Advanced Animal Behaviour Distance Learning CourseAC601

Distance Learning Support

At Start Learning we pride ourselves on our friendly and supportive tutors. Your tutor support will start as soon as you receive your course and will be valid for 12 months. All our tutors are　highly qualified with extensive experience in supporting distance learning students. You contact your tutor via email and they are responsible for marking assignments answering your questions and guiding you through the course.

Home Study Entry Requirements

To enable student to complete this course they must have completed a level 2 course in animal behaviour or have been working with animals. At Start Learning we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and study further, so we try to keep our entry requirements to a minimum.

Recommended Hours of Study

We recommended you spend approximately 110 hours of your time studying the Advanced Animal Behaviour course. The pace of study is completely up to you. To give an example, if you dedicate 2 hours a week to the course it would take you a year to complete but if you could spare 4 hours a week you could complete it in six months.

Distance Learning Course Contents

Unit 1 – The Nervous System: The nervous system provides an interface between the nerve cells that detect and the nerve cells that response – The electrical signals are used by the nervous system The simplest form resembling nervous activity are cells that exhibit irritability -  The nerve net is another key stage in nervous system evolution – Nerve net arrangements are still used in areas of the vertebrate nervous systems - Radially symmetrical nervous systems provided initial symmetry in nervous system design – The bilaterally symmetrical nervous system allowed for brain development and was therefore a key development in nervous system evolution

Unit 2 – Nervous Activity: A nerve impulse involves positive ions entering a cell - The principle components of the entire vertebrate nervous system - The principle of the summation as nervous activity manifesting as behaviour The roles of the principle components of the nervous system

Unit 3 – Vision: The processing of vision as an example of how the vertebrate brain processes information - The two primary evolutionary lines regarding vision - The superposition eye as an adaptation to low light conditions The apposition eye as been adapted to an illuminated environment - The relative attributes of the compound and vertebrate eye The presence of peripheral filters in the visual processing of some species The extent to which different areas of the brain are used for processing

Unit 4 – Brians: Why brains are needed – The basic vertebrate brain embryo layout from which all vertebrates evolve – The three primary brain sub-divisions in the vertebrate brain - The basic roles of the Prosencephalon, Mesencephalon and Rhombencephalon respectively - The evolution of complex brains and appreciate examples of factors encouraging such evolution

Unit 5 – Kin & Altruism: Hamiltons theory regarding selfish behaviour - How kin selection explains some aspects of altruism – The several (perhaps interlocking) theories as to how animals recognise kin – How some aspects of kin altruism, are exploited by animals - Non-kin altruism can occur – How altruism can evolve

Unit 6 – Sexual Selection: Anisogamy as an influence on the limiting factors for male and female reproductive success - The Batemen effect as an extension of anisogamy - The difference between and the consequences of intersexual and intrasexual selection respectively - The concept of sequential assessment in intrasexual rivalry – How game theory can help to explain how intrasexual competition has developed - Fisher’s theory on intersexual selection and how Zahavi’s handicap principle - The reality of the two intersexual theories and how they may co-exist - Sperm competition can also be a component in reproductive success.

Unit 9 – Ecological and Physiological Constraints: Ecological constraints are a major influence upon the breeding strategy employed – How breeding systems can be categorised by the sex that dominates - To understand what monogamy is – The ecological factors that influences the prevalence of monogamy – The term polygyny – What ecological factors influence the prevalence of polygyny – The evolutionary constraints can be a factor in reproduction and that such constraints inevitably overlap with physiological and ecological constraints – The various theories regarding why one sex abandons another with a brood.

Unit 10 – Optimally: Why scientists sometimes think of animals as ‘acting optimally’ – The gain in foraging within one patch decreases with time – The phrase ‘risk sensitivity’ – Different groups of animals have different priorities in foraging

Unit 11 – Ethogram: ethologists used various categories in which to record behaviour - Understand the term ethogram - Appreciate the value of an ethogram by creating one.

Easy Payment Plan

Full Price is £425

50% Deposit + Postage = This is paid when signing up for the course

25% First Instalment = This is paid 1 month after signing up for the course

25% Second Instalment = This is paid 2 months after signing up for the course

Call us on 0800 074 1222 or email us at info@start-learning.co.uk

If you would like to set up a payment plan.

The deposit is paid at time of enrolment with a fee for postage and packaging.

For postage costs click here: Postage & Packaging

Qualifications

The advanced animal behaviour course is designed to fit into the National Qualifications framework at level 3-4. The course is advanced and some prior interest; qualification or experience in biology or animal behaviour (such as our level 2 course, or some other work with animals) is be required in our applicants. The qualification is awarded by the Institute for Animal Care Education.

Language of Course

English

Assessments

There is no exam as such, although you will be required to complete a series of 9 question papers and 3 writing reports. There is no word count for these assignments although you do have to prove to your tutor that you have fully understood the questions asked.
 

Q: How do I send in my work?
A: You can post or email your assignments for marking. It is best to send your assignments one at a time so the tutor can mark one and give you the feedback.

Q: If I fail an assignment can I retake it?
A: Yes, your tutor will ask you to resubmit your assignment and give you some pointers as to where you could improve.

Q: What do I receive once I order the course?
A: We will send you ALL the course materials. You can start your studies straight away.

Q: Is there a time limit or any deadlines?
A: We do like you to complete the course within 12 months but we can extend this if you check with your tutor. If you allow 110 study hours, this will give you a good guide. There are no deadlines to meet.

Q: Is there a word count for my assignments?
A: No, there is no specific word count but you have to prove to the tutor that you have fully understood the questions. One sentence answers will not be accepted. Your tutor will send them back to you and ask you to re-do them.

Q: What if I don’t like the course? Can I send it back?
A: Yes, if you are not happy with the course and feel it is not for you, you can return it within 7 days as per the terms and conditions on our web site www.start-learning.co.uk.

Q: Is this course paper-based or on a CD Rom?
A: All our courses are paper based and come in attractive folders.

Q: Are there any other books I have to buy to complete this course?
A: No, everything you need to complete this course is included in the price. However any other reading your may do will always be beneficial for your studies.