Education about Human-Animal Interactions

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 human-animal interactions (including 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

MSW Human-Animal-Environment Interaction Certificate

The first of its kind in the nation, our human-animal-environment interactions in social work (HAEI-SW) MSW certificate of specialization prepares you to recognize the impact of human-animal-environment interactions in culturally responsive and ethically advanced professional social work practice settings. This certificate is currently available to students enrolled in our Denver Campus master of social work (MSW) and you complete the certificate alongside your other MSW coursework.

• Hands-On Experience

  Explore how interactions with animals and the environment profoundly impact lives, transform treatment, and improve the welfare of children, adults, families, and communities. Train a professional therapy dog during graduate school, build your clinical social work skills to incorporate animals into therapeutic environments, and develop programs and policy for community social work settings.

• Research Opportunities

  As research assistants, students help to advance our innovative research agenda while exploring their interests in therapeutic human-animal interactions, interventions, animal welfare and One Health. 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.