The Foundation Degree in Animal Conservation gives students in North Devon the opportunity to study this exciting topic. You will learn by taking part in practical conservation field work, laboratory work, and behaviour observations as well as seminars, lectures, tutorials and access to the Petroc VLE to support and enable independent research. Students will graduate with a range of core competencies to enable employment or progression to full BSc qualifications. Modules include: 1. Animal Anatomy & Physiology - develops your knowledge and understanding of the structure, functioning and maintenance of the animal's body. Support and movement, body transport systems, acquisition of materials, removal of waste, and reproduction are all investigated and their roles are examined in maintaining the overall organism. 2. Animal Behaviour - focuses on the explanation of behaviour in relation to function, causation, development and evolution, along with the concept of genes for behaviour. Students will learn how to observe and record animal behaviour and how to summarise and present data. 3. Ecology & Conservation - covers evolutionary theories, mechanisms of evolution, and the consequent impacts this has upon our understanding of ecology. The dynamic nature of change within environments is also reviewed, using local site visits and surveys, and wider international examples. 4. Developing Graduate Skills - develops the qualities and transferable skills necessary for appropriate academic work and employment, including the ability to relate professional practice to underlying theory and principles. You will undertake a minimum of 50 hours of work experience. 5. Animal Health & Disease - reviews regional, national and global factors affecting the health of wild and domestic species, disease transmission, causal agents and the interventions required to manage the risk of contracting and spreading disease. 6. Zoological Conservation - focuses on the roles of zoo conservation, and how this is undertaken, as well as considering the ethical, legal and ecological factors involved. Zoo animal husbandry and behaviour is analysed in light of conservation and welfare. 7. Practical Conservation Skills - you will develop and be assessed on your practical sampling techniques for flora and fauna in a range of habitats, statistical analysis of this data, and evaluation of the results. 8. Marine Animal Biology & Conservation - focuses on the variety of marine animals, their biology and their conservation. The unit will identify the evolutionary pathways and classifications of marine animals, as well as current conservation threats and conservation measures which have been undertaken to protect and enhance habitats and species. 9. Behavioural Ecology - focuses on the evolution of animal behaviours, including adaptation, communication, feeding behaviour, mating behaviours, coping with predators adaptively, and reproductive tactics. Where possible the lessons will involve observing wild animal behaviour to apply knowledge. 10. Applied Zoological Science - develops understanding of the physiological and behavioural needs of animals, subsequent challenges within a zoo environment, and the suitability of captive environments. 11. Experimental Design & Analysis - students will complete a research project from proposal, to final report, with the support of tutors and peers. 12. Wildlife Management & Rehabilitation - provides an understanding of the complex and varied factors affecting wildlife, including reasons affecting resources, their funding, their management and how these issues impact upon the species themselves. Students will apply their resource management knowledge to a range of habitats. Ecological, legal and ethical rehabilitation factors will also be considered.ls.