Course description for 2025/26
Advanced Ethology and Animal Welfare
HUS5004
Course description for 2025/26
Advanced Ethology and Animal Welfare
HUS5004
This fully online course will provide students with a theoretical framework in ethology and animal welfare, as well as the opportunity to apply this knowledge to real-world scenarios.
This course equips students with an advanced understanding of ethology, focusing on fundamental theories and concepts, and the influence of biological and environmental factors on animal behavior. It delves into human-animal relations, exploring psychological, social, and ethical dimensions, and considers future aspects of animal welfare in a changing world. Both domestic and wild animals are covered. The course is fully online, with both synchronous and asynchronous learning activities.
Admission to the course requires a bachelor’s degree within a biological field with an average grade of C or better in the ECTS system or equivalent.The course is open for all students in the Master in Biosciences and the Nordic Master in Sustainable Production and Utilisation of Marine Bioresources. The course is also available for external students (enkeltemne), provided that the admission criteria are met.
Students must meet current admission requirements for the associated study programme (Master in Biosciences).
Upon successful completion of this course, it is expected that the student has reached the following learning objectives:
Knowledge
- Has advanced knowledge of fundamental theories and concepts in ethology: Students will gain advanced knowledge of the basic principles and theories that underpin the study of animal behavior.
- Can identify biological and environmental factors: Students will learn how these factors influence the behavior of animals.
- Has an in-depth understanding of human-animal and animal-animal relations, including physiological, psychological and social aspects.
- Has competence to assess ethical implications of human-animal relationships.
Skills
- Can apply existing ethological theories and methods to analyze real-world scenarios.
- Can interpret, critically analyze and effectively communicate research findings through written and oral presentations.
- Can discuss future aspects in ethology and welfare in animals in a changing world.
General competence
- Can demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the context of ethology and animal welfare and propose solutions to ethical dilemmas.
- Can communicate effectively about ethology and animal welfare to diverse audiences, including presenting their own independent work.
- Can participate in and contribute to professional discussions and debates on animal ethology and welfare.
In addition to the semester fee and curriculum literature, it is assumed that the student has a laptop computer at his disposal.
Elective for master in biosciences. This course is particularly relevant for students of the specialisation in animal science.
Synchronous and asynchronous lectures, group and individual work, and student presentations. The course is fully online.
Evaluated annually by students through course surveys. These evaluations are included in the university’s quality assurance system.
Compound assessment
- Compulsory participation (OD) in one oral presentation of group assignment prior to submission. Counts 0/100 of the grade. Grading rule: Approved / Not approved. Prerequisite for receiving a final grade in the course, counts 0/100 of the grade.
- Compulsory participation (OD1) in one group supervision of group assignment prior to submission. Counts 0/100 of the grade. Grading rule: Approved / Not approved. Prerequisite for receiving a final grade in the course, counts 0/100 of the grade.
- Written assignment (OP) in groups, counts 100/100 of the grade. Grading rule: A–E, best A, fail F.
Generating an answer using ChatGPT or similar artificial intelligence and submitting it wholly or partially as one's own answer is considered cheating.
It is recommended that students have basic knowledge in the subject areas of livestock production and ethology.