Postgraduate Module Descriptor


ANTM107: Anthrozoology Residential

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

The primary aim of the module is to provide distance-learning students on the MA Anthrozoology with the opportunity to participate in an immersive, interactive, face-to-face learning environment with their peers and established scholars. Through attendance at the residential and active participation in and contribution to academic and non-academic debates in Anthrozoology students will develop a good understanding of the interdisciplinary scope inherent to Anthrozoological research. The format of the residential will enable students who usually study at a distance to experience more traditional approaches to the dissemination of academic research and to engage directly with the theoretical, methodological and ethical issues encountered by practicing academics from a range of disciplinary backgrounds. Participating academics will present their research in the form of lectures, workshops and conference papers which will be followed by interactive, student-led group discussions.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here - you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.

On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. demonstrate a thorough engagement with and understanding of a range of multi-disciplinary approaches to human interactions with other animals
2. discuss and critically assess the implications of approaching human interactions with other animals from a range of disciplinary perspectives
3. show a good understanding of the different theoretical and methodological approaches which scholars studying human-animal interactions utilise in order to understand these varied interactions
Discipline-Specific Skills4. demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the ways in which different academic disciplines approach and analyse human interactions with other animals
5. engage with and critically assess some of the current debates (theoretical, methodological, ethical) relating to human interactions with other animals
6. make reflexive, theoretically informed comparisons between the work of practicing scholars from a range of academic disciplines and your own research and/or experiences relating to human interactions with other animals
Personal and Key Skills7. demonstrate critical, analytical thinking and synoptic skills
8. demonstrate the confidence/ability to discuss in a critically analytical manner the arguments presented by other academics
9. express complex ideas in a clear, coherent and reflexive manner through the formulation and dissemination of cogent arguments (both verbally and in writing)
10. demonstrate the ability to participate as a productive member of a team during group discussions

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

The residential will take place over a period of three days, and will comprise a series of workshops, seminars and lectures run by academics from the University of Exeter and, where possible, appropriate external speakers.

Based on a previous non-accredited residential held at the University of Exeter in May 2014, the residential will be structured in a manner similar to that described below:

Day 1

09.00-10.00 Refreshments and networking

10.00-10.50 Welcome and introductory lecture by Programme director/MA tutors

11.00-11.50 Guest lecture by member of academic staff

12.00-12.50 Student led discussion

13.00-14.00 Lunch

14.00-14.50 Guest lecture by member of academic staff or PGR student

15.00-15.50 Guest lecture by member of academic staff

16.00-18.00 Student led discussion


Day 2

09.00-10.00 Refreshments and networking

10.00-10.50 Guest lecture by member of academic staff

11.00-11.50 Student led discussion

12.00-12.50 Guest lecture by member of academic staff

13.00-14.00 Lunch

14.00-16.00  Student led discussion

16.00-18.00 Film screening and discussion convened by member of academic staff

Day 3

09.00-10.00 Refreshments and networking

10.00-10.50 Guest lecture by member of academic staff

11.00-11.50 Student led discussion

12.00-12.50 Guest lecture by member of academic staff

13.00-14.00 Lunch

14.00-14.50 Guest seminar convened by member of academic staff

15.00-17.00 Concluding discussion led by MA tutors and goodbyes.


Academic content will vary according to staff availability and current staff research interests/projects. However, topics could include:

  • Biopolitics and wildlife conservation
  • Animal ethics
  • Multispecies ethnography
  • Advocacy and applied research in animal welfare
  • Visual representations of animals
  • Literary representations of animals
  • Historical representations of animals
  • Animals in the archaeological record

Because of the variable nature of the annual programme of the residential, the details of learning activities and teaching methods below are indicative, based on prior experience, but not a guarantee of the precise number of hours afforded to each activity year-by-year.

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
201300

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled learning and teaching12Academic-led lectures, papers, seminars
Scheduled learning and teaching2Staff-led film screening and discussion
Scheduled learning and teaching6Student-led discussions relating to lectures and seminars
Guided Independent Study30Non-assessed preparatory readings
Guided Independent Study100Research and writing of summative assessment

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).