A complete and total update on animal welfare with the most complete and effective online program on the market”

The Postgraduate certificate in Animal Welfare and Animal Protection is a new and up to date program that arises from the growing demand among veterinary professionals for specialized training in animal welfare to minimize animal suffering, since, nowadays, consumers demand not only healthier and safer food, but also food obtained through practices that ensure animal protection and welfare.

It addresses the concept of Animal Welfare, its evolution and applied ethology, one of the main welfare problems in all animal facilities. 

It also covers animal ethics or bioethics as a differentiating element with respect to other similar courses. Since this topic is usually included in philosophy programs, it is usually addressed very superficially in health sciences. This highly relevant ethical aspect today will be extensively discussed in depth throughout this Postgraduate certificate in Animal Welfare and Animal Protection. 

The program will help veterinary professionals acquire specialized and up to date knowledge in the field of animal welfare, which is increasingly in demand in society, as conflicts between animal advocates and food producers are the order of the day. 

Join the elite, with this highly effective program and open new paths to help you advance in your professional progress"

This Postgraduate certificate in Animal Welfare and Animal Protection contains the most complete and up to date scientific program on the market. The most important features include:

• The latest technology in online teaching software
• A highly visual teaching system, supported by graphic and schematic contents that are easy to assimilate and understand
• Practical cases presented by practising experts
• State-of-the-art interactive video systems
• Teaching supported by telepractice
• Continuous updating and recycling systems
• Autonomous learning: full compatibility with other occupations
• Practical exercises for self evaluation and learning verification
• Support groups and educational synergies: questions to the expert, debate and knowledge forums
• Communication with the teacher and individual reflection work
• Content that is accessible from any fixed or portable device with an Internet connection
• Supplementary documentation databases are permanently available, even after finishing the course

With a methodological design based on proven teaching techniques, this innovative program will take you through different teaching approaches to allow you to learn in a dynamic and effective way”

Our teaching staff is made up of professionals from different fields related to this specialty. That way we are sure to offer the training update we intend to provide. A multidisciplinary team of professionals trained and experienced in different environments, who will efficiently impart the theoretical knowledge, but above all, who will bring the practical knowledge from their own experience to the course: one of the differential qualities of this program. 

The efficiency of the methodological design of this Professional Master's Degree, enhances the student's understanding of the subject. Developed by a multidisciplinary team of e-learning experts, it integrates the latest advances in educational technology. This way, you will be able to study with a range of comfortable and versatile multimedia tools that will give you the operability you need in your training. 

The design of this program is based on Problem-Based Learning: an approach that conceives learning as a highly practical process. To achieve this remotely, we will use telepractice learning: with the help of an innovative interactive video system, and learning from an expert, you will be able to acquire the knowledge as if you were actually dealing with the scenario you are learning about. A concept that will allow you to integrate and fix learning in a more realistic and permanent way. 

A complete training program that will allow you to acquire the most advanced knowledge in all the areas of intervention of a specialized veterinarian” 

Our innovative telepractice concept will give you the opportunity to learn through an immersive experience, which will provide you with a faster integration and a much more realistic view of the contents: learning from an expert"

The contents have been developed by different experts, with a clear purpose: to ensure that our students acquire each and every one of the skills necessary to become true experts in this field. 

A complete and well structured program that will take you to the highest standards of quality and success. 

A comprehensive teaching program, structured in well developed teaching units, oriented towards learning that is compatible with your personal and professional life" 

Module 1. Animal Welfare. Concepts and Evolution 

1.1. Evolution of the Concept of Animal Welfare, from Antiquity to Present Day

1.1.1. Animal Welfare in Antiquity
1.1.2. Introduction to the Concept of Welfare
1.1.3. Animal Welfare Today

1.2. Vision of the Concept of Animal Welfare from Different Cultures

1.2.1. Buddhism
1.2.2. Catholicism
1.2.3. Islam
1.2.4. Judaism
1.2.5. Orthodox Church
1.2.6. Protestantism

1.3. Concept of Animal Welfare, Approaches to Understanding It

1.3.1. Definitions of Animal Welfare
1.3.2. Emotion-Based Approach
1.3.3. Function-Based Approach
1.3.4. Ethology-Based Approach

1.4. Physiological Responses to Stress

1.4.1. Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal-Glands Axis

1.5. Acute and Chronic Stress Response

1.5.1. Physiological Responses to Chronic Stress
1.5.2. Physiological Responses to Acute Stress

1.6. Concepts of "Eustress" and "Distress"

1.6.1. Eustress: Optimal Stress
1.6.2. Distress: Negative Stress

1.7. The Role of Stress Response in Welfare 
1.8. Freedoms and Needs 

1.8.1. Concept of Freedoms
1.8.2. The Role of Freedoms in Animal Welfare
1.8.3. Concept of Needs

1.9. Animal Welfare Assessment Systems

1.9.1. Direct Indicators
1.9.2. Indirect Indicators

1.10. Developing Animal Welfare Assessment Protocols

1.10.1. TGI 35 L
1.10.2. WelfareQuality ®
1.10.3. AWIN (Animal Welfare Indicators)

Module 2. National and International Animal Protection Legislation 

2.1. European Union Treaties

2.1.1. Prior to the Treaty of Lisbon
2.1.2. The Treaty of Lisbon

2.2. The European Parliament, Its Role in Animal Protection

2.2.1. The European Parliament, First Stage prior to 1986
2.2.2. Second Stage of Animal Welfare in the European Parliament
2.2.3. The European Parliament and Animal Welfare Today

2.3. The European Council: Origin of Legislation in the European Union

2.3.1. The European Council
2.3.2. The Role of the European Council on Animal Welfare

2.4. Legislation on Animal Protection on Livestock Farms

2.4.1. Animal Protection for All Livestock Farms
2.4.2. Animal Protection for Laying Hens
2.4.3. Animal Protection for Calves
2.4.4. Animal Protection for Swine
2.4.5. Animal Protection for Broilers
2.4.6. Protection of Other Agricultural Species

2.5. Legislation on Animal Protection during Transportation

2.5.1. Legislation on Animal Protection during Transportation
2.5.2. Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005, 22 December 2004 on the Protection of Animals during Transportation and Related Operations

2.6. Legislation on Animal Protection on Livestock Farms

2.6.1. Legislation on Animal Protection during Slaughter 
2.6.2. Council Regulation (EC) 1099/2009, 24 September 2009, on the Protection of Animals during Slaughter

2.7. Legislation on the Protection of Experimental Animals

2.7.1. European Parliament and Council 2010/63/EU Directive, 22 September 2010, on the Protection of Animals used for Scientific Purposes
2.7.2. Royal Decree 53/2013, February 1, Establishing the Basic Rules Applicable for the Protection of Animals used for Experimental and Other Scientific Purposes, including Teaching
2.7.3. Royal Decree 1386/2018, November 19, Amending Royal Decree 53/2013, February 1, Establishing the Basic Rules Applicable for the Protection of Animals used in Experimentation and Other Scientific Purposes, including Teaching

2.8. Legislation on the Protection of Animals used for Other Purposes
2.9. The Role of International Agencies in Animal Welfare

2.9.1. The Role of the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD)
2.9.2. The Role of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2.9.3. The Role of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH)

2.10. Animal Protection in Countries outside the European Union: North America, South America, Africa, Asia and Oceania

2.10.1. Animal Protection Regulations in the Americas
2.10.2. Animal Protection Regulations in Africa
2.10.3. Animal Protection Regulations in Asia
2.10.4. Animal Protection Regulations in Oceania

A unique, key and decisive training experience to boost your professional development”