Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 22 x 1 Hour Lectures |
| Seminar | 2 x 2 Hour Seminars |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Ethical matrix project. | 40% |
| Semester Exam | 2 Hours | 60% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module. | 40% |
| Supplementary Exam | 2 Hours Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module. | 60% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Discuss the inter-relationship between ethics and the animal sciences, the definitions and historical perspectives.
2. Discuss ethical theory as it applies to the animal sciences.
3. Discuss the ethical status of different forms of animal farming, experimentation, biotechnologies and domestication, and apply the ethical matrix to specific examples.
Brief description
The module will consider the interaction of ethics with the animal sciences. It will consider the major ethical theories relating to how moral judgements are made as well as the history of attitudes to wild and domesticated animals. The module will also consider the ethical and legal position of animals as experimental models, as providers of meat and other animal products, and as providers of companionship.
Content
2. The ethical disposition of humans
3. Ethical theory: Utilitarianism, Deontology, Justice Theory & others
4. The development of human attitudes to animals
5. The theory and application of the ethical matrix as a framework for ethical analysis
6. The ethics of animal experimentation and biotechnology, including a consideration of the relevant legislation.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Not a significant component of the module. |
| Communication | Student discussion and debating skills will be developed in classes and seminars, though these will not be assessed. Students will develop effective written communication skills in the examination and assignment, where these will be assessed. Feedback will be given in the assignment. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Not a significant component of the module. |
| Information Technology | Accessing the Internet for reliable information sources and using databases to find primary literature in preparation for the ethics of animal use report and the exam. Use of information technology will therefore be assessed in both the assignment and exam. Feedback will be given in the assignment. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Not a significant component of the module. |
| Problem solving | Not a significant component of the module. |
| Research skills | Students will research topics beyond the depth and scope of the lecture material using both directed and independent study. Information from a variety of sources, but in particular peer reviewed material, will be the object of scrutiny and comment. Research skills will be assessed in both the examination and assignment. Feedback will be given in the assignment. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Subject specific concepts relating to animal bioethics will be developed. Students will develop a basis for reasoning their way through an ethical dilemma and to justify their reasoning. |
| Team work | Not a significant component of the module. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6