Institute of Animal Technology QCF Accredited courses

12 credits

Learning outcomes:

1. Know / understand suitable routines and husbandry practices for the maintenance and care for a range of laboratory animals
2. Know / understand the consequences for the animal resulting from inappropriate environmental conditions
3. Describe appropriate methods for identifying a range of animals.

8 credits

Learning outcomes:

1. Know suitable methods for producing animals for a range of scientific procedures
2. Know relevant health and safety legislation and practices.

4 credits

Learning outcomes:

1. Know how to provide water and a balanced diet are provided for laboratory animals
2. Know relevant health and safety legislation and practices.

12 credits

Learning outcomes:

1. Know how the concerns over the use of laboratory animals are minimised
2. Identify the broad provisions of the legislation controlling the use of research animals
3. Know appropriate methods of euthanasia
4. Know relevant health and safety legislation and practices.

12 credits

Learning outcomes:

1. Know the methods available to safely handle and sex a laboratory animal
2. Know / understand methods to estimate the age of a named species of laboratory animal with reasonable accuracy
3. Know / understand suitable procedures for safe handling and restraint of a named species for common scientific procedures
4. Identify signs of ill health in the named species and describe suitable remedial actions
5. Know relevant health & safety legislation and practices.

8 credits

Learning outcomes:

1. Define the conditions necessary for life
2. Describe the structure, growth and organisation of cells
3. Explain how organ systems work together to make a co-ordinated response to keep an animal healthy
4. List the anatomical and physiological features of an animal
5. Know relevant health & safety legislation and practices.

8 credits

Learning outcomes:

1. Explain the principles and practice of recording and comparing physical measurements
2. Describe the effect energy has on molecules
3. Discuss, with examples, the transfer of heat between materials found in the animal facility
4. Describe, using scientific theory, a range of chemical reactions found in the animal facility
5. Know relevant health & safety legislation and practices.

4 credits

Learning outcomes:

1. Accurately carry out a range of calculations required in the animal facility
2. Know relevant health & safety legislation and practices.

4 credits

Learning outcomes:

1. Demonstrate effective communication skills under a range of conditions
2. Know relevant health & safety legislation and practices.

4 credits

Learning outcomes:

1. Produce material using word processing software and spreadsheet software
2. Know relevant health & safety legislation and practices.

8 credits

Learning outcomes:

1. Explain how the organisation of the animal facility maintains an appropriate health status for the animals and the scientific procedures
2. Know relevant health and safety legislation and practices.

12 credits

Learning outcomes:

1. Identify potential disease risks in the animal facility
2. Evaluate methods for minimising the risks from potential disease organisms
3. Know relevant health and safety legislation and practices.

8 credits

Learning outcomes:

1. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of how animal welfare is maintained in the animal unit
2. Know suitable environmental conditions for laboratory animals and how they are monitored
3. Know relevant health and safety legislation and practices.

12 credits

Learning outcomes:

1. Devise appropriate breeding programmes for laboratory animals given specified conditions
2. Evaluate methods for determining oestrus checking mating has taken place and confirming pregnancy in a range of laboratory species
3. Analyse breeding performance
4. Select suitable future breeding stock
5. Know relevant health and safety legislation and practices.

8 credits

Learning outcomes:

1. Describe methods for producing genetically altered animals
2. Explain the use and problems associated with genetically altered animals
3. Know relevant health and safety legislation and practices.

12 credits

Learning outcomes:

1. Apply methods available for withdrawing and administering substances to animals with reference to minimising animal suffering and promoting good science
2. Describe procedures for minimising animal suffering during surgical procedures
3. Know relevant health and safety legislation and practices.

12 credits

Learning outcomes:

1. Explain the moral responsibility of humans when working with research animals
2. Accurately apply the legislation that governs the use of research animals
3. Explain the importance and implementation of Good Laboratory Practice
4. Know relevant health and safety legislation and practices.

8 credits

Learning outcomes:

1. Know procedures for the safe and legal transport of animals
2. Know relevant health and safety legislation and practices.

8 credits

Learning outcomes:

1. Analyse the structure and function of cells, tissues and organ systems
2. Discuss the uses of a microscope
3. Link the structure of chromosomes to their role in cell regulation, cell division (meiotic and mitotic) and inheritance
4. Review the methods used in moving substances into and out of cells
5. Know relevant health and safety legislation and practices.

12 credits

Learning outcomes:

1. Explain the structure, organisation and physiological function of the main body systems
2. Discuss the physiological importance and provision of appropriate nutrition to laboratory animals
3. Explain the importance of homeostasis to laboratory animals
4. Explain how reproduction can be artificially manipulated to improve productivity and facilitate experimental procedures
5. Explain that the sensitivity of laboratory animals to environmental stimuli is not uniform
6. State examples of physiological changes that may occur during anaesthesia and explain how these changes could harm the animal
7. State examples of changes that may occur in the circulatory system during times of stress or ill health
8. Know relevant health and safety legislation and practices.