BMB5039056 ECTSQ2EnglishMaster
Ethology and Welfare
FaculteitFaculty of Medical Sciences
NiveauMaster
Studiejaar2026-2027
Beschrijving
Course goals
- Animal welfare as a scientific concept.
- (Neuro)ethological concepts that are important for the investigation and evaluation of animal welfare.
- Factors that may contribute to the development of behavioural problems of animals kept under human care.
- Limits of behavioural and physiological adaptation and their underlying neurophysiological mechanisms.
- How fundamental knowledge can be applied in order to a) evaluate animal welfare, b) design appropriate housing environments and management procedures for animals kept under human care and c) diagnose behavioural and animal welfare problems of animals kept under human care.
- Factors that are relevant for the design of studies used to investigate animal welfare or relevant mechanisms underlying welfare-related questions.
At the end of the course, the student is able to:
- Use and apply (neuro)ethological concepts in order to develop and design studies on animal welfare related topics.
- Create ethograms for research regarding animal welfare.
- Understand and possibly diagnose behavioural problems of animals kept under human care.
- Evaluate the welfare of animals kept under human care and substantiate this evaluation by scientific arguments.
- Translate public questions in the field of animal welfare into scientifically sound research questions.
- Contribute to the public debate on animal welfare by using scientifically sound arguments.
Content
Period (from - till): 16 November 2026 - 11 December 2026 (BMS_P2_A)
Faculty
Lecturers (in alphabetical order)Dr. Marijke Achterberg
Prof. Dr. Saskia Arndt
Dr. Hetty Boleij
Ms ing. Iaira Boissevain
Lisa Fijn, MSc
Dr. Mona Giersberg
Dr. Marjan van Hagen
Dr. Ineke van Herwijnen
Drs. Chantal Kapteijn
Dr. Esther Langen
Dr. Heidi Lesscher
Dr. Ellen Meijer
Dr. Joachim Nieuwland
Dr. Claudia Vinke
Dr. Yvonne van Zeeland
Course description
This course focusses on topics of behaviour and welfare of animals kept under human care. It consists of a series of (interactive) lectures, practicals, assignments and presentations given or supervised by a multidisciplinary team of lectures (biologists, (clinical) ethologists, veterinarians, ethicists etc.). A general outline of the course is given below.
Ethology – (neuro-) biological aspects
Animal welfare – scientific, societal and ethical aspects
Clinical ethology – anamnesis, diagnostics and therapeutic aspects
Ethology & welfare in practice – behavioural observations and welfare management
Special emphasis on the following species: dogs, cats, parrots, pigs, rats, chicken, horses, exotic animals
Literature/study material used:
Peer reviewed scientific papers
Registration:
You can register for this course via Osiris Student. More information about the registration procedure can be found here on the Students' site.
The maximum number of participants is 24. Applications are on a "first come first serve" basis.
To register the applicants are asked to send a short (max. 250 words) motivation letter to the course coordinator Mona Giersberg (m.f.giersberg@uu.nl). In the letter please explain why you want to take part in this course and why it is relevant for your further studies/career. A selection will be made based on the timing of registration (first come, first serve) and the motivation letter.
Mandatory for students in own Master’s programme:
No.
Optional for students in other GSLS Master’s programme:
Yes, especially for ENVB-BE students. The course is also open for (international) students from other disciplines. Please contact the coordinator for further information.
Prerequisite knowledge:
Students from the master programme Neuroscience & Cognition of the Utrecht University are expected to have completed the general Fundamentals Course (15 ECTS). Other students are required to have a demonstrable BSc-level knowledge of neuroscience or behavioral biology.
This course focusses on topics of behaviour and welfare of animals kept under human care. It consists of a series of (interactive) lectures, practicals, assignments and presentations given or supervised by a multidisciplinary team of lectures (biologists, (clinical) ethologists, veterinarians, ethicists etc.). A general outline of the course is given below.
Ethology – (neuro-) biological aspects
Animal welfare – scientific, societal and ethical aspects
Clinical ethology – anamnesis, diagnostics and therapeutic aspects
Ethology & welfare in practice – behavioural observations and welfare management
Special emphasis on the following species: dogs, cats, parrots, pigs, rats, chicken, horses, exotic animals
Literature/study material used:
Peer reviewed scientific papers
Registration:
You can register for this course via Osiris Student. More information about the registration procedure can be found here on the Students' site.
The maximum number of participants is 24. Applications are on a "first come first serve" basis.
To register the applicants are asked to send a short (max. 250 words) motivation letter to the course coordinator Mona Giersberg (m.f.giersberg@uu.nl). In the letter please explain why you want to take part in this course and why it is relevant for your further studies/career. A selection will be made based on the timing of registration (first come, first serve) and the motivation letter.
Mandatory for students in own Master’s programme:
No.
Optional for students in other GSLS Master’s programme:
Yes, especially for ENVB-BE students. The course is also open for (international) students from other disciplines. Please contact the coordinator for further information.
Prerequisite knowledge:
Students from the master programme Neuroscience & Cognition of the Utrecht University are expected to have completed the general Fundamentals Course (15 ECTS). Other students are required to have a demonstrable BSc-level knowledge of neuroscience or behavioral biology.
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