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
Offered By
The University of Edinburgh
46,848 enrolled
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
11 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.
3 videos (Total 12 min), 5 readings
5 readings
How To Use This Course10m
Course Syllabus10m
Statement of Ethics10m
Course Team10m
Frequently Asked Questions10m
Week
21 hour to complete
What is Animal Welfare and Why Does it Matter?
Introduction, History and Concepts of Animal Welfare
5 videos (Total 26 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
5 videos
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?26m
Week
32 hours to complete
What We Can Measure We Can Manage
Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare Assessment
6 videos (Total 49 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
6 videos
Using An Animal's Behaviour to Assess Welfare9m
Physiological Measures of Animal Welfare9m
New Developments in Animal Welfare 8m
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 Manage32m
Week
42 hours to complete
The Truth About Dogs and Cats
Practical Animal Welfare: Companion Animal Welfare
12 videos (Total 70 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
12 videos
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 Johnston 4m
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 Cats28m
Week
52 hours to complete
Down on the Farm
Practical Animal Welfare: Farm Animal Welfare
8 videos (Total 70 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
8 videos
Dairy Cow Welfare Part 1: The Milking Cow11m
Dairy Cow Welfare Part 2: The Cow and Calf6m
The Welfare of Pigs Part 16m
The Welfare of Pigs Part 210m
Poultry Welfare Part 1: The Laying Hen17m
Poultry Welfare Part 2: The Hen in Free-Range Systems7m
Poultry Welfare Part 3: The Broiler Chicken8m
2 readings
About this Module10m
Accompanying Materials10m
1 practice exercise
Module 5 - Down on the Farm24m
Week
61 hour to complete
Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My!
Practical Animal Welfare: Captive Wild Animal Welfare
3 videos (Total 36 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
2 readings
About this Module10m
Accompanying Material10m
1 practice exercise
Module 6 - Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My!24m
Week
71 hour to complete
Optional Module: Welfare Conundrums
Emotive Animal Welfare Issues
1 video (Total 3 min), 3 readings
1 video
3 readings
About this Module10m
Emotive Welfare Issues10m
Additional Learning Resources10m
4.8
303 Reviews50%
started a new career after completing these courses
36%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
Top Reviews
Fantastic course, well presented. Easy to take at your own pace, videos allow you to pause and rewind learning at any point.\n\nExcellent content, with knowledgeable presenters. Highly recommend
Definitely a great course to take. As a Animal manager, I see many things I have learned during my own study. And it is interesting, not to say great, to see people whose ideas match mine.
Instructors
Professor Nat Waran
Professor of One WelfareEastern Institute of Technology, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.
Dr Fritha Langford
Scotland's Rural College (SRUC)
Dr Heather Bacon
Veterinary welfare edcuation and outreachJeanne Marchig International Centre of Animal Welfare Education
Miss Hayley Walters, RVN
Welfare and Anaesthesia
Dr Jill MacKay
Animal Behaviour and Welfare ResearcherAnimal Behaviour and Welfare Team, SRUC
About 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
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
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.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
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