Education about Human-Animal Interactions
IHAC Programs for Graduate Students and Professionals
Education is a core part of our mission. In fact, it’s why the Institute for Human-Animal Connection (IHAC) was created! Through our continuing education certificates and our master of social work (MSW) animal-assisted social work certificate, we work to elevate the value of the living world and the interrelationship and health of people, other animals and the environment with ethics and welfare at the forefront.

Wednesday, April 21, 2021
Canine-Assisted Intervention Specialist Information Session
Attend this virtual information session to learn details, expectations, and outcomes of the Canine-Assisted Intervention Specialist Certificate program. You will also get to meet the program instructors and ask questions during the Q&A at the end.
- 5:30 pm Mountain Time
- Online

Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Animals and Human Health Information Session
Attend this virtual information session to learn details, expectations, and outcomes of the Animals and Human Health Certificate program. You will also get to meet the program instructors and ask questions during the Q&A at the end.
- 5:30 pm Mountain Time
- Online
Whitney Romine, Alumni, Graduate, Animals & Human Health Certificate Read More“It is important to incorporate animals and the environment into social work, public health and other fields because all life is interconnected. To improve the conditions for all, we must continually study and advocate for each individual.”


MSW Animal-Assisted Social Work Certificate
The first of its kind in the nation, our animal-assisted social work certificate explores partnership with animals and nature in many types of social work practice. It is paired with a Denver Campus master of social work (MSW) degree for added specialization that prepares you to work with human and nonhuman animals in a variety of practice settings.
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Hands-On Experience
In addition to courses and internships, students have numerous options for gaining hands-on, real-world experience incorporating animals into practice and programming, including our Scholars with Collars program, in which dogs and their handlers are trained together in preparation for the Canine Good Citizen Test and other therapy dog certifications.
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Experiential Learning Labs
Experiential learning labs support student learning outside of classes and internships. Labs cover a range of topics, such as advocating for animal-welfare legislation at the Colorado State Capitol, exploring nature-based therapies or practicing hands-on horse handling skills.
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Research Opportunities
As research assistants, students help to advance our innovative research agenda while exploring their interests in the fields of therapeutic human-animal interactions, animal-assisted interventions, animal welfare and the One Health paradigm. Research assistants are involved in a wide variety of activities— from literature reviews, to qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, to meetings, seminars and conference presentations.
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Field Internships
Students gain field experience through internships that match their particular interests—whether that’s animal-assisted clinical interventions, humane education, animal welfare advocacy or conservation social work. International internships have included studying biodiversity protection at the Giant Panda Research Base in China or participating in animal welfare efforts in Kenya.
Learn more about the Denver Campus MSW program and animal-assisted social work certificate.
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Continuing Education Options
Broaden your understanding and enhance your professional skills through our professional development certificate programs, which can be completed alongside full-time employment or study, regardless of where you live. Our professional development programs have enrolled students from across Colorado and throughout the U.S., as well as international locations such as Canada, China and the United Kingdom! Programs are taught primarily online, with community-based assignments and one or more in-person residential workshops.
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Animals and Human Health Certificate
Practical applications of human-animal interactions
The animals and human health certificate focuses on animal-assisted therapy, activities and learning.
The animals and human health certificate focuses on animal-assisted therapy, activities and learning. You’ll develop skill and expertise regarding the many practical applications of human-animal interactions across age, race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and life condition. You will also learn how animal-assisted interventions can be used by a range of different professionals and how to create and implement high-quality animal-assisted programs.
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Canine-Assisted Intervention Specialist Certificate
Canine behavior, training, health and wellness
The canine-assisted intervention specialist certificate provides competency-based training for animal-assisted intervention professionals seeking to improve their knowledge of and skill working with dogs.
The canine-assisted intervention specialist certificate provides competency-based training for animal-assisted intervention professionals seeking to improve their knowledge of and skill working with dogs. You’ll develop a deeper understanding of the needs of your canine partners, practice training dogs for specific skills and increase your knowledge of the ethics and standards involved in working effectively and humanely with dogs in animal-assisted interventions.
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Equine-Assisted Mental Health Practitioner Certificate
Ethical clinical practice with horses
The equine-assisted mental health practitioner certificate program will help enhance your clinical practice through equine-assisted therapy.
Do you want to add equine-assisted therapy to your practice? Are you practicing but want more knowledge and skill? The equine-assisted mental health practitioner certificate program will help you to enhance your clinical practice through equine-assisted therapy. You’ll receive education, training and supervision necessary for ethical practice, including techniques tailored to your clinical interests and the clients you serve.
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Humane Education Practitioner Certificate
Exploring human-human, human-animal and human-Earth bonds
The humane education practitioner certificate focuses on humane education training for teachers, mental health professionals, parents, caregivers, and informal educators.
Humane education demonstrates how strengthened bonds between humans, animals and our Earth can bring about lasting social, emotional, cognitive, physical, spiritual and psychological changes so humans can live with each other and other species in peace and with compassion. The Institute for Human-Animal Connection professional development certificate in humane education and interventions focuses on humane education training for teachers, mental health professionals, parents, caregivers, and informal educators.

Orientation to Human-Animal Interactions Course
The Orientation to Human-Animal Interactions professional development course is a great starting place for students to gain an introduction to the variety of applications and research in this field. Students will gain practical knowledge about the power of the human-animal bond across lifespans and communities, in a self-paced, asynchronous online course model. Through an overview of micro or clinical applications, students will become familiar with the concept of animal-assisted interventions (including animal-assisted activities, education, and therapy), terminology and implications for different working animals (including therapy animals, service animals, and emotional support animals), and considerations for the welfare of working animals. Through a mezzo and macro lens, students gain education on the role of pets in communities, humane education, LINK violence, policy implications for wildlife, and the One Health model.
Course Overview
- Module 1: The Human-Animal Bond and Redefining Our Relationship with Animals
- Module 2: Animal-Assisted Interactions: Terminology and Applications
- Module 3: Considering Animals in Helping Roles and Animal-Assisted Interactions
- Module 4: Community-Based Applications of Human-Animal Interactions
- Module 5: Future Opportunities in Human-Animal Interactions
Laura McCarty, Alumni, MSW ’15 Read More“The support I received from my professors and my internship supervisor allowed me to prepare for a career as a school social worker. I came into the program with pretty specific goals of working in schools with a therapy dog, and they helped me gain the education, connection and experience for my current role.”

“This is an internship that I look forward to. There’s nowhere else I could be getting this great of a hands-on experience.”
Kaylee Keuthan, Denver Campus MSW student