Unit information: Ethics and Welfare in 2021/22

Unit name	Ethics and Welfare
Unit code	VETS23005
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Sue Horseman
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	All 1st, 2nd and 3rd year units.
Co-requisites	All other 4th year units.
School/department	Bristol Veterinary School
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

This unit provides students with an understanding of concepts in welfare, welfare science and in the analysis of ethical and legal issues associated with the use of animals.

Aims:

• To introduce various scientific methods of assessing animal welfare.

• To show how different ethical frameworks can guide decisions relating to animal use.

• To present and explain the legal and professional standards and responsibilities required of the veterinary nurse.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit students will 'be able to:

• Describe and critically evaluate different concepts of welfare
• Evaluate the welfare of individual animals, applying appropriate welfare science
• Apply ethical frameworks to ‘real life’ scenarios and critically evaluate the outcomes of ethical assessments
• Recall legal, professional and industry standards relating to animal welfare and discuss how these relate to specific case examples

Teaching Information

Online synchronous and asynchronous teaching and learning

Small group working

Use of Virtual learning environment (Blackboard)

Assessment Information

Ethics and Welfare Project

The DSE project for this unit consists of an investigation into a UK based welfare issue of the student's choice. The project should describe and analyse the welfare science, ethics, legislation and professional and industry regulations relevant to the welfare issue. Formative feedback will be provided during project ‘drop-in’ sessions. The format and summative assessment of the project is as follows:

1) Oral presentation using PowerPoint (50% of the unit marks)

2) Supporting ‘notes’ section within the PowerPoint presentation (50% of the unit marks)

Passmark for this assessment is 40%. Those failing to achieve 40% in all elements of the unit will be required to do a similar assessment during the re-sit period.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. VETS23005).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.