AD3CAS: Companion Animal Science

Module code: AD3CAS

Module provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Mrs Rebecca Morgan, email: r.morgan@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

What is the scientific evidence base that underpins the ways we manage the most popular companion animals in society? What is the scientific basis of companion animal nutrition? What impacts a companion animal’s health and welfare? What is the science behind the management of dog behaviour? How is reproduction controlled in companion animals? To answer these questions and more, you’ll learn about the science underpinning the management of domestic dogs, cats and small mammals commonly kept as pets (such as rabbits); their nutrition and feeding, health, reproductive physiology and behaviour and you'll develop your skills in critical discussion of companion animal biology backed by evidence from the scientific literature.  

The module aims provide students with: 

1. An understanding of the science underpinning evidence-based management of various species of companion animals such as dogs, cats and small mammals (e.g. rabbits)  
2. Ability to critically evaluate management practices and how these can affect health and welfare of companion animals  
3. Ability to critically evaluate scientific literature relating to companion animal science. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Critically discuss aspects of the science of companion animals, such as nutrient requirements, digestion and metabolism, health, reproduction and breeding, communication, learning and behaviour
2. Critically discuss aspects of evidence-based management of companion animals, such as foods and feeding strategies, management of health and welfare, control of breeding and training and behaviour management
3. Critically discuss ethics and welfare issues related to companion animals

Module content

The module will cover a range of topics relating to common small companion species e.g. domestic dogs, cats, rabbits:  

• Origins and domestication  
• Digestion and metabolism, and pathologies associated with nutrition and metabolism  
• Nutrient requirements, diets and feeding, with emphasis on feeding for health  
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• Breeding and health  
• Health and disease  
• Communication, behaviour and behaviour management 

Human responsibility for managing companion animal health and welfare will be considered in a global context, including through engagement with diverse scientific literature.  

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

A range of interactive lectures and seminars, supplemented where possible with industry guest speakers and/or visits to companion animal settings, will support learning.

Study hours

At least 44 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Activities in lectures and seminars will help to self-assess understanding.  

Reassessment

Additional costs