HAS Courses in Animal Assisted Therapy
Harcum College
Phil Arkow
Distance Learning Course in Animal Assisted Therapies
This 10-week course, taught by internationally renowned human-animal bond and AAT author Phil Arkow, offers a Certificate of Completion; this Certificate may be eligible for employer reimbursement and Continuing Education Units depending upon the requirements of the student's employer and/or professional association.
Humane
Society University
Aubrey Fine,
Bernie Unti
Understanding the Human-Animal Bond
This course
provides an interdisciplinary examination of the human animal relationship.
Topics include relationships with pets, psychological and physiological
benefits of companion animals, concern for animal rights and animal welfare,
the role of animals in children's lives and in schools, and demographic
differences in people's relationships with animals.
Humane Society University
Aubrey Fine
Animal Assisted Interventions for Youth-At-Risk*
Animal
assisted activities and animal assisted therapy programs may have the capacity
to improve social and cognitive skills, to improve awareness of animal care
needs, and to reduce aggression and other problem behaviors among emotionally
troubled, economically disadvantaged, adjudicated and other youth-at-risk.
Shelter-based dog training programs also may have the capacity to improve
adoption chances and reduce relinquishment. The course examines the convergence
of theories of human-animal bond and the analysis of the risk and protective
factors related to youth violence. Specific animal assisted programs for
youth-at-risk, mechanisms of change, best practices, program-related animal
welfare issues, and program outcomes will be examined.
Humane Society University
Aubrey Fine
Introduction to Animal Assisted Interventions*
Animal
assisted interventions and animal therapy programs have the capacity to improve
empathy, self-esteem, and animal care knowledge. This course will review
theories animal assisted interventions, and specific therapeutic techniques as
they apply to several different populations will be discussed. Dog training,
mechanisms of change, and program outcomes will also be examined. Students will
have an opportunity to observe an actual animal assisted intervention,
interview the animal handler involved, and integrate newly gained knowledge of
theories, practice, and evaluation of these programs.
Humane Society University
Aubrey Fine
The Role of Animals in the Lives of Children*
The
literature is filled with commentaries and research findings attesting the
value of animals in the lives of children. This course will review theories of
human-animal bond and animal assisted interventions for children in therapeutic
environments and in the home. Specific animal assisted programs for children
with physical and developmental disabilities will be explored. Attention will
be given to best practice approaches in developing AAI programs and methods for
program evaluation. The role of animals in schools and humane education will
also be discussed. Students will have an opportunity to write a proposal for an
animal assisted program for children integrating newly gained knowledge of
theories, practice, and evaluation of these programs.
* The above courses are offered as part of HUS's
Animal Assisted Interventions Graduate
Certificate. This certificate (a program of the Humane Leadership Department) focuses on the
integration of animals within the context of therapy. In the last decade there
has been a proliferation of therapeutic programs where animals assist people in
reaching developmental and/or restorative achievements. However, the formal
training necessary to safely maximize these benefits is limited. This Graduate
Certificate offers aspiring and seasoned clinicians alike a specialization in the
emerging field of animal assisted therapies.
