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Higher Education Certificate in Applied Canine Behaviour and Training

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Subject

Animal Sciences

Level

Level 4

Study Mode

Part-Time

Duration

1.5 years

Start Date

September 2024

The course

This part-time distance/blended learning course is designed to give you sound academic and practical knowledge of the disciplines and factors that relate to canine behaviour and training. It promotes motivational, positive reinforcement training techniques.

You will have the opportunity to acquire detailed knowledge of behaviour, management, training, instructing, consulting and counselling, and these topical areas can then be related to a range of situations.

There is an increasing demand for people with a combination of both academic and practical competence within the canine industry. Therefore, the vocational and applied nature of the subject content studied through the means of webinars, work based learning, asynchronous sessions and block sessions at University Centre Bishop Burton is emphasised throughout.

PLEASE NOTE: This programme is currently undergoing a refresh with the University of Hull to ensure you get the best experience and opportunity to achieve as an employment-ready graduate. The learning outcomes, modules, the teaching and learning strategy, contact hours and assessment strategies may change. Full details of the newly refreshed programme will be available later in the year and will be communicated to all applicants at the earliest opportunity.

Course Information

  • Develop the necessary basic practical training and theoretical skills to enable a creative approach to solving behaviour problems.
  • Develop your understanding of canine learning and humane training.
  • Explore professional training and an understanding of motivational mechanisms needed within the field.

Year 1

  • Academic Professional Skills
  • Principles of Canine Psychology and Basic Training
  • Professional Skills in the Industry
  • Progressive Dog Training

Year 2

  • Canine Development
  • Consulting and Coaching

You will need:

A minimum of 48 UCAS points OR a relevant BTEC Level 3 and significant industrial experience

Plus:

GCSE English 4 or above or equivalent and a suitable reference

UCAS points may be from qualifications such as T Levels, A Levels, BTEC Level 3 Extended Diplomas, Access to Higher Education Diplomas, and City and Guilds Advanced Technical Diplomas amongst others. Please use the UCAS Tariff points calculator to determine the UCAS points value of your qualifications.

Life and/or experience of non-traditional students will be taken into account when considering applications. The successful completion of an entry task may be required when considering applications without the required formal entry qualifications.

If an applicants first language is not English, or a Tier 4 student visa to study is required and GCSE English at grade 4/C or equivalent is not held, they will need to evidence their English language proficiency level, such as International English Language Testing System (IELTS) 6.0 overall (with a minimum 5.5 in each skill).

Advanced entry may be possible due to prior experience or certificated learning; applicants will be invited to complete the recognition of prior learning approval process.

This programme is delivered with a variety of learning and teaching approaches to include all students learning styles and preferences.

For all modules, theory lectures are delivered that aim to deliver the core content and provide the underpinning knowledge. Using the webinar software, staff are able to monitor engagement to ensure participation.

To complement all theory lectures, you will have asynchronous seminars to reinforce the concepts delivered theoretically. Online webinars focus on facilitating a student-centred approach to enhance the independent learning that takes place outside of the webinar lecture sessions.

Lectures are delivered online in three-hour sessions per week in the evenings, 6-9pm. On occasion, this may be split over two evenings.

In addition to the three hours in class, you will have additional tasks/activities set each week which need to be completed at a time to suit you during that week.

In total, contact time will be approximately eight hours a week to include lectures, seminars, asynchronous sessions and support sessions.

You are also expected to carry out private study in addition to contact time (as a guide, each 20 credit module requires 200 hours of study time inclusive of lecture time).

There are compulsory block sessions, which are conducted at University Centre Bishop Burton in East Yorkshire, UK.

One compulsory work based learning module enables you to gain valuable experience whilst working in the canine industry. A total of 76 hours of work experience is required across the duration of the programme.
Assessment includes written assignments, presentations, practical demonstrations and project work. There are no formal examinations. Opportunities for feedback on assessments are available prior to the final submission to support your development and achievement. Staff aim to return assessed work within a 20 working day timeframe (not including holidays) so that you can most benefit from the feedback.
  • Students will require regular access to a computer with a broadband Internet connection in order to participate in webinars, download learning materials, watch recorded webinars and submit assignments. A headset with microphone will be required for participation in webinars and on-line tutorials.
  • Appropriate software is required: Microsoft Office and OpenOffice (freeware) are the only office suites supported.
  • Students must have regular access to a dog to enable them to progress through the training modules. Dogs are not required to attend the College for this programme and therefore are not permitted on the college campus. We have a strict policy that no dogs can be left in cars. If you need to house your dog for the weekend, please contact our commercial boarding kennels by calling 01964 553138 or emailing kennels@bishopburton.ac.uk. In this case, payment for the boarding kennels is required.
  • For any student that requires the use of an assistance dog, prior arrangements must be made with the programme leader to ensure suitable facilities and provision is provided.
  • Sturdy footwear suitable for practical sessions.
  • Training equipment will be required (i.e. clicker and target stick) for the training related modules.
  • The college has a strict policy of not allowing work boots inside college buildings you will need to have alternative footwear (shoes or trainers) to attend lectures and tutorials.
  • Roughly £150 to cover the costs of field trips, visits and additional add on certificates over the duration of your programme.
  • Block sessions are a compulsory element of the programme. Students will need to fund their own travel, accommodation and food.
  • On successful completion of the programme, you will have the opportunity to graduate at a ceremony wearing formal dress. The hire of the formal dress is an additional cost.
You may choose to progress to Level 5 of the FdSc Applied Canine Behaviour and Training and later progress onto the BSc Canine Behaviour Management (blended learning) or BSc Applied Animal Behaviour and Training (delivered on campus).
You will be able to pursue a range of careers such as: Dog trainer, behaviour consultant, assistance dog trainer, detection dog trainer, service dog trainer, customs and Excise handler, training dogs for commercial work, rescue and rehabilitation work.

Validated by University of Hull

We are proud to collaborate with University of Hull on the validation of this course.

This includes transforming our programmes to ensure that we meet the evolving needs of the sector, giving you the best opportunities for success when you graduate by having a competence-based focus. Find out more about competence-based higher education.

View the policies and procedures you would be agreeing to comply with by registering for this programme. This encompasses University of Hull Quality and Standards, including a Guide for Collaborative Provision students.

Financial Information

Find the full details of the fees associated with this programme and the financial support available.

Careers this course could lead into

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