Animal Management

About the course

This course, will give you the advanced specialist knowledge and skills you need for a successful career within the animal industry.

Our strong links with potential employers who provide a large proportion of work-based learning will give you a distinct advantage when it comes to finding work once you leave us. If you're already working in the industry, this Foundation degree will give you a qualification that opens up opportunities for promotion or alternative roles.

Oaklands College is home to a diverse range of animal species, industry-standard facilities and examples of management of natural and commercial animal habitats, which will be a significant advantage in your studies.

Why choose this course?

This programme will give you the advanced specialist knowledge and skills you need for entry and progression within the animal industry.

Study routes

• Part Time, 3 Years
• Full Time, 2 Years

Locations

• Oaklands College

Careers

You could progress to a related BSc degree or start a career with animal charity organisations, service providers like animal boarding establishments, local authorities or government agencies and animal collections. If you're already working in the industry, you'll be well prepared for more senior/alternative roles.

 

Teaching methods

Oaklands College has a diverse range of animal species, industry standard facilities and examples of management of natural and commercial animal habitats, which will be a significant advantage in your studies, which will include:

• Introduction to Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology
• Animal Health
• Legislation in the Animal Industry
• Animal Nutrition
• Management of Animal Collections
• Introduction to Business and Finance
• Husbandry of Wildlife and Exotic Animals

Structure

Year 1

Core Modules

• Anatomy & Physiology

  This module will explore the anatomy and physiology of small animals, farm animals and horses. This unit will be based mainly on practical sessions including dissections and physiological experiments. There will be some formal lectures for both equine and animal management students however the seminars will be split to concentrate on species specific anatomy. Students will be encouraged to use appropriate terminology for the subject and to develop good communication skills.

• Animal Health

  This module will provide a detailed understanding of animal health to include diseases and parasites, their causative agents, transmission and management. It will also develop and demonstrate knowledge and an understanding of the application of first aid procedures. It will provide students with the opportunity to develop their communication, research and practical skills in preparation for their work based learning project.

• Animal Husbandry

  This module refers to animal husbandry and management and covers a range of topics. Students will have an opportunity to develop practical handling skills and assess health on a range of animals providing them with the essential skills required for working in the animal industry. Students will be given the opportunity to investigate accommodation types and analyse their use and welfare implications. Topics covered include restraint, housing, disease prevention and utilisation of management records. Types of animal covered may include rabbits, rodents, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish, cats and dogs.

• Animal Nutrition

  This module will cover the different types of food, properties and uses within a nutritional context. A wide range of food types and sources will be assessed in relation to their nutritional value. The anatomy and function of the gastrointestinal tract will be analysed as will the digestion and absorption of food types. The rationing process will be covered in detail in relation to a range of animals.

• Applied Physiology

  This unit is designed to provide the student with knowledge of genetics and breeding systems in a range of domestic animals and will explore a range of reproductive technologies such as embryo transfer, artificial insemination and genetic engineering. It will also introduce the student to the causes of metabolic disease, with reference to the endocrine system and students will look at how the risk of metabolic disease can be reduced by changes of animal in their different environments to identify how they are physiologically adapted to their environment. This knowledge will be utilised to evaluate animal husbandry and explore thermoregulation in sports animals. Students will be encouraged to use appropriate terminology for the subject and they will design and carry out a practical breeding programme within the animal unit.

• Introduction to Business Practice

  The module draws together many of the topics covered in other modules and allows students to practise the business skills required in a small business. The module is primarily designed to gain a working understanding of business management in the Animal Management and Equine Industries. In particular it will enable individuals to produce, explore and make reasoned decisions based on financial information. Students will also explore the roles and responsibilities of employer and employees within a business and the procedures used to recruit and manage staff. The importance of effective resource management and marketing to ensure the success of a business will be emphasised throughout the module.

• Work Based Learning Career Planning

  This module will introduce students to suitable career identification, planning for career progression and techniques to enable suitable jobs to be found. The module will also assist students to develop parts of their personal development plan. An introduction to self promotion, CV development and application processes will be covered in depth. Previous and current employment will be linked into assessments for this module which should allow for career development.

• Work Based Learning Maximising Potential

  This module should seek to enhance the confidence of new students joining the programme by helping them to identify characteristics of themselves that will help them to succeed on the course and in employment. It is also important that areas of weaknesses that need development to ensure success on the course are identified early and plans put in place to help the student improve upon their existing capabilities. This is equally important for students joining from school / further education programmes and for mature students returning to education. This module will lay the ground rules for the completion of assignments throughout the course and will take the students through what will be expected of them in terms of written, oral and group work. They will draw on previous experiences, both study and work based, to learn from them, and this will be the introduction to reflective learning on the programme.

Optional

Year 2

Core Modules

• Farm Animal Production

  This module provides the knowledge for the production and management of a range of farm animals and systems. Knowledge of anatomy & physiology and applied physiology will be developed and applied. The module investigates farm animal production systems with particular reference to the ethics and welfare requirements. The specific requirements for the nutrition, housing and handling for a range of farm animals are included. The recognition of signs of ill-health will be emphasised and routine and non-routine preventative and control measures for the health and welfare of farm animals will be explored. The relevant legislation and record keeping ensuring healthy stock and the specific Health & Safety requirements for operators will be examined. The importance of selection of breeding stock with regard to breeding systems, economic pressures, the need to preserve genetic banks and prevention of inbreeding will be addressed in detail.

• Introduction to the Scientific Basis of Animal Behaviour

  Ethology is the scientific study of animal behaviour. The field of animal behaviour is concerned with understanding the causes, functions, development and evolution of behaviour. The causes of behaviour include all of the stimuli that affect behaviour, both external and internal. The function of behaviour includes both the immediate effects of behaviour on an animal and the adaptive significance of the behaviour in a particular environment. The animal behaviour module will enable the learner to investigate, analyse and discuss factors influencing animal behaviour, which, in turn will lead to individual study of a species and scientific analysis of findings.

• Investigative Methods

  This module will introduce students to a range of methods, both qualitative and quantitative, that can be used in small scale investigations. The module should prepare students to undertake investigative work as part of their work based project and prepare them for more in-depth independent project work in future studies. Topics to be covered will be drawn from; discrete stages of undertaking research, the research question, reviewing literature, approaches to research, ethics, primary and secondary data, data collection methods, analysing and presenting research data. Emphasis will be placed on framing or defining research questions at the start of the module as this is key in designing a realistic and achievable research project. Skills gained during the WBL Maximising Potential module in research techniques will be developed further. This module may preparae and bring together elements from other modules such as WBL Project, monitoring techniques in Wildlife Conservation in the UK and behaviour observations in Animal Behaviour or Human & Equine Psychology.

• Legislation in the Animal Industry

  Students will begin the module with an overview of legislative procedure, including a history of the progression of animal laws, terminology, basic procedures for the development and approval of legislation and enforcement. Specific issues and legislation will then be considered; laws that affect both equine and animal industries will be explored. Seminars will be utilised to discuss issues specific to the animal and wquine industries. For example, protection of wild animals or the regulation of riding establishments. The response of the animal and equine industry to legislation ( for example, guidance, codes of practice, schemes etc.) will also be investigated.

• Managing Specific Animal Establishments

  The module will promote an understanding of specific animal establishments and their roles in society. Students will identify and investigate differing establishments and the importance of correct management to ensure the physical and mental welfare of the animals. Husbandry and the benefits of enrichment will be evaluated. The use of animals in specific establishments will be discussed and analysed to include the moral and ethical factors and the role in education and society.

• Wildlife Conservation in the United Kingdom

  This module will consider aspects of practical wildlife conservation in the UK. The student will examine factors regulating populations. Methods of monitoring threatened or rehabilitated species, including fieldwork will be investigated. Conservation techniques and organisations will be explored. Additionally the value, legal, ethical and welfare implications of UK wildlife conservation will be discussed.

• Work Based Learning Project

  The Work based Learning Project will allow students an opportunity to relate the skills, knowledge and understanding learnt on the course to a work based situation. Project management and time planning will be covered in detail in the taught part of this module. The module will also cover investigative methods which links to the level 2 Investigative Methods module. Relevant Health and Safety where applicable will be covered to enable facilitation of the project. Evaluative and reflective techniques will be developed within sessions to allow students to build on their skills and apply to the project module.

Optional

Fees & funding

Fees 2013

UK/EU Students

Full time: £5,000 for the 2013 academic year

International Students

Discounts are available for International students if payment is made in full at registration

View detailed information about tuition fees

Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

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How to apply