BA (Hons) in Animal Welfare and Society

• Develop high-level knowledge of animal behaviour, training, welfare, and conservation
• Study at the University’s Centre for Animal Welfare and take advantage of its partnerships with major animal welfare organisations
• Gain hands-on practice and learn how to perform welfare assessments in the field
• Kick-start a career in diverse areas such as teaching, veterinary work or seek accreditation as an animal behaviourist

You will explore connections and relationships between humans and other animals, and critically review theories, philosophies and issues concerning their treatment of them. You will study a range of issues including animal welfare; animal ethics; animal law; consuming animals; criminality and animals; animal representations; animals and policy; environment and animals; and animal advocacy.

Throughout the course, you explore crucial questions about human relationships with other animals. How do we understand them? What are our responsibilities to them? Should we eat them? Why do we develop emotional attachments to them? Why do we vilify some animals and not others? An essential element of the course is how humans relate to other animals, and what it means to be human.

This interdisciplinary course engages with scholarly work from the arts and humanities, social sciences and natural sciences in order to examine how humans may reconsider their relationship with animals. The broad scope and thought-provoking content enable you to discover and explore your areas of interest.

The course is both classroom-based and field-based. Through internships and other work-placement opportunities, you are able to experience working with animals and/or organisations associated with animal issues.

Year 1 (Level 4)

• Introduction to Animal Welfare and Society 30
• Animal Behaviour and Welfare Issues 30
• Research Methods 1 15
• Introduction to Species Conservation 15
• Introduction to Animal Advocacy 15
• Regarding Animals 15

Year 2 (Level 5)

• Theorising the Animal 30
• Animal Welfare Law and Policy 30
• Animal Welfare Concepts and Assessment 30
• Research Methods 2 15

Optional modules

• Volunteering - 15 credits
• The Environment, Climate Change and Globalisation - 15 credits
• Religion and Spirituality in Contemporary Society - 15 credits
• Political Leadership and Communication - 15 credits
• Global Governance - 15 credits
• Value Studies - 15 credits

Year 3 (Level 6)

• Placement in Animal Welfare and Society 30
• Applied Animal Behaviour 15
• Dissertation in Animal Welfare and Society 30
• The Political Representation of Animals 15

Optional modules

• Animals and the Arts – 15 Credits
• Animals and Alternatives Within Research and Education – 15 Credits
• Politics, Energy and the Environment – 15 Credits
• Social Movements and Collective Action in the Internet Age - 15 Credits
• Political Leadership and Communication - 15 Credits
• Value Studies - 15 Credits

Graduates gain employment in national and international animal advocacy; charitable, welfare and conservation organisations; and with animal-related Governmental departments and commercial organisations. Some may use this qualification as a gateway to other pathways such as teaching, veterinary specialisation in animal welfare, doctoral studies and research in related fields, or accreditation as an animal behaviourist.

The University of Winchester ranks in the top 10 in the UK for graduates in employment and further study according to the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021, HESA.

Pre-approved for a Master's

If you study for a Bachelor's Honours Degree with us, you will be pre-approved to start a Master's degree at Winchester. To be eligible, you will need to apply by the end of March in the final year of your degree and meet the entry requirements of your chosen Master's degree.