Animal Management

Animal management is the study of the care, welfare, handling, and conservation of animals across a range of species and settings, from companion animals and livestock to zoo and wildlife populations. It is a discipline that combines biological understanding with practical husbandry skills, asking how animals' physical and psychological needs can be met in captive settings, how behaviour indicates wellbeing or stress, and how the management of animal populations can support conservation goals. It is a degree suited to those who want to work directly with animals in a professional capacity and who want the scientific and technical foundation to do so well.

At the University of Sunderland, this two-year, full-time programme provides a focused and practically oriented introduction to animal management, covering the biological, welfare, and operational dimensions of working with animals. You will develop an understanding of animal behaviour, nutrition, health and disease, and the legislative and ethical frameworks governing animal welfare in the UK. The programme is designed to give you the competence and confidence to work with animals in a range of professional settings, whether in animal care facilities, zoos, wildlife centres, or agriculture.

Graduates from animal management programmes work in animal care, zoo and wildlife parks, veterinary support roles, pet and companion animal businesses, farm management, welfare organisations, and conservation projects. The two-year structure provides a foundation that many graduates use as a basis for further study, including progression to a full honours degree in animal science, zoology, veterinary nursing, or conservation biology. Others move directly into employment, applying their practical skills in roles that require hands-on animal care and management knowledge.