Animal Behaviour Diploma

Institution UK Open Learning
Method Distance
Type Courses
Course fee By request

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Animal Behaviour Diploma

Objectives On completion of the course students will be able to understand and appreciate a wide variety of the behaviour exhibited by animals in the wild and to a certain extent in the domestic environment. Students will develop an enlightened respect for animals through their diversity and behaviour.

The student will receive a thorough grounding in the principles detailed in the programme below.
Entry requirements There are no entry requirements for this course, the students just need to be committed to follow the guidelines of the course.
Academic title On successful completion of all of the assignments students will receive a UK Open Learning Diploma in Animal Behaviour.

According to national framework guidelines, the course is deemed to be Level 2 by the Institute for Animal Care Education.
Course description
Module 1: Developing and Learning

Lesson 1: The animal at play
- To enable the students to understand the dangers of play behaviour in an animal’s natural environment and to demonstrate how the risks are often outweighed by the benefits of play.
- To instruct the student on the primary reasons why play behaviour occurs
- To present to the student, examples of the diversity of play.
- To enable the student to recognize and appreciate the differences between carnivorous and herbivorous play behaviour.
- To explore the primary differences between play behaviour in makes and play behaviour in females.
Lesson 2: The Learning Process
- To demonstrate to the student the basic principles of the learning process in associative and non-associative learning
- To enable the processes of habituation and sensitation
- To demonstrate the relevance and form of cultural behaviour with regard to animal behaviour
- To enable the student to appreciate the decay and the interference theory as type of neural programming
- To introduce the student to the theories of filial and sexual imprinting and develop an understanding of their relevance
Lesson 3: The Development of Behaviour
- To introduce the student to the basic concepts of instincts, evolution and genetics
- To enable the student to appreciate the relevance of early post natal behaviour
- To provide an introduction to the revelvane of social behaviour and dominance in social animals, with a view to building upon this later on in the course.
- To explore the development of behaviour in its entirety and not as separate entities working in isolation
Lesson 4: Genetics and Behaviour
- To enable the student to appreciate the behavioural changes that can occur due to genetic changes
- To introduce the student to an develop an understanding of the terms genotype and phenotype
- To raise awareness of the behavioural abnormalities caused by abnormalities in the sex chromosomes
- To explore (through discussion) the genetic flexibility of the domestic dog
Module 2: Reproductive Behaviour

Lesson 5: Seasonal Breeding
- To enable the student to understand the primary reasons why animals exhibit seasonal breeding
- To present continuous, opportunist, long day and short day breeders to the student, and enable the student to appreciate the reproductive characteristics of these groups.
- To introduce the student to the theories of photoperiodism and ciracadian rhythms, with reference to seasonal breeding and melatonin
Lesson 6: Migratory Behaviour
- To demonstrate to the student the reasons why animals migrate
- To explore the concepts of biological equilibrium
- To develop an understanding of the role of the circadian rhythm in migratory behaviour
- To enable the student to appreciate how the circadian and circannual rhythms can work together in controlling the avian migratory urge
- Instruct the student on the methods employed in avian navigation
Lesson 7: Migratory Behaviour
- To enable the student to understand the process of dispersal migration
- To explore the migration of the monarch butterfly as an example of non dispersal insect migration
- To develop an awareness as to the diversity of animal migration generally
Lesson 8: The Mating Game
- To enable the student to understand the advantaged and disadvantages of sexual and asexual reproduction, the nature of the male and female gametes and the consequences for mate choice
- To demonstrate the criteria for mate choice, and appreciate the consequences if intersexual and intrasexual selection
Module 3: Social Behaviour

Lesson 9: Territoriality and Aggression
- To develop an understanding of the primary reasons for aggression and ritualized fighting in the animal kingdom
- To demonstrate the consequences ofritualised fighting
- To explore the principles of the dominance hierarchy
Less on 10: Communication and Social Behaviour (1)
- To enable the student to recognize the principle components of animal communication
- To demonstrate the graded and discrete signals used in animal communication
- To enable the student to appreciate the primary roles of communication and recognition in animal communication
Lesson 11: Communication and Social Behaviour (2)
- To enable the student to understand why animals congregate in order to survive
- To explore flock size and food availability
- To introduce the student to the theories of social facilitation and local enhancement
- To present the student with the reasons why animals roost together
Lesson 12: Our Companions
- To explore the widespread popularity of pet ownership
- To enable the student to understand the need to nurture and the advantages of having such a need
- To demonstrate the modern trends of pet ownership and its influences