Warwick to offer degrees for dogs

Warwick is to become the first British university to offer ‘degrees’ for dogs.

The degree programmes, which will be offered from as early as 2016, are thought to include modules such as ‘Sitting’, ‘House training’ and ‘Introduction to Fetching’.

A spokesperson for the University told the Boar: “We’re excited to announce this latest development for Warwick.

“We’re responding to a demand that is already there and want to make sure higher education is open to everyone.”

As part of the move, the University is considering renaming module credits from CATS to CAPS so not to cause offence.

President of Warwick Students’ Union, Nick Swain, welcomed the decision.

“Warwick SU accommodates students from all backgrounds,” he said. “I never knew what CATS meant anyway.”

Dr Steven Paniel, who will head the new department, said the degrees will honour the four-week feedback turnaround agreed in the Student Charter.

“When a student performs a trick, they should expect to receive feedback within ‘paw’ weeks.”

Dr Paniel also hopes to provide field trips to real-life towns for the students, such as nearby ‘Kennel-worth’.

‘Doggy-degrees’ are already popular in the US and Warwick is hoping to be at the forefront of the new phenomenon in the UK. If successful, the department may expand the courses offered to dogs up to PhD level.

A new building and accommodation block for the department will be built near Gibbet Hill, which will include specific lampposts on which dogs can urinate.

First-year PAIS student Jack Russell said: “I think it’s great that Warwick is including more minorities who want access to higher education.

“The lampposts idea is particularly innovative.”

Following the announcement, a new artwork has been commissioned for the University entitled ‘The Boan’. The Boar‘s Charley-Kai John gives his impression on how the Boan may look:

With fees expected to be just shy of £9,000, the new undergraduates will receive ‘Warwick-blue’ collars and leads and free printing credits.

The venture could also lead to Warwick hosting Crufts, alongside other successful summits.

But with many canine students likely to be living in Leamington, changes to the U1 bus service may be necessary. Stagecoach was unavailable for comment.

Warwick SU Welfare and Campaigns Officer and President-elect, Ben Sundell, suggested “a ‘bark and ride’ system” would be the best solution.