Animal Behaviour Diploma - Distance

Comments about Animal Behaviour Diploma - Online

• 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

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