Certificate in Basic Animal Care Science

This certificate aims to provide students with the skills and knowledge required for employment or further training in the animal care sector.

It consists of eleven different subjects; eight of them are about identification and health of various animal species and the remaining three subjects are about anatomy, zoonoses and ethical behaviour.

Papers may be studied in any order.  Please note that one credit equals about 10 hours of study time.  If you are studying full time, allow plenty of time for assignments, as there are many assignments due each week. 

To be complete this Certificate, you need to obtain 40 credits from any of the subjects.  The units are worth varying credits and this reflects the amount of work required for each unit, with the anatomy section requiring the most work.

ACS1.1 - Cat Identification and Health – 5 credits

This unit consists of two assignments.  One assignment is about the identification of cats, the signs of health and behaviour, zoonoses, feeding of cats and safe handling techniques.  The other assignment consists of a visit to a cattery and researching the requirements for the care of a cat in a cattery – eg housing and feeding requirements.

ACS1.2 - Dog Identification and Health – 5 credits

This unit consists of two assignments.  One of them is about the identification of dogs, the signs of health and behaviour zoonoses, feeding of dogs and safe handling techniques.  The other assignment consists of a visit to a boarding kennel and researching the requirements for the care of a dog in a boarding kennel – eg housing and feeding requirements.

ACS1.3 Ornamental Fish Identification and Health – 2 credits

This unit consists of two assignments.  One of them is about the identification of ornamental fish and their care, including aquarium requirements for keeping fish.  The second assignment is about signs of health, behaviour, handling and transportation of fish.

ACS1.4 - Horse Identification and Health – 5 credits

The horse unit has six assignments, consisting of various horse breeds, methods of identifying individual horses, zoonoses, signs of health, safe handling techniques and ideal housing requirements.  The housing requirements are covered in two assignments – in one, students have to design an ideal stable and describe why this is ideal.  The other relates to viewing a horse in a paddock and commenting on its suitability for the horse in relation to a range of factors.

ACS1.5 - Poultry Identification and Health – 4 credits

This unit has two assignments.  These assignments cover the following topics - identification of poultry breeds and species, safe handling, storage of feed, nutrition, housing requirements, waste disposal and signs of health and diseases.

ACS1.6 – Reptile and Amphibian Identification and Health - 2 credits

This unit has three assignments which cover the following topics – identification of reptile and amphibian species, safe handling, nutrition, signs of health and diseases, zoonoses and appropriate housing.

ACS1.7 – Rodent and Rabbit Identification and Health – 4 credits

The rabbit and rodent unit has three assignments.  These cover identification of breeds and species, safe handling, nutrition, signs of health, behaviour, zoonoses and housing requirements.

ACS1.8 Ruminant Identification and Health – 5 credits

This unit has four assignments which cover - identifying breeds and species, identifying individual animals from each other, safe handling methods, nutrition and feed storage, signs of health, behaviour, paddock design and maintenance.

ACS1.9 Demonstrate Knowledge of Zoonoses and their Control – 3 credits

This unit is has one assignment.  The second part of this unit takes place as a discussion on blackboard, discussing zoonotic questions.  This is to allow students to discuss these topics with others and to learn more as a group.  The unit covers identification of zoonotic diseases, lifecycles, control measure, prevention, exotic diseases and legislation.

ACS1.10 Understanding Anatomy and Physiology of Animals – 10 credits

This unit has 15 assignments, which are all on different anatomy subjects.  These include ...The Cell, Diffusion, Tissues, Special Senses, Integumentary, Bones, Circulatory System, Respiratory System, Lymphatic, Digestion, Reproduction, Kidney, Endocrine, Homeostasis and the Nervous System.  These are mainly multi-choice, word match and naming diagram type questions.

ACS1.11 Demonstrate Knowledge of Ethical Behaviour in Relation to Animals – 3 credits

This unit consists of two assignments which cover the Animal Welfare Act and how it relates to animal care and handling.  One of the assignments requires students to research an animal related facility and to record the relevant codes and guidelines they must follow in relation to the animals in their care, and how they follow these in practice.

Recommendations:

If you are starting this course and planning to study a few subjects at a time it is suggested that you start with Cat – Dog – Fish – Poultry - Zoonoses or ethics units as each of these papers consists of two assignments only.  Both the dog and cat units require students to find a kennel/cattery and view these, then write a report on these facilities based on the requirements of the boarding code.  

The Rodent and Rabbit, Reptile and Amphibian, Ruminants, and Horse units all have between three and six assignments each. 

The anatomy section is the hardest of the course and has the most assignments - 15 in all, but it is worth the greatest number of credits.  In order to have enough credits to pass this Certificate, paper ACS1.10 must be completed. This subject provides a good basic understanding of the way in which the animal’s body functions, information which is needed to understand the health of the animal. This will take the most amount of time and each week there is either one or two assignments due, so please allow time for this. 

The anatomy unit will take about three to four times the amount of work of most of the other subjects so if you are planning on splitting this certificate over two intakes, it is strongly suggested that you do 4 units (including the anatomy paper) in one intake and then study the other 7 units in the other intake.  The order in which you study these papers may depend on what subjects you prefer.  Commencing your study with a subject that you are particularly keen on, makes it easier to make a start on the assignments.

Enrolment: Application forms are filled out on a year by year basis and students are welcome to apply for multiple intakes on the one application form.  Further enrolment is the responsibility of individual students.  There is no automatic enrolment rollover.

Transfers:  All study selected for a particular intake must be completed within that intake period and cannot be carried over to another intake, unless a transfer is requested within the first two weeks after the start date.  Each transfer requested into an alternative intake will incur an admin fee of $50.  Transfers are not permitted two weeks after the intake start date or between academic years.

Withdrawals:  In order to get a refund of fees, students must advise SIT2LRN of their application withdrawal, in writing, 14 days prior to programme start date.  Students can withdraw up to 75% of the way through the course, but will still be liable for the fees. Students must advise SIT2LRN in writing of their programme withdrawal.

This programme requires a computer and internet access. All students are required to use their SIT webmail only. All course materials and information, including assessments and due dates, are located on the online Blackboard system, for which access will be given during the period of study.

Facilitator Assistance:  During the enrolled intake period, students have email access to Facilitators, who endeavour to respond to emails within 48 hours (week days only).  All students are required, within the first two weeks of intake, to send an email to their Facilitator confirming their start on the programme of study.  Students who have not completed this enrolment process or embarked upon their course of study by the end of the 2^nd week of intake, will be Faculty Withdrawn from the programme.  Such withdrawals may impact on future access to SIT Zero Fee Scheme and Student Direct Material Costs are still liable for payment.

Assessments for this course typically include short answer and multi-choice questions and some short written reports. There are no external exams for this course.

The Zero Fees Scheme applies to this course, so there are no tuition fees as long as you are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident (residing in NZ), BUT there is a student direct material cost of $5.50 per credit of study undertaken, plus the required textbook/s listed below.  You must maintain satisfactory academic progress to retain your Zero Fees Scheme entitlement.

Payment is due on the start date of each intake enrolled in - for just the paper/s or unit/s that you have enrolled in for that intake.

All SIT2LRN courses are approved by Studylink.  Any queries regarding Studylink allowances, loans, and terms and conditions should be made directly to Studylink on 0800 88 99 00 or www.studylink.govt.nz.

There are no required textbooks that need to be purchased for this course.

At the successful completion of this programme, students will have the required competencies to function successfully and effectively at operational levels within the animal care sector. Graduates could go on to employment as an: assistant at boarding kennels, stables or a veterinary practice, or further study in SIT's Certificate or National Diploma in Veterinary Nursing.

All applicants should demonstrate a keen interest in caring for animals and possess academic attributes which demonstrate that applicants have a reasonable likelihood of successful completion of the programme.

For students to be considered to have satisfactorily completed this programme, and be eligible for the awarding of the qualification Certificate in Basic Animal Care Science (Level 2), they must have completed all scheduled course work requirements and assessments and successfully completed assessment requirements for all local units, and achieved a total of 40 credits as specified in the programme schedule.