MLL364 - Animal Law
Unit details
| Year | 2026 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes | Not offered in 2026 |
| Credit point(s) | 1 |
| EFTSL value | 0.125 |
| Unit chair | Trimester 2: Morgan Stonebridge |
| Cohort rule | For Bachelor of Laws (including combined Law awards) students only |
| Prerequisite | Nil |
| Corequisite | MLP327 |
| Incompatible with | MLJ764 |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment | Online independent and asynchronous collaborative learning up to a maximum of 3 hours each week which includes lecture pre-recordings and 1 x 1 hour online seminar (recordings provided) each week. |
| Typical study commitment | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the trimester undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Content
This unit examines the ways in which law and policy defines and governs non-humanimals (‘animals’) and human-animal relationships. It will consider human attitudes towards animals throughout history, and the ways that ethical assumptions and culture influence law and policy. Students will be introduced to foundational concepts in animal law, including legal personhood, speciesism, sentience and welfare versus rights. Following consideration of this theoretical framework, students will look at key Australian legislation, regulations and case law relating to animals, focusing particularly on the Victorian and Federal jurisdictions. Contemporary issues in animal law will be studied, such as the ethics of using animals in research, the criminalisation of animal advocacy, and how to improve regulation of animal agriculture. The focus of the unit will be on Australian law, however, where relevant international comparisons will be made.
Learning outcomes
Each unit in your course is a building block towards Deakin's Graduate Learning Outcomes - not all units develop and assess every Graduate Learning Outcome (GLO).
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Explain how the law regulates animals and human-animal relationships in Australia | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Critically analyse and assess the adequacy of law in ensuring the care and protection of animals, including from non-anthropocentric perspectives | GLO4: Critical thinking GLO8: Global citizenship |
| ULO3 | Analyse the influence of human ethical assumptions and social conventions on the laws governing animals | GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO4 | Engage in informed debate regarding contemporary issues in animal law | GLO2: Communication |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: (Individual) Written reflection (Self) | 500 words | 20% | Week 1 - Week 11 |
| Assessment 2: (Individual) Written report (Analytical) | 500 words | 20% | Week 5 |
| Assessment 3: (Individual) Research Essay | 3000 words | 60% | End-of-unit assessment period |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for MLL364 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
To fully engage with Deakin's learning experiences, students must be able to access and use internet-connected devices as outlined in computing requirements at Deakin.
To support student success at Deakin, we have a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) learning environment that acknowledges that students and educators bring with them the digital tools they regularly use to complete academic tasks. These tools stay with you beyond the classroom, helping you to keep learning, explore ideas more deeply, and connect with knowledge in ways that matter to you.
Students requiring a loan device should visit our Loan Laptop webpage or students requiring longer-term assistance should visit our Student Financial Assistance webpage.
Unit fee information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.