Anthrozoology

Course overview

This research-focused degree is ideal for those who want to develop and discover new scientific expertise around the wide and varied area of human and animal interaction.

You'll be supported to build on existing expertise in anthrozoology through research, preparing for PhD study or advancing your career.

You’ll gain a deeper insight into the role of animals in society, as well as how humans and animals co-exist from a historic and contemporary perspective. You’ll also explore the role of animals in healing and their role in cultures and religions.

Research-active lecturers and professors will support you to advance knowledge gained from your first degree or employment. You’ll learn how to develop practical solutions for existing and emerging challenges in human-animal interaction, focusing your research on your interests and career aspirations.

You’ll have access to a diverse range of species from our own animal collection – domestic animals, exotics, invertebrates and amphibians – as well as a wealth of wildlife across our 360-hectare conservation-style site. We’re also home to equine and canine therapy centres, as well as specialist dog agility activities and expertise.

Our strong industry connections with human-animal experts, animal therapists, animal trainers and zoos will further enhance your experiences and extend your professional networks. Delivery is flexible and often provided at weekends to fit around your work or other commitments.

What you'll study

MRes

This degree will equip you with the expertise needed to develop practical solutions for existing and emerging problems centred around animal-human interactions.

You’ll explore how humans co-exist and impact on animals through conservation, exploitation and as companions, as well as debating the ethical issues surrounding anthrozoology. Key topics include the human-animal bond, wildlife conflict and contemporary issues surrounding human-animal interaction.

Taught modules have been designed to advance your skills in critically evaluating current research, and develop your abilities in research design and statistical analysis.

These skills, along with one-to-one support, will allow you to understand and apply current scientific thinking to welfare issues, enabling you to evaluate and develop new ideas to improve real-world practice.

The practical and theoretical skills you will gain will enhance your career prospects and can be applied in future scientific research and applied areas of human-animal interactions, including education, legislation, working with animal charities, zoos and conservation organisations.

Your dissertation project, which provides opportunities for academic publishing, will be a piece of original research that will make a valuable contribution to the field of anthrozoology.

This project is highly flexible, providing freedom for you to research your chosen topic in line with your interests and career aspirations.

You’ll also be encouraged to attend industry conferences, with opportunities to present research in key areas – this provides a great foundation for you to develop your knowledge and reputation, as well as industry networks.

Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma

These qualifications form part of and are at the same level as the full master’s degree. They provide the ideal opportunity for you to develop your professional expertise via shorter qualifications, whilst allowing flexibility to progress each qualification through to the next level, including the full master’s degree.

Modules

Below you’ll find the compulsory modules for this course. You’ll also be able to choose from a range of optional modules to suit your interests and career goals. Optional modules change each year in line with student, industry and research demands.

Please visit our document library for more module information.

How you'll study

We're committed to supporting you to fulfil your unique potential while you're here so that you can achieve your personal and professional goals. This course will be delivered through a mixture of weekend and weekday onsite delivery, but some of the modules will be delivered entirely online.

Your support network

You'll benefit from a strong support network from day one. This will range from your lecturers, supervisors and personal tutor to our specialist academic (Achievement and Success Centre), employability (Innovation, Careers and Enterprise) and wellbeing teams.

Your learning experiences

You'll experience a range of teaching methods to strengthen your understanding of topics, including lectures, workshops and practical sessions.

Further details

Professional practice

Some optional modules require you to reflect on your current professional practice, so if you are currently working in a role in the animal industry (voluntary, paid, full or part-time), this will be an ideal supplement to your studies.

Field trips

The optional Wildlife Conflict module includes a 10-day residential stay on a game reserve in South Africa, studying the relationships between wildlife and local populations. The field trip has an associated cost (see fees section), but represents a fantastic opportunity to study this unique human-animal ecosystem with our expert academic staff. Places for this field trip are limited.

Graduate destinations

The research component of this degree makes it ideal for those wishing to undertake more significant academic research via a PhD or those who wish to advance a specific area of their professional practice.

Students have gone on to undertake their doctorate, as well as securing professional roles or progressing existing roles working within the animal and human sectors (zoos, domestic animal organisations, human therapy and care centres).

Our careers team can support you to find and prepare for employment. Potential graduate destinations include:

• PhD study
• Conservation sector (eg. public education)
• Working to safeguard the welfare of companion animals in various sectors (pet, working)
• Animal-assisted therapy centres/organisations
• Starting your own business providing advice on human-animal wellbeing

Tuition fees and financial support

Please visit our student finance page for information on tuition fees and student loans, as well as non-repayable grants, bursaries and scholarships, eligible to different groups, to support with study costs.

MRes Bursary

You may be eligible for a £1,000 bursary to support your research project. Please visit our finance page for more details.

Below you'll find extra costs associated with studying this course, as well as costs associated with living and extra-curricular activities that might be of interest.

Clothing and footwear

A number of modules require clothing and footwear suitable to wear outdoors when working with animals, eg. long trousers and boots.

Hartpury University branded clothing is also available through our online shop, for those who wish to purchase it. However, this is not essential.

Optional field trips (circa £1,500)

The optional module Wildlife Conflict – optional at all levels – offers a field trip to South Africa to study conflicts that arise between local populations and wildlife and how these are positively managed. Places for this field trip are limited.

Accommodation and living costs

Please visit our student accommodation page for details.