Masters Degrees (Canine)

The MSc Veterinary Physiotherapy programme is designed to optimise and enhance the competencies of Chartered Physiotherapists to produce technically competent, effective and safe veterinary physiotherapy practitioners in line with current professional standards. Individuals will be encouraged and supported through critical reflection on the similarities and differences relating to practice in the human field of physiotherapy.

In particular the course promotes the philosophy of life-long learning and encourages students to develop their skills in critical thinking. You will be encouraged to critically analyse research and evidence and apply your findings to practice.

The course aims to help you recognise your role and responsibilities in the field of veterinary physiotherapy and animal welfare. It will enhance your clinical skills as well as your capacity to deal with complex relationships between animals, their owners/handlers and other healthcare professionals. The course will also introduce you to the legal, ethical and financial issues involved in veterinary physiotherapy/ private practice.

This part-time programme is available to registered physiotherapists who are looking to specialise in animals. Graduates from this programme will either have a Postgraduate Diploma or MSc in Veterinary Physiotherapy, which will allow them to upgrade from Category B membership of ACPAT to Category A. Once qualified, students will be eligible to set up their own business in veterinary physiotherapy or be employed in the industry.

Topics you study on this programme could include Clinical Practice, Comparative and Applied Anatomy Physiology and Biomechanics, Understanding Veterinary Diagnostics and Physiotherapy Assessment, Research Methods and Applied Business Management.

Students will also be able to complete their own research and explore their own interests by completing a postgraduate dissertation in the third year if they choose to. You will also be required to undertake periods of clinical placement and students are expected to undertake a significant amount of independent learning.

The course is offered on a part-time basis with teaching delivered in ‘blocks’ of study (each block is usually between two and four days in length and there are approximately 12 blocks of attendance per year) on both weekdays and weekends. Additionally, there will be times when students are required to attend for individual days, e.g. where assessments are scheduled.

The campus is equipped with excellent equine and animal science facilities including laboratories, hydrotherapy both canine and equine, treadmills both canine and equine, a world class championship arena and much more.

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Overview

Writtle University College has an excellent reputation for its existing undergraduate Equine Sports Therapy course that has both academic and professional input and by popular demand we now offer an MSc Veterinary Physiotherapy.

This exciting course, first delivered in September 2014, is run in conjunction with the National Association of Veterinary Physiotherapists (NAVP). The programme is designed to develop the skills of the student to support Veterinary Surgeons in the rehabilitation of a variety of species and will in particular focus on Equine and Canine patients. It will also focus on supporting Equine and Canine athletes both during competition and for recovery.

It is designed to enhance competency in existing therapists and to help students with less experience achieve their goal as capable and knowledgeable Veterinary Physiotherapists. The programme offers successful students the opportunity to become part of the existing para-professional cache of Veterinary Physiotherapists by developing excellent understanding and knowledge of structure in relation to function, treatment, rehabilitation of a variety of animals and of course business skills for those who plan to be self-employed.

If you would like to find out more about our postgraduate courses please see here: http://www.writtle.ac.uk/Postgraduate-Courses

Course Structure

The programme will be run on a part-time basis over three years. The first two years will be taught on a modular basis and will require the student to attend one weekend a month in the first year and attendance in the second year will additionally include placement days with a variety of Physiotherapists. These two years will comprise the Postgraduate Diploma in Veterinary Physiotherapy and if successful the student will be invited to become a member of the National Association of Veterinary Physiotherapists and be able to practice. The third year involves the dissertation and on completion the student will have a full MSc Veterinary Physiotherapy.

Careers

A successful Veterinary Physiotherapist will soon find that demand for their services outstrips their availability as there are a limited number of qualified therapists in the industry. Additionally, Para-professionals in the veterinary world may soon be limited to those carrying a recognised postgraduate qualification.

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The MSc Developmental Psychology focuses on the social, emotional and cognitive development of children and is designed for graduates and practising psychologists who wish to acquire a specialism in child development.

The School of Psychology has a growing reputation as a centre of expertise in developmental psychology, with research interests in cognitive development, language acquisition, autism, motor development, human-animal interaction, child safety and injury prevention, cultural contexts of development. Research in the School is finding immediate real-world applications. For example, studies into the misinterpretation of canine facial expressions have led to a prevention tool to reduce instances of children being bitten by dogs.

You may have access to the specialist Lincoln Babylab, which is equipped with facilities for preferential looking, listening and eye-tracking as well as a motor lab and research facilities for examining comparative cognitive development.

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Our Osteopathy degree/integrated Masters - accredited by the General Osteopathic Council - is the only course of its kind in the northern half of the UK. It's ideal if you need something that's flexible to accommodate your career/family commitments. Two virtually identical programmes delivered in Stoke and in London, with the option to transfer between the two. Delivered in partnership with the College of Osteopaths, this course is the UK's only 100 per cent part-time pathway into osteopathy. The College of Osteopaths is a small specialist not-for-profit educational institution. It has a 70-year history of preparing students for osteopathic practice via part-time study. Our students come from a range of backgrounds. Many have a full-time or part-time job. Several have family commitments. Whether you have a degree in another subject, or no formal qualifications since leaving school, you'll be a capable learner - particularly in the science subjects - and you'll be comfortable with the hands-on aspect of osteopathic skills. You'll be taught over 18 weekends spread across each academic year. You'll also complete 1200 hours of clinic-based learning throughout the course. We have excellent student-teacher ratios, so you'll get to know your tutors well. To help you to accommodate your other commitments, we're flexible about when you attend the osteopathic teaching clinic. It's open on weekdays, evenings and some Saturdays, so you can choose a time that suits. The clinic is run by experienced tutors and is open to members of the public. You'll combine clinic-based learning with classroom learning, self-directed home study, peer group learning and practical sessions. And you'll be assessed in a range of different ways - from clinic-based assessments, to written exams, coursework, critical appraisal and presentations. In addition to tuition fees, students are asked to purchase some clinical equipment such as a clinic coat, diagnostic testing kit, anatomical models, plus DBS certificate.

Graduate destinations

Our Osteopathy graduates follow a number of different pathways: Self-employed in own practice or as an associate in another practice As part of a consortium of osteopaths under contract to an NHS Primary Care Trust Employed in an established osteopathic practice or multidisciplinary health centre Occupational healthcare department of a large corporation Working for a professional sports club or for elite performers (e.g. a dance company) Employed in higher education (e.g. osteopathic lecturer or researcher) Some graduates go on to take post-graduate qualifications or a doctorate Some move into equine or canine osteopathy.

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Today more than ever, quantitative skills form an essential basis for successful careers in ecology, conservation, and animal and human health. This Masters programme provides specific training in data collection, modelling and statistical analyses as well as generic research skills. It is offered by the Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine (IBAHCM), a grouping of top researchers who focus on combining field data with computational and genetic approaches to solve applied problems in epidemiology and conservation.

Why this programme

-This programme encompasses key skills in monitoring and assessing biodiversity critical for understanding the impacts of environmental change.
-It covers quantitative analyses of ecological and epidemiological data critical for animal health and conservation.
-You will have the opportunity to base your independent research projects at the University field station on Loch Lomond (for freshwater or terrestrial-based projects); Millport field station on the Isle of Cumbria (for marine projects); or Cochno farm in Glasgow (for research based on farm animals). We will also assist you to gain research project placements in zoos or environmental consulting firms whenever possible.
-The uniqueness of the programme is the opportunity to gain core skills and knowledge across a wide range of subjects, which will enhance future career opportunities, including entrance into competitive PhD programmes. For example, there are identification based programmes offered elsewhere, but most others do not combine practical field skills with molecular techniques, advanced informatics for assessing biodiversity based on molecular markers, as well as advanced statistics and modelling. Other courses in epidemiology are rarely ecologically focused; the specialty in IBAHCM is understanding disease ecology, in the context of both animal conservation and implications for human public health.
-You will be taught by research-active staff using the latest approaches in quantitative methods, sequence analysis, and practical approaches to assessing biodiversity, and you will have opportunites to actively participate in internationally recognised research. Some examples of recent publications lead by students in the programme: Blackburn, S., Hopcraft, J. G. C., Ogutu, J. O., Matthiopoulos, J. and Frank, L. (2016), Human-wildlife conflict, benefit sharing and the survival of lions in pastoralist community-based conservancies. J Appl Ecol. doi:10.1111/1365-2664.12632. Rysava, K., McGill, R. A. R., Matthiopoulos, J., and Hopcraft, J. G. C. (2016) Re-constructing nutritional history of Serengeti wildebeest from stable isotopes in tail hair: seasonal starvation patterns in an obligate grazer. Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom., 30:1461-1468. doi: 10.1002/rcm.7572. Ferguson, E.A., Hampson, K., Cleaveland, S., Consunji, R., Deray, R., Friar, J., Haydon, D. T., Jimenez, J., Pancipane, M. and Townsend, S.E., 2015. Heterogeneity in the spread and control of infectious disease; consequences for the elimination of canine rabies. Scientific Reports, 5, p. 18232. doi: 10.1038/srep18232.
-A unique strength of the University of Glasgow for many years has been the strong ties between veterinarians and ecologists, which has now been formalised in the formation of the IBAHCM. This direct linking is rare but offers unique opportunities to provide training that spans both fundamental and applied research.

Programme structure

The programme provides a strong grounding in scientific writing and communication, statistical analysis, and experimental design. It is designed for flexibility, to enable you to customise a portfolio of courses suited to your particular interests.

You can choose from a range of specialised options that encompass key skills in:
-Monitoring and assessing biodiversity – critical for understanding the impacts of environmental change
-Quantitative analyses of ecological and epidemiological data – critical for animal health and conservation
-Ethics and legislative policy – critical for promoting humane treatment of both captive and wild animals.

Core courses
-Key research skills (scientific writing, introduction to R, advanced linear models, experimental design and power analysis)
-Measuring biodiversity and abundance
-Programming in R
-Independent research project

Optional courses
-Molecular analyses for biodiversity and conservation
-Biodiversity informatics
-Molecular epidemiology and phylodynamics
-Infectious disease ecology and the dynamics of emerging disease
-Single-species population models
-Multi-species models
-Spatial and network processes in ecology & epidemiology
-Introduction to Bayesian statistics
-Freshwater sampling techniques
-Invertebrate identification
-Vertebrate identification
-Human Dimensions of Conservation
-Principles of Conservation Ecology
-Protected Area Management
-Animal welfare science
-Legislation related to animal welfare
-Enrichment of animals in captive environments
-Care of captive animals
-Biology of suffering
-Assessment of physiological state

Career prospects

You will gain core skills and knowledge across a wide range of subjects that will enhance your selection chances for competitive PhD programmes. In addition to academic options, career opportunities include roles in zoos, environmental consultancies, government agencies, ecotourism and conservation biology, and veterinary or public health epidemiology.

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£1,000 postgraduate bursary available. Application deadline 1 July 2015.

This MRes in Applied Anthrozoology aims to develop an appreciation of the practical application of anthrozoological knowledge in a wide range of contexts. These include the therapeutic use of animals, humane education and the more generic roles and uses of animals in society. The course will cover the diversity of human-animal interactions and will critically evaluate and assess the biological and social basis of these interactions, with the aim of improving our understanding and enhancing the overall quality of specific human-animal interactions.

Why study Applied Anthrozoology at NTU?

• Staff expertise and experience in the field of animal science across a range of species;
• Further develop your skills by undertaking a collaborative research project in the field of applied anthrozoology;
• Benefit from tuition in a unique postgraduate qualification in applied anthrozoology;
• Your studies will be based at the Brackenhurst campus which offers 200 hectares of rural estate and modern laboratories for the development of scientific skills and experience;
• You will have access to our modern animal unit on campus which houses over 200 animals;
• Benefit from excellent links to partner organisations, conservation projects and academic institutions across the world; and
• You will benefit from both academic rigour and comprehensive student support within a friendly ‘family’ atmosphere.

MRes projects

Students applying for this MRes course can either choose to study a relevant project of their choice, or apply to undertake one of the specific research projects listed below:

• Quantitative and qualitative welfare assessment of zoo housed giraffe involved in visitor feed experiences. Dr Sam Ward.
• The dog-handler dyad; what factors affect canine performance output? Dr Jacqueline Boyd.

MRes applicants also have the opportunity to apply for a competitive £1000 bursary towards course tuition fees. In addition, all MRes students can apply for up to a maximum of £1000 to cover consumables costs, which will need to be discussed and agreed with the supervisor, and approved by School Management.

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£1,000 postgraduate bursary available. Application deadline 1 July 2015.

Animal Health and Welfare relates the study of animal health to improving and enhancing welfare. There is an increased global awareness of the link between animal and human health and this suggests that graduates with skills in this area are well placed for a range of career destinations within the animal sector. The course aims to develop an appreciation of the theoretical and practical application of health and welfare knowledge in a wide range of contexts. These include the use of animals in a global society, agricultural production and welfare implications, companion animal biology and the more generic roles and uses of animals in society.

Why study Animal Health and Welfare at NTU?

• Staff expertise and experience in the field of animal health and welfare science across a range of species.
• Your studies will be based at the Brackenhurst campus which offers 200-hectares of rural estate and modern laboratories for the development of scientific skills and experience.
• You will have access to our modern Animal Unit on campus which houses over 200 animals.
• Benefit from a new £2.5 million campus eco-library offering IT resources 24-7.
• Benefit from excellent links to partner organisations, conservation projects and academic institutions across the world.
• You will benefit from both academic rigour and comprehensive student support within a friendly family atmosphere.

MRes projects

Students applying for this MRes course can either choose to study a relevant project of their choice, or apply to undertake one of the specific research projects listed below:

• Quantitative and qualitative welfare assessment of zoo housed giraffe involved in visitor feed experiences. Dr Sam Ward.
• An analysis of the health and welfare implications of canine sporting disciplines. Dr Jacqueline Boyd.

MRes applicants also have the opportunity to apply for a competitive £1000 bursary towards course tuition fees. In addition, all MRes students can apply for up to a maximum of £1000 to cover consumables costs, which will need to be discussed and agreed with the supervisor, and approved by School Management.

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