News

Tuesday 4 December 2007

UK first as University prepares for course launch

The first postgraduate courses in the UK to specialise in equine health and welfare are being launched at Nottingham Trent University. They will open up a range of career opportunities for animal or biological sciences research assistants, nutritionists, equine behaviourists, sports psychologists and coaches, scientific journalists, lecturers, equine consultancy or rehabilitation, or medical marketing and sales.

The University’s School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences will welcome the first cohorts onto the Master of Science (MSc) and Master of Research (MRes) Equine Health and Welfare courses in December.

Modules for the courses include research methods and knowledge dissemination; sports horse health and welfare; sports horse training, ethics of horse use and consultation, ethology and welfare; energetic basis of performance, drugs and performance, assessment of equine behaviour, and alternative therapies and rehabilitation.

MSc Programme Leader (Equine) at Nottingham Trent University, Dr Andrea Ellis, said: "These courses are unique as they intend to look at the horse-human relationship from a different perspective - that of the welfare of the animal. This includes looking at ethics, consultation with the public and recent advances in equine health and welfare."

She added: "Students will gain the professional skills, experience and knowledge needed to progress in this industry. The university has also invested significantly in general teaching and laboratory facilities at Brackenhurst - as well a range of state-of-the-art equine facilities, including new software to analyse horse behaviour and physiology, the campus is also home to the new Veterinary Nursing Building and Animal Unit."

Both courses can be taken as one year full-time or two year part-time, with the MRes containing fewer modules but a larger research project – making it ideal for students wanting to specialise to a higher degree in one specific area.

ENDS

Notes for editors:The School will also be running a Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) in Equine Health and Welfare from December. Individual modules can also be taken as short courses. These are run from December to December and are taught in five teaching blocks, allowing for maximum flexibility and distance learning to best suit the busy lifestyles of mature students.

More information on the MRes/MSc courses.

More on the PG Dip. 

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