Module Information

Module Identifier
BR30510
Module Title
Animal Bioethics
Academic Year
2017/2018
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Other Staff

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

1. The nature of science and how science progresses
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