assessed by coursework

The balance of assessment by examination and assessment by coursework depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose. The approximate percentage of the course assessed by coursework is as follows:

Year 1

65% coursework

35% written exams

Feedback is supplied via Turnitin or directly from the module tutor. The majority of submissions are made via Turnitin and feedback for coursework is provided four working weeks after the submission date. If for unforeseen reasons this is not possible, the reasons will be communicated to the students within 2 weeks and the feedback prioritised within the department.

Written feedback will be supported verbally should the student require clarification. Formative assessment feedback will be provided at the time of completion where possible, with more detailed summative feedback for reports.

Students are given the opportunity to study an optional module at level 5 (Year 2) entitled Enhancing your Employability through Work Based Learning. Students are expected to source their own placement, and complete a minimum of 150 hours of work, completed in a 5-week block period. When selecting a placement, students should consider the financial implications associated with accommodation, travel/commuting and the possible need for a Disclosure Barring service (DBS) check, as the University of Chester may not be able to subsidise such costs.