Animal Studies Minor
The minor in animal studies seeks to provide students with a specialized, in-depth understanding of animals’ lives and the intersection of their lives with humans, historically and in contemporary societies. This interdisciplinary minor is comprised of six courses including animal ethics (the foundational, team- taught, interdisciplinary course), animals and society, animal law, social movements, animals in documentaries, and an animal studies internship.
An animal studies minor requires a minimum of 18 credit hours.
All prerequisites must be completed prior to enrollment in the following courses:
In this course, students explore the relationships between humans and animals through the lens of documentaries, films, and videos. These thought-provoking videos offer a unique entre?e into the animal rights debate, which is unquestionably one of the most important ethical issues and social justice movements of our day. Upon completion of the course, students will have increased their ability to analyze documentaries and films thoughtfully, think critically and imaginatively, and communicate ideas powerfully in writing and speaking about the animal rights debate.
This cutting-edge multidisciplinary course is designed to acquaint the student with contemporary and historical animal-ethics/rights issues. A primary goal of the course is to raise moral consciousness about the most current conditions and uses of nonhuman animals and therein the ethical dimension of relationships between nonhuman animals and human beings. The course is structured in two sections: a) ethical theory and b) applied ethics.
This course will give students the opportunity to think critically about controversial issues regarding the relationships between humans and other animals. Central to the course will be an exploration of the social construction of animals in American culture including various subcultures and the way in which these constructed social meanings shape human identity.
This course will examine a wide variety of topics related to the law of animals, such as classes of animals (companion, exotic, domestic), torts (liability statutes, damages and valuation), contract law (landlord/tenant, area animal restrictions, dissolution of marriage), wills and trusts, criminal law (breeding regulations, legal vs. illegal breeding, animal cruelty), hoarding, entertainment regulations, dog fighting, the Humane Slaughter Act, the Animal Welfare Act and the Endangered Species Act. Particular attention will be paid to the topics of interest of the students enrolled.
Students explore the relationships between humans and animals through the lens of American, English, French and Latin American literature. These enjoyable and thought?provoking literary selections offer a unique entre?e into the animal rights debate, which is unquestionably one of the most important ethical issues of our day. At the same time, the course is structured to pay particular attention to close?reading, develop an appreciation of canonical literature and improve writing skills.
Interns must have at least 60 credit hours, completed appropriate coursework and have a minimum GPA of 2.5 prior to registering for academic credit. Also, approval must be obtained from the student's faculty sponsor and required forms must be completed by the deadline. Note: *Architecture, Music Therapy and Education majors do not register internships through Career Planning & Development. These students need to speak with his/her advisor regarding credit requirements and options. S/U grading.
An examination of historical and contemporary collective protest movements that seek change in or preservation of the social and political structure of society. Course will survey theory and research on social change featuring case studies that include the United States labor movement, civil rights, feminism, gay/lesbian rights, environmentalism, animal rights and the new right conservatism movement.