Our relationships with animals and the natural world possess great healing potential when intentionally addressed. The animals and human health (AHH) professional development certificate focuses on human-animal interactions, activities, and learning, which require that those delivering interventions have the expertise necessary to attend to the needs of the people and the animals involved.

You’ll develop skill and expertise regarding the practical applications of human-animal interactions and understand how the effects of these methods can be demonstrated across age, race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and life condition. You will also learn how these interactions can be incorporated in practice by a range of professionals and how to create and implement high-quality, human-animal-environment interaction programs.

13

Enrollment is capped at 13 students per cohort for a high-quality learning environment.

35

The certificate earns 35 continuing education units documented on a University of Denver transcript.

700

Approximately 700 students from six continents have completed the AHH certificate.

Therapy rat and human hand

About Human-Animal Interactions

Professional, human-animal interactions demonstrate how the human-animal bond can create lasting social, emotional, cognitive, physical, spiritual and psychological changes. Therapy, activities, and learning integrating animals are found in many settings. For example:

  • As part of his physical therapy, a man recovering from a stroke regains the use of his arm by playing “fetch” with a specially screened and trained dog.
  • An at-risk teen refuses traditional therapy but begins to explore personal issues with a therapist who integrates equines into their mental health practice.
  • A child who is a victim of sexual abuse learns to trust and connect with people by first learning to trust and connect with an animal.
  • A student with a learning difference feels excited and hopeful about school because of a new education program integrating animals.
Woman with therapy dog and man in wheelchair

A Program for Working Professionals

The animals and human health certificate enhances the practice of professionals from a variety of career fields—from counselors to teachers, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, police officers, veterinarians and more—by providing the education needed to incorporate animals into their work. With the certificate, you can enhance your current career by incorporating the value, benefits and opportunities of the human-animal bond.

Although many of our students work in the mental health field and are integrating or planning to integrate animals into their therapy practice, this program does not teach you how to be a therapist (a graduate degree from an accredited program is typically needed to practice in the mental health field). If you are looking for a career change into mental health treatment and human-animal interactions, consider pairing a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and the Human-Animal-Environmental Interactions in Social Work Certificate from the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work.

“This program gave me the tools, knowledge and confidence to be able to deliver an ethical animal-assisted intervention service at Southampton Children's Hospital in the UK that everyone enjoys—two legged and four!” 

Lyndsey Uglow, Alumni, Animals & Human Health ’16
AHH Alumni Lyndsey Uglow

Program Format

Our curriculum is designed to meet various needs and interests, and takes place completely online. As a student, you will choose two animal species to focus on and the client population and setting you want to serve. As you research human-animal interaction programs that are similar to the type of work you intend to do, you’ll learn what is currently happening in your field and extrapolate the best practices needed to develop and lead a successful program.  

The certificate includes three online courses and one, virtual Capstone session. You’ll progress through the three required online courses in sequence with a peer cohort, then meet over Zoom for a two-day Capstone. Courses include readings, written assignments, community/experiential activities, videos and discussion forums. You may complete coursework at your pace within specified due dates. Experiential activities are incorporated into each course and will require you to work in the community, away from the computer. As you move through the program, your instructors will offer guidance, individualized weekly feedback and participate in online discussion forums.

Upcoming Program Dates

 

2023 Cohort 3 (FULL)

2024 Cohort 1 2024 Cohort 2 2024 Cohort 3

Animals & Human Health Core Course (online)

Sept 11 - Nov 5, 2023

Jan 15 - March 10, 2024 June 3 - July 28, 2024 Sept 16 - Nov 10, 2024

Applications of Animal-Assisted Interventions Course (online)

Jan 8 - Feb 18, 2024

April 1 - May 12, 2024 Aug 19 - Sept 29, 2024 Jan 13 - Feb 23, 2025

Animal Partners in Animal-Assisted Interventions Course (online)

March 11 - April 21, 2024

June 3 - July 14, 2024 Oct 21 - Dec 1, 2024 March 17 - April 27, 2025

Capstone Course (online)

May 16 - 17, 2024

Aug 15 - 16, 2024 Jan 9 - 10, 2025 May 29 - 30, 2025

 

 

Cost and Requirements

Eligibility

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited 4-year college or university, or equivalent working experience in the human-animal interaction field

Tuition

Tuition includes courses, Capstone, and instructor consultation. Tuition does not include course literature. An additional non-refundable $25 fee is due with your application.

Tuition can be paid all at once, or in installments. Payments are made online by credit/debit card (special arrangements can be made for third-party payers).

Payments Animals and Human Health
Deposit (secures your space in the cohort) $1,400 (due before Core course begins)
Installment 1 $1,050 (due before the Applications of Animal-Assisted Interventions course begins)
Installment 2 $1,050 (due before the Animal Partners in Animal-Assisted Interventions course begins)
TOTAL PROGRAM COST $3,500

Application Information

Student with Sheep

Capstone Session

Your capstone will tie the program together by asking you to create a full, human-animal interaction, program proposal, which you’ll virtually present to your instructors and peers. You'll gain the experience of presenting your program in a formal and concise manner, as well as feedback from your peers and instructors. Students also develop an online portfolio of their major assignments in the program along for easy referral. This course is where everyone's unique experience, background, and future goals shine. 

Many alumni of Animals and Human Health have taken their completed program proposal and implemented it in their organization or community!

Certificate Faculty and Staff

 
Betty Jean Curran

Betty Jean Curran

Adjunct Faculty, Institute for Human-Animal Connection

Learn More

Molly DePrekel

Molly DePrekel

Adjunct Faculty, Institute for Human-Animal Connection

Learn More

Nina Ekholm-Fry

Nina Ekholm Fry

Director of Equine Programs, Institute for Human-Animal Connection

Learn More

Sherly Pierre

Sheryl Pierre

Adjunct Faculty, Institute for Human-Animal Connection

Learn More

Heather Pugh

Heather Pugh

Adjunct Faculty, Institute for Human-Animal Connection

Learn More

Jennifer VonLintel

Jennifer VonLintel

Adjunct Faculty, Institute for Human-Animal Connection

Learn More

Maggie Lantzy

Maggie Lantzy

Assistant Director, Institute for Human-Animal Connection; Adjunct

Learn More

AHH Alumni Stories

Woman smiling kneeling next to Charles the therapy dog.
Animal-Assisted Therapy in Child Welfare

Rachel Pletcher completed Animals and Human Health in 2018 which has allowed her to develop and implement an animal-assisted therapy program for her child welfare organization.

Read More

Pamela Wheeler
Therapy Farm Built on Access and Inclusion

Pamela Wheeler is as a licensed mental health practitioner who founded UBU Therapy Farms in Lincoln, NE where children can learn socio-emotional skills and interact with animals in a therapeutic setting. Wheeler previously worked as a crisis response therapist and sought out Animals and Human Health professional development certificate because she wanted to begin her own practice specializing in the inclusion of animals alongside treatment.

Read More

Maria and her therapy dog
Dog-Assisted Reading Program in Mexico

Maria Espinosa de los Monteros didn’t grow up with dogs, but quickly opened up her heart and home to the many stray dogs in need of care in her community once she was able to. She is now the director of the R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistant Dogs) program in Mexico City where she serves a diverse population and is elevating the role of dogs in her community.

Read More