This module enables you to develop the academic, personal and transferable skills required to ensure successful study at higher education level and beyond. Personal skills such as self-awareness, resilience, mindfulness, time management, prioritisation, communication, motivation and organisation are considered and developed in conjunction with academic skills pertinent to successful further academic study. In particular, you will develop the ability to write for academic submissions, source and use reference texts correctly and learn to utilise feedback effectively to inform and improve future submissions. Aspects of employability are also addressed, including the development of presentation skills, appropriate email etiquette and an awareness of digital footprints. You will undertake a range of tasks aligned to your chosen subject area aimed at developing your skill set in a supportive environment. You are encouraged to practice skills repeatedly until you feel confident and capable of tackling future assessments.
All knowledge and theory in biology has originated from practical observation and experiment. This module underpins the subsequent science-based modules at level 4 within the remainder of your chosen degree award. It introduces key biological principles, covering the cell as the basic unit of life, an introduction to cell energetics, the variety of living organisms and the basic concepts of genetics. The development of essential laboratory skills in also introduced, with fundamental techniques; approaches to investigation; observing, obtaining, identifying and manipulating specimens all forming part of the acquired skill set. Alongside knowledge of the health and safety requirements of working in a laboratory setting, this module prepares you for further laboratory work in the remainder of your course.
This module aims to develop your mathematical confidence and competency in basic statistical analysis and methods. Within your chosen sector, you'll demonstrate the ability to manipulate numerical information, including whole number, decimal, percentages and fractional forms, while learning how to collect, interpret, analyse and present data via standard techniques. You will gain relevant skills necessary for data analysis, including correlation, arithmetic and geometric sequences, and numerical problem solving. You will understand how to utilise basic software packages effectively (such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams and project management software) within your studies. Utilising the internet and Writtle's virtual learning environment, you'll become conversant with the various information and support mechanisms available to a higher education student and capable of using modern technology to support your studies and independent learning.
This module introduces you to general, organic and biochemistry in a manner that enables understanding of your chosen topic of further study, utilising examples that are relevant to your career aspirations. Focusing on key concepts, you'll consider the chemical background of a living organism, including the structure and properties of matter, what comprises energy, atomic structure and the formation of compounds. In particular, the module enables you to develop an appreciation of why chemistry fundamentals will influence understanding of subjects studied later in the degree award.
The Applied Industry Techniques module is designed to form part of the self-development in which you can begin to build a career path and gain an understanding of the professional working environment. You will undertake a range of tasks aligned to your chosen subject area aimed at developing your skill set in a supportive environment. In consultation with teaching staff, you are offered the opportunity to undertake a personally relevant work placement on campus, that relates to your own vocational aims and ambitions. This will allow you to experience this aspect of the industry and begin to develop an appreciation of the working environment. You are encouraged to practice workplace skills repeatedly until you feel confident and capable of tackling future assessments. The practical sessions aim to develop your initiative, communication with other staff members, efficiency, confidence, autonomy and competence. Skills logs document the progressive development throughout the module. You will be expected to produce a Personal Development Plan (PDP) and a subsequent reflective journal outlining your experiences within your placement. The PDP and embedded SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis will encourage you to identify your current strengths and weaknesses, the need for development in specific areas, and an increased understanding of the diversity of opportunities presented by your chosen industry. This module enables you to develop the academic, personal and transferable skills required to ensure successful study at higher education level. The latter part of this module provides an opportunity for you to explore the remainder of the placement units and thus understand all of the potential degree pathways on offer. You'll achieve this by attending ‘walk and talk’ sessions hosted by peers, plus a series of lectures from the degree tutors intended to highlight exciting and innovative subjects as taster sessions.
This module places previous knowledge into the context of a short exploratory project conducted in a subject area of your choice. Working independently or in groups, you will plan and undertake a short, practical experiment that contributes to your knowledge-base in your chosen area. You will then individually write-up one aspect of the results of the investigation, ensuring the use of supporting information to inform your submission. The emphasis will be on utilising skills gained in previous modules to enable a thorough investigation of the chosen topic, practicing the academic and transferable skills required for further successful study. This will include the selection of a suitable research question, the sourcing and use of relevant literature, the use of practical competencies to conduct the experiment and gather data and the use of maths and IT skills to present that data in a manner suitable for higher education submissions. Enabling you to conduct the project will also encourage the development of criticality and reflection skills, as each student will be expected to comment on improvements and alterations were the project to be repeated.
This module is intended to provide the academic and personal skills essential for successful higher education study and employment. It provides a foundation for the development of graduate level academic and professional skills later in the course. Academic skills relating to accessing and interpretation of research literature will be developed through a mixture of workshops, practicals and independent study. There will also be an introduction to research techniques, particularly handling and analysis of data. Professional skills will be developed through a Personal Development Planning approach and guided self-reflection to enable you to identify strengths and weaknesses as well as targets for improvement. You will also reflect on feedback you have received for work in this and other modules then use this feedback to determine steps to take so that you are always improving in future assignments.
The module introduces key biological concepts and principles providing the foundation for future studies. It is also designed to develop your understanding of the relationship between structure and function in a range of animal species, by exploring the anatomical diversity and physiological control of the major body systems. The study of a gross anatomy is based primarily on careful dissections coupled with close histological observations to give you a deeper understanding of the relations of structures and integrated functions. Animal Biology provides a theoretical basis for the practical husbandry covered in the Animal Husbandry module.
This module aims to encourage you to appreciate the wide range of views, both historical and social, of animal ethics and to evaluate ethical arguments in relation to animal use. You will have the opportunity to develop an understanding of the concept of consciousness and sentience within different species and their relationship to pain and suffering. It will support the study of other modules and provide a foundation you can use to make ethical decisions about animals in your future professions, as you will increase your confidence in justifying your views and opinions. You'll discuss the importance of increasing scientific knowledge and technologies in modern society and the altered perspective on human-animal relationships.
In this module you will be introduced to fundamental concepts in equine and canine behaviour, from evolution to domestication, and exploring what drives animal behaviour. This will then be linked to what motivates the animal during training and the learning theory behind it. You will practise the correct identification of the body language integral to both species behavioural repertoire, categorising and defining when and why we are likely to observe these behaviours in both natural and domestic settings. You will be taught to differentiate between behaviours caused through pain and fear rather than disobedience, in a range of situations exploring handling, ridden, social and other problems involving human-animal and animal-animal interactions. Comparisons and contrasts will be made between the equine and canine species with a focus on what skills are important to the therapist in a professional setting. There will be a consistent link to the importance of developing these observational skills as a therapist when assessing an animal for therapeutic intervention.
Animals are kept in large numbers throughout the UK as companions, as performance athletes and for commercial production, they are also present in zoos, wildlife parks, and many other aspects of human life. Regardless of their role in societies, their correct management requires a knowledge and understanding of the husbandry skills and practices associated with each species. This involves not only day-to-day care of the animals but also providing them with appropriate care throughout the year. You will be able to explore the needs of pets and exotic animals in domestic and commercial environment, as well as the specific requirements of horses and commercial farm livestock. Overall, the module aims to develop your knowledge and practical skills in animal husbandry.
It is acknowledged that a scientific understanding of ecological principles is crucial for the sustainable use of natural resources, and for successful implementation of conservation programmes. This module introduces you to key principles in ecology. Central themes will be explored, and particular consideration will be given to factors that influence the distribution and abundance of organisms (with a particular emphasis on fauna). Evolution will be considered, particularly with respect to natural selection and speciation. Appropriate activities will provide you with opportunities to develop your understanding of practical aspects of ecology. Overall, the module aims to develop your knowledge and conceptual understanding of ecology, particularly within the context of the broader remit of conservation biology.
The module is designed to develop the knowledge, understanding, skills and thought processes necessary for effective original research. You will study the nature and fundamentals of the research process, such as literature reviewing skills, the design of a research project, techniques for collection of research data and statistical techniques for analysing research data and drawing valid evidence-based inferences.
This module is intended to develop the necessary commercial and professional skills to specifically prepare you for a career in the animal industry, as well as nurturing more generic career and business focused skills, transferrable across the wider animal industry and applicable to all workplaces. It is intended that the flexibility of this module will allow you to develop your skillset in the context of your own individual career aspirations. A key part of the module will be developing your understanding of the wider animal industry but with a specific focus on the key features of the animal science sector within that. This will include consideration of the types and characteristics of the organisations within the sector; the internal and external factors which influence their activities; and the career and employment opportunities arising as a result. You will get the opportunity to develop your wider business skills through analysing how the industry operates on a commercial scale and by learning about the sales, marketing and financial side of research and development. The legal and ethical considerations of the animal science industry will be discussed, including developing your understanding of the legal and ethical frameworks currently in place, and the role of governing bodies and legislation that impact this area of the animal industry. It will also expand on issues relating to the ethics and welfare around the use of animals generally that were introduced in level 4 and develop this more specifically in the context of animal research.
The module introduces the concepts involved in the study of animal behaviour and develops them in the context of natural and imposed environments. Theoretical models of mechanisms of behaviour are reviewed and the survival value of behaviour assessed in relation to the environment. Understanding how animals are trained and methods of measuring behaviour are introduced.
This module provides core underpinning knowledge of animal health and welfare and supports advanced learning in these areas. It investigates the effects of infectious and non-infectious diseases the health of captive animals. Aspects of animal health, disease and the relationship with welfare are discussed and the concepts and methods of assessing welfare of animals in variety of contexts will be covered.
Using a range of delivery methods, this 15-credit module will include lectures, guest speakers, off-site visits and workshops to provide a variety of learning and life experiences. Integrating main components of the European Professional Zookeeper Qualification Framework (EPZQF) you will gain applied knowledge of zoo animal husbandry, legislation, welfare, record keeping, public engagement and many other aspects of modern zoo life.
This module aims to provide you with the knowledge that underpins the science of animal nutrition and feeding practice. The module will cover comparative aspects of digestion, evaluation of the chemical composition of animal feeds, understanding of the biological functions of nutrients and physiological basis of nutrient requirements. It will also explore current methods for assessing the utilization of nutrients in animals, and factors that regulate appetite and voluntary feed intake in farm, companion and zoo animals.
This module aims to provide you with an understanding of the principles and concepts of animal breeding including and patterns of inheritance in a range of organisms. You will develop an understanding on how these principles affect rates of genetic gain in animal breeding. The second aim of the module is to provide you with an understanding of the reproduction system of domesticated species and you should become familiar with assisted reproductive technologies. Modern breeding systems and new technology influences will also be studied.
Employability in conservation is linked to a combination of knowledge and practical skills. This module provides you with core skills in species identification, wildlife surveying, mapping, and evaluating and displaying data. In this module you will be encouraged to take a student-led approach to learning in order to develop the skills to practically survey species which are of interest to them. The classes will be split between semi-structured teaching spaces where you will be able to explore your own ideas, as well as structured teaching to support their learning. A mixture of classroom, digital and field-based sessions will cover all aspects of practical field conservation and help you develop skills in field based conservation.
This project is designed to enable you to demonstrate autonomy within a project-based module of your choosing. The project will be linked directly to your award programme and demonstrate clearly the development and acquisition of academic, transferable and importantly employability skills pertinent to your chosen sector. You will be given several options for completing this project, that may comprise of one or more of the following (please note that not all options are available for every student or scheme): 1. (Traditional) Dissertation: Consisting of a project in which a student finds, analyses and interprets a unique data set, ordinarily consisting of data generated via an experiment designed and undertaken by the individual. 2. Systematic Review: Systematic reviews aim to find as much as possible of the research relevant to the particular research questions, and use explicit methods to identify what can reliably be said on the basis of these studies. Methods should not only be explicit but systematic with the aim of producing varied and reliable results. 3. Education/Science Communication Project: Working alongside a school, this project identifies a practical experiment that requires implementation within the school’s curriculum. The project will cover all stages of the development of the session from scoping the requirement, understanding contribution to the curriculum, developing and implementing the session, analysing achievement and feedback and project evaluation. 4. Entrepreneurial Project: Where the student identifies an opportunity to develop an innovative product or resource that could be taken forward in their own start-up business. To include a substantive research element. 5. Research/Conference Paper: (Limited to those who achieved a 2.1 or better in the prerequisite Research Methods module). This entails a student undertaking novel research where the output consists of either a research paper ready for submission to a relevant peer-reviewed journal publication, or a conference presentation ready to be delivered at an external conference relevant to the industry concerned. 6. Consultancy Project: A real-life business-based project that is (ordinarily) set by an industry partner. These projects are likely to entail a ‘what if’ scenario for business development, but could also encompass problem-based scenarios requiring specific technical knowledge. 7. Community Engagement Project: Working alongside the local council, school or community body (such as a church) this project will enable students to develop and implement a solution to an identified problem and encourage reflection on the impact that the project has enabled on the whole community. 8. Student-focused Project: Working within the University College, this project will enable the student to demonstrate their awareness of the interface between the student body and academic staff and will entail the student clearly articulating and implementing solutions to an identified issue, with clear and direct positive results for subsequent cohorts. 9. Team-based project. Working within a team, each student will identify and contribute to an agreed, defined part of a larger collaborative project, ordinarily in conjunction with an industry partner. Part of the assessment for this type of project will include reflection on the role played by the individual and the wider team in the success of the project. Summative assessment will include a group presentation (mark allocation to be agreed by the whole team) and an individual report. 10. Case Studies. In this instance, students undertaking a course that includes the acquisition of competency skills will be able to put together a portfolio to evidence these skills that includes documenting case studies and reflecting on personal professional practice. Alternatively, students may choose to research interventions made by professionals to management protocols and evaluate, using case study examples, the efficacy of the changes made. The project module is designed to enable you to gain experience by undertaking a substantive project which explores specific issues in greater depth than is possible elsewhere in the programme. It is a major opportunity for you to demonstrate that you have met the level 6 descriptors for Bachelor Degrees with Honours as detailed by QAA within their Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. You will also be expected to demonstrate the knowledge and skills expected of an honours undergraduate as defined in the relevant QAA Benchmark Statement. This project module is also designed to develop independent learning, self-reliance, work planning skills and a professional approach to study.
This module is designed to equip you with the knowledge necessary to understand the applied aspects of the feeding management of a range of animal species and to solve current problems in applied animal nutrition. The module will familiarize you with legislation governing the feed industry, ration formulation, animal feed processing and manufacturing, and practical feeding management of farm, companion and captive wild animals in zoos.
Managing animal disease is important for animal health and welfare, but animal diseases can also be a risk to public health. Disease outbreaks can be expensive and can have longer-term economic and social effects on trading animals and animal products. This module deals with current issue such as notifiable diseases outbreaks, health scares associated with livestock alongside human and food safety, antimicrobial resistance and one health approach. It enables you to evaluate and implement appropriate management practices used to deal with these issues. In line with other Level 6 modules, you will be expected to apply information gained in a variety of other modules and combine this with extensive reading to evaluate current approaches to disease control.
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA), a global audit of the World's ecosystems, identified that ecosystems have declined more rapidly and extensively over the past 50 years than during any other comparable time in human history. Agents for the decline have been identified as 'direct drivers' (such as pollution, climate change and habitat loss), which themselves are underpinned by 'indirect drivers' (e.g. demography, and socio-economic, political and cultural factors). Unsurprisingly, there are consequences for wildlife; it is estimated that the current rate of extinction of species surpasses that of historic background levels by perhaps as much as three orders-of-magnitude – and in the future this is likely to increase in both scope and scale. Indeed the extent of human influence on the planet is such that it has been advocated that we have entered a new epoch – the' Anthropocene' – and are on the verge of the sixth mass extinction event. In addition, such changes can influence ecosystem function, with consequential impacts on ecosystem services and, ultimately, human welfare. This module explores approaches for the conservation of wildlife in an era of marked environmental change. Underpinning philosophy of conservation (i.e. compositional or functional focus) is considered. Whilst the need for ex situ conservation is recognized, particular focus is given to the ecosystem approach, as advocated by the Conversion of Biological Diversity. Themes that will be explored include landscape scale conservation, reserve / protected area design, habitat restoration, and rewilding; particular attention will be given to how wildlife can be conserved in the context of climate change. Adaptive management, threat / vulnerability analysis and abatement, and the importance of stakeholder engagement will be considered. Overall, the module aims to develop your knowledge and conceptual understanding of key principles relating to the conservation of wildlife, particularly within the context of marked environmental change.
Reproduction in a range of animal species will be reviewed with reference to recent developments in our understanding of these reproductive systems. Factors that determine reproductive success will be evaluated with review of methods of enhancing fertility. Critical comparison of the reproductive strategies employed by a variety of animal species will be an important aspect. Modern breeding systems and the influence of new technologies will also be appraised. The whole process of breeding animals and the issues surrounding these will be explored including: setting out breeding goals; selecting individuals to mate; mating strategies to implore; management through pregnancy and parturition; and neo natal survival. Understanding that correct management of these lead to reproductive success.
This module develops the themes introduced in the Behaviour module. Particular emphasis is placed upon the integration of internal and external influences upon the animal which result in the behaviour patterns expressed. Key concepts in the science of animal welfare study will be evaluated and means of measuring welfare reviewed. Ethical aspects of animal welfare and animal use will be studied in both farmed and companion animal species.
The modern zoo faces a range of challenges within a rapidly changing world in terms of animal welfare, sustainability, and ethical behaviour. An understanding of these growing needs is important to all who intend to work within the industry. This module will cover new and future approaches to zoo management regarding staffing, welfare, conservation, sustainability, legislation, research, education, and collaboration with external organisations. A global perspective will be taken, examining the relationship of zoos to animal welfare and conservation organisations around the world.