All of the 'C0' courses act as qualifying courses for the Advanced CDP COAPE Diploma.
Please note that South African students cannot enrol directly through COAPE UK for any COAPE course and must enrol through ThinkingPets.
The following courses are ideal for anyone who wishes to further their study of the science of animal psychology and behaviour and will help students on their journey towards becoming qualified companion animal behaviourists. Students with no prior experience in this field may also enrol for these courses. Only students who have completed the Diploma are recognized by COAPE as qualified animal behaviourists.
C04: THINK CAT - STAGE 2
This course is the ideal course in feline behavioural psychology for veterinarians, vet nurses and other professionals who want to develop their knowledge and skills of interpretation of the behaviour of the cat.
C04 Think Cat is the companion course to C03 Think Cat. While C03 explores the nature of the cat in terms of his behaviour as predator and pet, in C04 we explore feline psychology and the intricate mental processes behind all feline behaviour.
WHAT THE STUDENT WILL LEARN:
UNIT 1:
We start the course with an in-depth study into the components that make up the feline brain and how they work together. A Grounding in basic brain anatomy and physiology forms the bedrock on which the other Units of this course are built
UNIT 2:
In Unit 2 we tackle learning and how it works in domestic pet cats. Despite having a reputation for being stubborn, independent and difficult to train, every cat owner will testify just how quickly their cat is able to learn something new that they pick up on their own, often quite inappropriately. What actually happens in the brain when cats learn something? How can we best utilise the latest scientific information to make learning fun for cats and for us? These are all questions that are answered in Unit 2.
UNIT 3:
Unit 3 addresses memory and its function. When cats learn something, it has to be remembered and later recalled somehow. This is the job of memory. How does memory differ from learning? Do cats remember events in the same way that humans do? In this unit the student will find the answers these questions and many more on the nature of feline memory, its strengths and its limitations.
UNIT 4:
From Foetus to Feline: From fertilised egg to fully functional adult cat and on through to old age. We chart the cat's journey through life exploring the critical points of development. In this module the student will find out why these developmental stages are important and what actually happens inside the cat's brain that makes the difference between a well-balanced, sociable cat, and a timid, antisocial bundle of teeth and claws that most owners would rather avoid.
UNIT 5:
25 million years of evolution has ensured that the cat's sensory systems are perfectly adapted for this top-of-the-food-chain predator. But the way they 'see' the outside world is nothing more than a clever 'trick' played on them by their brains. They rely on their brains to gather in, process, interpret and make sense of all the information bombarding their senses such as light, sound, smell, touch and taste. In this Unit we explore how cats perceive the outside world as a predator and as a loveable pet.
UNIT 6:
In Unit 6 the student draws on everything learned in the previous 5 Units to answer the final question: Can we ever know how cats really think? The quest to answer this question is fascinating, perplexing and highly controversial. Do they have an imagination? Can they think creatively? Can they think at all? We delve deep inside the cat's mind and explore the very foundations of emotions, consciousness, personality and intelligence. We also explore communication and language and gain insight into just how much we can expect our feline companions to comprehend, drawing a line where anthropomorphism is no longer an asset, but becomes an obstacle between owners and their cats.
UNIT 7:
This final Unit of the course is where the student has the opportunity to design and undertake a research based project of their own choice that will expand on their understanding of the cat's mind. The student will be given lots of help and guidance along the way to make this Unit not only enlightening, but the most rewarding and satisfying module of them all.
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH C04?
- Learn about the inner workings of the feline mind. C04 introduces students to feline neurophysiology.
- C04 is the perfect "breaching course" for anyone who already has experience in the training or behaviour profession.
- Students who successfully complete the course automatically fulfil the qualification requirements for the CDP COAPE Diploma course.
COURSE DETAILS
Course Type: Correspondence
Course Duration: 1 Year
Course Cost: R7 000*
A non-refundable deposit of R2 500 is payable on registration.
Option 1: The balance of R4 500 in full payment within 1 month of registration.
Option 2: A monthly Electronic Fund Transfer of R550 per month payable on the last day of each calendar month (commencing the 1st month-end after registration) for 9 consecutive months following registration. Option 2 includes a minimal 10% interest component.
*Please note that this fee excludes the cost of the books on the required reading list. Terms and Conditions apply.
C02: DOGWISE - STAGE 2
C02 is the companion course to C01 Dogwise. While C01 explores the nature of the dog in the context of training and as a pet, in C02 we explore canine psychology and the intricate mental processes behind all canine behaviour. This course is the ideal course in canine behavioural psychology for veterinarians, vet nurses and other professionals.
WHAT THE STUDENT WILL LEARN:
UNIT 1:
We start the course with an in-depth study into the components that make up the canine brain and how they work together. A Grounding in basic brain anatomy and physiology forms the bedrock on which the other Units of this course are built.
UNIT 2:
In Unit 2 we investigate learning and how it works in pet dogs. Every dog owner can testify just how quickly their dog is able to learn something new, be it taught or something they picked up on their own, often quite inappropriately. What actually happens in the brain when dogs learn something? How can we best utilise the latest scientific information to make learning fun for dogs and for us? These questions are answered in Unit 2.
UNIT 3:
Unit 3 addresses memory and its function. When dogs learn something, it has to be remembered and later recalled somehow. This is the job of memory. How does memory differ from learning? Do dogs remember events in the same way that we humans do? In Unit 3 we answer these questions and many more on the nature of canine memory, its strengths and its limitations.
UNIT 4:
From fertilised egg to fully functional adult dog and on through to old age. We chart the dog's journey through life exploring the critical points of development. We find out why these developmental stages are important and what actually happens inside the dog's brain that makes the difference between a well-balanced, sociable dog, and an unruly, antisocial problem dog.
UNIT 5:
The way a dog 'sees' the outside world is nothing more than a clever 'trick' played on it by its brain. The dog relies on its brain's sensory systems to gather in, process, interpret and make sense of all the information, such as light, sound, smell, touch and taste bombarding its senses. The dog has inherited its predatory sensory systems from its ancient ancestor, the wolf. But selective breeding for function by humans over the last few thousand years has altered the dog's senses to best suit its role working alongside man. Over the last few hundred years dogs have been selectively bred for appearance leading to huge diversity in shape and size across the different breeds. In this Unit we explore how dogs perceive the outside world and the variation across the various breed types.
UNIT 6:
In this final Unit the student will draw on everything learned in the previous 5 Units to answer the questions asked in this module: Can we ever know how dogs really think? The quest to answer this question is fascinating, perplexing and highly controversial. Do they have an imagination? Can they think creatively? Can they think at all? We delve deep inside the dog's mind and explore the very foundations of emotions, consciousness, personality and intelligence. We also explore communication and language and gain insight into just how much we can expect our canine companions to comprehend, drawing a line where anthropomorphism is no longer an asset, but becomes an obstacle between owners and their dogs.
SPECIAL STUDY:
This final Unit of the course is where the student has the opportunity to design and undertake a research based project of their own choice that will expand on their understanding of the dog's mind. The student will be given lots of help and guidance along the way to make this Unit not only enlightening, but the most rewarding and satisfying module of them all.
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH C02?
- Learn about the inner workings of the canine mind. C02 introduces students to canine neurophysiology.
- C02 is the perfect "breaching course" for anyone who already has experience in the training or behaviour profession, in preparation for the Diploma.
- Students who successfully complete the course automatically fulfil the qualification requirements for the CDP COAPE Diploma course.
COURSE DETAILS
Course Type: Correspondence
Course Duration: 1 Year
Course Cost: R7 000*
A non-refundable deposit of R2 500 is payable on registration.
Option 1: The balance of R4 500 in full payment within 1 month of registration.
Option 2: A monthly Electronic Fund Transfer of R550 per month payable on the last day of each calendar month (commencing the 1st month-end after registration) for 9 consecutive months following registration.
Option 2 includes a minimal 10% interest component.
*Please note that this fee excludes the cost of the books on the required reading list. Terms and Conditions apply.
CA01 ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR: A BIOLOGICAL APPROACH
An Advanced Certificate for behaviourists, vets, vet nurses and trainers wanting to understand how to study the science of animal behaviour.
Written by Professor Ray Coppinger, Lorna Coppinger MSc.
Tutored by Professor Ray Coppinger, Lorna Coppinger MSc and Peter Neville DHc BSc(Hons).
This course can be successfully completed by anyone who is genuinely interested in studying the intriguing science of animal ethology.
It will also provide an excellent foundation for further study, and successful students automatically fulfil the qualification requirements for the CDP COAPE Diploma Course.
This constantly updated course is demanding, and experience of study in a biological subject and a qualification in biology/zoology/botany at least to
GSCE standard would be an advisable pre-requisite if you are to get the most out of it and enjoy its demands to the full.
The knowledge gained by the student from this course can greatly enhance the pleasure that you can get from any pet/human relationship and your understanding of how all animals survive, whether in a domestic or wild environment.
WHAT THE STUDENT WILL LEARN
UNIT 1:
Introduction. The Nature of Science. A short introduction to how scientists study, work, record and read.
UNIT 2:
Studying Animal Behaviour. How and why scientists study animal behaviour. What do animals do, how they earn their living in terms of foraging for food, avoid hazards and reproduce.
UNIT 3:
Basic Ethology. The ethograms: a measurement of motor patterns in terms of quality, frequency and sequence.
UNIT 4:
Behavioural Ethology. What do animals do and how well do they do it over time? How do an animal’s motor patterns of behaviour aid or enhance its survival? Understanding energetics.
UNIT 5:
Cognitive Ecology. The study of the mental abilities of animals: mental tool kits, mind and intelligence.
UNIT 6:
Evolutionary Development. Shape and Behaviour. Understanding behavioural development, genes and species typical behaviour.
UNIT 7:
Three Kinds of Behaviour: Intrinsic, Accommodative and Emergent. Understanding and applying the ‘Rules’ of development.
COURSE DETAILS
Course type: Correspondence
Course Duration: 9 months
Course Cost: OCN registration deposit £55 + Course fee £445 (Please note that the course cost excludes required reading material)
Course Dates:
- February 1st to October 31st.
- September 1st to May 31st the following year.
For all COAPE Course enquiries, please contact Wendy Wilson:
083 336 1761
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