Postgraduate Certificate in Intensive Livestock Health and Production

Programme Content 
The part-time PG Certificate is completed over a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years via distance learning delivery. Subject to validation of the courses, the full completion time of the PG Diploma and MSc would be over a minimum of two years and a maximum of five years.
The course is delivered in a modular format in order to ensure this flexibility, with assessments at the end of each module.
The main aim of the programme is to provide a learning environment in which individuals can develop their conceptual approach to the intensive livestock food chain and their proficiencies in terms of skills, knowledge and attitudes as competent and reflective agri-food sector professionals.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, you will be able to:

• understand and evaluate key concepts underpinning the agri-food system
• demonstrate a critical awareness of current problems and new insights from across the intensive livestock production industry
• develop new processes/techniques to improve intensive livestock production, supporting animal health and welfare
• communicate with professionals across the agri-food system (e.g. government agencies, veterinarians, producers, retailers)
• be a reflective, self-evaluative and self-managing professional
• critically appraise research and practices in livestock and related food production fields
• design and undertake projects relevant to the industry

 
Programme Structure 
The PG Certificate consists of a total of 60 credits across three compulsory core modules:

• Principles and Practices of the Food System (30 credits)
  In this module, students will gain a deep insight into the social, political, veterinary and economic aspects of food systems and thus be able to understand issues within the system from a holistic perspective.
• People in the System (15 credits)
  The module draws upon social science perspectives to examine the structure of the contemporary agri-food system and explore key actors operating within it. The module considers how food is produced, processed, regulated and consumed
• Current Trends in Food Systems (15 credits)
  The content of this module enables students to develop an in-depth understanding of the critical components of monogastric food systems, how they are managed and controlled.

Subject to validation a PG Diploma and MSc will be available from September 2013 containing targeted elective modules for career development in:

• Animal science
• Specialist veterinary practice
• Livestock production
• Animal welfare
• Economics
• Food industry

Policy and legislation; amongst others