Police Officers (Dog Handlers & Home Office Instructors) Armed Services Canine personnel, MOD Police, British Nuclear Police, Parks Police who are experienced and have completed relevant Police courses, can apply, with their employers' support to gain a recognised Middlesex University Work Based Learning Degree Qualification as below.

We operate the only WBL University Qualifications for professional dog specialists and who currently have experience in dog training, behaviour and associated disciplines.

How it works in brief:

It is possible to achieve a Middlesex University degree (or other qualification) by taking a combination of CIDBT modules and Middlesex University, Work Based Learning (WBS) modules. The exact selection and combination is a matter for discussion at each stage between the student and the tutors at either CIDBT (for their specialist modules) or Middlesex (for the WBS modules).

Formally, the nature of our collaboration is that Middlesex recognise our courses for academic credit towards a degree course. They use the "Review of Learning" process (see below) to accredit the CIDBT modules passed.

A Bachelors degree (BA (Hons)) requires a total of 360 UK Higher Education credits and is equivalent to three years' full-time study. A minimum of one-third of the credits for the qualification must be in Middlesex's WBS modules - so that is 120 WBS credits for a BA (Hons).

Broadly, the WBS modules available fall into the following categories:

• Review of Learning (normally all students take a module of this type)
• Professional Development (again, normally taken by all students to plan their programmes of study)
• Practitioner Inquiry (these modules provide the underpinning skills to conduct research and plan a project)
• Negotiated Work Based Learning Project (canine) (compulsory for all degrees, and providing the opportunity to develop a project of specific individual relevance, drawing on the student's existing work and professional practice)

The usual process for any WBS learner is to apply, to be allocated an Adviser, and then to be guided through Review of Learning and Professional Development to create an individually tailored programme of study. This can be undertaken at the same time as you are studying the CIDBT modules.

WBS modules are designed to allow students to study at a distance, so it would not be necessary for you to attend our campus for the WBS part of your course (though there are some optional on-campus workshops available). For an international student, we would expect that contact would be online through our Virtual Learning Environment, and through email and phone with the Adviser. The subject of study throughout is your own work and professional practice.

An example:

Home Office Police Dog Qualified Instructor/ Dog Handler

A Police Officer who has completed a Home Office Course in Police Dog Training and all its specific disciplines can have that work validated by the University in the form of credits and through the CFBA Portfolio. Your prior knowledge is assessed by the University and may be used as a part of the course.

• Knowledge of criminal law
• Police work with a dog on the beat
• Evidence compilation
• Years spent in the dog section
• Other relevant knowledge interpersonal skills

This graduate degree program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and ability to understand and specialise in Dog Behaviour & Training combined to solve and moreover understand the problems that pet dogs develop.

The aim is for the student to develop a thorough knowledge of the gamut of behaviour problems and then be able to devise practical advice that the dog owner can implement.

To understand the dynamism of family life and how the domestic dog fits into that environment and social aspects. To understand what is normal behaviour and which is abnormal

Theoretical courses in animal learning processes, behaviour analysis, bio psychology, behaviour modification, clinical and family intervention, family counselling, and research design will supplement hands-on experience with dogs via field projects. A thesis project is also a requisite to complete this degree program.

Upon successful completion of the courses in Canine Behaviour & Dog Training, graduates will have satisfied the theoretical and practical requirements for professional qualification.