Master of Animal Welfare

The objective of this research-based masters is to provide an opportunity for students to receive research training and to undertake research and study in the field of animal welfare. A coursework component may be required, based on assignment(s) developed at postgraduate level and building on the 400 undergraduate level subject 212-404 Animal Welfare (12.5 points only): this subject will be required for those students who have not undertaken this 400 undergraduate level subject in FLFR or another relevant undergraduate subject on animal welfare.

The issue of animal welfare in all aspects of animal use, including companionship, has become increasingly contested and suffers from a lack of science-based information. The aim of this Master's program is provide students with the opportunity to develop a thorough knowledge of the concept and scientific assessment of animal welfare. Rigorous research is necessary to assist animal users and society to find practical solutions and build informed consensus about the use of animals. This research-based program is therefore suitable for graduates with a specific research interest in animal welfare. It will also cater for those professionals that have responsibility for the development, regulation and supervision of animal welfare standards such as veterinarians and laboratory managers with responsibilities in the area of animal welfare, staff of state bureaus of animal welfare and public welfare organisations, welfare officers of academic, research and animal industry organisations and members of animal ethics committees. This program will also cater to graduates with a more general focus on animal science but with a strong interest in initial training in animal welfare research.

Prospective applicants must have completion a bachelor degree in either agricultural science, veterinary science, science with honours, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Faculty.

The University expects its research Masters graduates to have the following qualities and skills:

• an ability to initiate research projects and to formulate viable research questions;
• a demonstrated capacity to design, conduct and report independent and original research on a closely-defined project;
• an ability to manage time to maximise the quality of research;
• an understanding of the major contours of international research in the research area;
• a capacity for critical evaluation of relevant scholarly literature;
• well-developed and flexible problem-solving abilities appropriate to the discipline;
• the ability to analyse research data within a changing disciplinary environment;
• the capacity to communicate effectively the results of research and scholarship by oral and written communication;
• an understanding of and facility with scholarly conventions in the discipline area;
• a profound respect for truth and intellectual integrity, and for the ethics of research and scholarship;
• a capacity to cooperate with other researchers;
• an ability to manage information effectively, including the application of computer systems and software where appropriate to the student's field of study.

Assessment

Candidates are normally assessed by examination of a research thesis submitted at the conclusion of their studies. Assessment is in accordance with the procedures documented in the Masters (by Research) Generic Guidelines published by the School of Graduate Studies. www.gradstudies.unimelb.edu.au/pgstudy/MastersGenericGuidelines.pdf

In FLFR, the Masters degree is awarded simply as a 'Pass' once all requirements of the examination process have been met. In addition, examiners are asked to select a numeric grade for the thesis for the purposes of assisting subsequent scholarship applications that FLFR Masters graduates may submit to support their study toward the degree of PhD. The numeric grade does not appear on the University testamur or on the student's official record. It is held in the Faculty Graduate Studies Office and students may request that this information is removed from their Faculty file if they so wish.