Accessibility statement

Humans and Other Animals - SOC00064I

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  • Department: Sociology
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Amanda Rees
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
    • See module specification for other years: 2023-24

Module summary

In this module you will discover what animals can tell us about the nature of human identities and structures of human societies. You will explore interdisciplinary case studies including zoos, pets, laboratory animals, fashion, livestock and pests and consider the continuing role of non-human creatures in creating and managing human identities and communities.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25

Module aims

What can animals tell us about the nature of human identities and the structures of human societies? Without animals, modern society wouldn’t exist. While industrial society was built on animal power, most animals (pets and pests excepted) were excluded from the urban spaces they helped create and marginalised from academic understandings of human societies. In this module you will draw upon interdisciplinary case studies including zoos, pets, laboratory animals, fashion, livestock, pests and charismatic megafauna, both living and dead - even entirely imaginary animals. You will explore how non-human creatures continue to play important roles in creating and managing human identities, communities and social structures.

Module learning outcomes

Demonstrate an understanding of the role played by animals in human societies and culture over time

Assess the significance of animals in the production of both profit and knowledge in capitalist societies

Discuss a range of expert and lay opinions on the nature of animal life, and how this the use of animals in the construction of definitions of what counts as human

Critically analyse the role of animals in the construction of what counts as human and non-human

Demonstrate capacity to link academic scholarship with lived experience

Module content

Humans/Animals - what’s the difference?

At Home - can animals be people?

In Care - how do we manage animal death?

At Work - are animals part of the working class?

On Plates - what is the future of meat?

In Pursuit - why hunt animals?

On Display - what do we learn from looking at animals?

In Cages - why experiment on animals?

Animal Agency - can animals be people?

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay : Essay		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay : Essay		 N/A 100

Module feedback

For formative work - blog post - students will receive written or verbal feedback on how to improve their skills in areas that will contribute towards their summative assessment. The formative assessments provide practice for the summative task, and in line with MLO 1-5.

For summative work - Essay - students will receive an overall mark and grading according to clearly defined criteria for assessing their knowledge, skills and abilities in line with MLO 1-5. They will also receive written feedback showing areas in which they have done well, and those areas in which they need to improve that will contribute to their progress.

Indicative reading

Brantz, D (ed) (2010) Beastly Natures: Animals, Humans and the Study of History. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.