Course summary

This course is designed as a progression award from our Foundation Degree in Zoo Animal Management and Conservation award. If you are passionate about the animal kingdom and would love to work in the zoo industry and conservation sectors, then this the course is for you. Specifically designed with industry experts and mapped against industry standards, this course has been tailored to provide you with a full and extensive range of knowledge, skills and experience to prepare you for a career in the zoo and conservation industry. The Foundation Degree in Zoo Animal Management with Conservation uniquely combines practical, academic and vocational skills training in a single course to provide you with the range of skills, experience and knowledge demanded by zoological institutions and conservation-based careers. The two most distinctive features of the course are: 1. Access to our fully licensed, on-site commercial zoo offering access to an extensive range of exotic zoo animals, some of which are of important conservation status. The zoo also has a large range of domestic and agricultural animals to enhance the breadth of experience available 2. A multi-faceted approach, combining academic learning, practical skill development and vocational experience, uniquely linking the knowledge and understanding of animals with real world husbandry skills and applied zoo and conservation experience. The BSc (Hons) Zoo Animal Management and Conservation was developed to meet the demands of employers and students for a vocational, industry led award to prepare you to enter the zoo and conservation sectors with a full understanding of the expectations of the industries along with their importance to each other, society and ultimately the future of the wider ecosystem. The key educational aims of the award are; As a graduate of the BSc (Hons) Zoo Animal Management and Conservation you will be able to demonstrate:

• high level skills and critical understanding of the underlying concepts and principles associated with both zoo animal management and conservation to gain related employment which requires the exercise of professionalism, independent thought, personal responsibility and decision-making in complex and unpredictable circumstances.

• rigorous and research-informed understanding and knowledge of the complex nature of zoo animal management and conservation and integration of a knowledge base of key subjects such as anatomy, physiology, behaviour, ecology, welfare and ethics to further understanding.

• academic and critical thinking skills within the zoo animal management and conservation sector and professional communication skills to enable academic progress to post graduate courses or to enter employment at a supervisory level and allow effective and fulfilling career development and progression.

• professional and competent transferable skills with a view to fully equipping you with the skills and attributes you require for your future career within the zoo animal management and conservation industry.

• an ability to integrate academic study and practical experience and fully embed a vocational ethos to your programme of study with an emphasis on independent learning skills and reflective working practise which is progressive in nature.

• that you are equipped with the confidence, professional skills and knowledge and capacity to become lifelong learners and develop successful careers.

• you are well equipped to enter careers and career areas such as zoo keeping, research and academia, behavioural consultancy, zoo education, exotic animal education, conservation officer, ecological consultancy, exotic animal breeding, conservation based non-government organisations, charity and public sector roles and the private exotic animal keeping sector including breeding and retail.