Animal Behaviour and Welfare

The University of Edinburgh

About this Course

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Animal welfare has been described as a complex, multi-faceted public policy issue which includes important scientific, ethical, and other dimensions. Improving our understanding of  animal welfare, involves the fascinating study of animal behavior as well as the challenge of accessing the emotions of animals. 
This is the On-Demand version of this course, which means you can start the course at any time and work through the course materials at your own pace. The materials and quizzes will always be available to you. 

You can come and talk about the course on Twitter using the hashtag #EdAniWelf

Learner Career Outcomes

42%

started a new career after completing these courses

31%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Approx. 10 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (Brazilian), Italian, Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, Turkish, English, Spanish, Chinese

Skills you will gain

AnimalAnimal BehaviorVeterinaryDog

Learner Career Outcomes

42%

started a new career after completing these courses

31%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Approx. 10 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (Brazilian), Italian, Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, Turkish, English, Spanish, Chinese

Instructors

Instructor rating

4.74/5 (636 Ratings)

Offered by

The University of Edinburgh

Influencing the world since 1583, The University of Edinburgh is consistently ranked as one of the world's top 50 universities. Today, we are an established and global leader in online learning, providing degree-level education to 3,000 online students in addition to 36,000 students on-campus. We also offer a wide range of free online courses in a variety of subjects. To find out more about studying for one of our online degrees, search for ‘Edinburgh online’ or visit www.ed.ac.uk/studying/online-learning/postgraduate

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating99%(19,864 ratings)

Week

Week 1

1 hour to complete

Introduction to the Course

In this module we'll tell you who we are, what this course is about, how you can use this course to learn more about animal behaviour and welfare, and how you can earn a certificate.

1 hour to complete

3 videos (Total 12 min), 5 readings

3 videos

Welcome1m

Introduction to the MOOC Team3m

Rules of Engagement6m

5 readings

How To Use This Course10m

Course Syllabus10m

Statement of Ethics10m

Course Team10m

Frequently Asked Questions10m

Week

Week 2

1 hour to complete

What is Animal Welfare and Why Does it Matter?

Introduction, History and Concepts of Animal Welfare

1 hour to complete

5 videos (Total 25 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

5 videos

Why Does Animal Welfare Matter?9m

What Is Animal Welfare?5m

The Five Freedoms2m

How a Scientific Approach Has Helped Improve the Welfare of Animals: Interview With Professor Lawrence4m

Animal Welfare and Cultural Differences: Interview With Dr MacKay3m

2 readings

About this Module10m

Accompanying Material10m

1 practice exercise

Module 2 - What Is Animal Welfare and Why Does It Matter?30m

Week

Week 3

2 hours to complete

What We Can Measure We Can Manage

Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare Assessment

2 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 49 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

6 videos

How Do We Assess Animal Welfare?6m

Using An Animal's Behaviour to Assess Welfare9m

Physiological Measures of Animal Welfare9m

New Developments in Animal Welfare8m

The Impact of Early Life Events on Stress Responsiveness in Animals: Interview with Professor Cathy Dwyer6m

Using Animal Body Language as a Measure of Subjective Experience: Interview with Dr Francoise Wemelsfelder8m

2 readings

About This Module10m

Accompanying Materials10m

1 practice exercise

Module 3 - What We Can Measure We Can Manage30m

Week

Week 4

2 hours to complete

The Truth About Dogs and Cats

Practical Animal Welfare: Companion Animal Welfare

2 hours to complete

12 videos (Total 70 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

12 videos

Pet Cats and Dogs11m

Street Cats and Dogs4m

Shelter Cats and Dogs7m

Dog Aggression7m

The Alpha Dog5m

Cat Genetics: Interview With Professor Gunn-Moore9m

Dogs and Their Needs in the Shelter: Interview with Emma-Louise Livingston3m

Dog Genetics: Interview with Dr. Rowena Packer3m

Cats Independent Dependents: Interview with Wendy Johnston4m

Can We Farm Dogs and Cats Humanely?: Interview With Heather Bacon2m

Rabbits, More Complex Than You Think: Interview With Guen Bradbury5m

Horses Under Pressure: Interview with Gemma Pearson3m

2 readings

About this Module10m

Accompanying Materials10m

1 practice exercise

Module 4 - The Truth About Dogs and Cats30m

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You’ll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. Learn more.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

Animal Behaviour and Welfare