Animal Studies Minor
The 18-hour minor in Animal Studies provides 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.
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.
Bob Barker Endowment Fund for the Study of Animal Rights
The Drury University Forum on Animal Rights is entirely funded by the Bob Barker Endowment Fund for the Study of Animal Rights. The Centerpiece of the Forum is the multidisciplinary Animal Ethics (ANML 212) course.
Since 2008, Mr. Barker has donated $3.1 million to his alma mater to establish the Drury University Forum on Animal Rights and the Dorothy Jo Barker Endowed Professorship of Animal Rights.
More Information
- Earthlings
- Unity
- Peaceable Kingdom
- Meet your Meat
- Forks over Knives
- Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret
- Lucent - Australian Pig Farming: The Inside Story by Aussie Farms
- Food Matters
- Delicate Balance
- The Cove
- Blackfish
- Speciesism
- The Ghosts in our Machine
- The Plastic Cow
- Kindness Footprints
- Why Vegan? by Evolve Campaigns
- Gonna Cut You Down by Aussie Pigs
- Day in the Life of a Sow by Aussie Pigs
- Farm to Fridge by Mercy for Animals
- Sea the Truth
- Meat the Truth
- Howard Lyman: Mad Cowboy, The Plain Truth from a fourth generation Dairy and the Cattle Rancher
- TheTruth About Your Food with FOOD, INC. by filmmaker Robert Kenner
- Steve Best: Ecological Crisis and Veganism, IARC 2013 Luxembourg
- Food Matters
- Vegucated
- A Farmer in Africa by The World's Resources Institute
- A place at the table
- Fast Food
- The Hidden Cost of Hamburgers
- How To Feed The World directed by Denis van Waerebeke
- Supersize Me How too much of McDonald's will make you feel!
- Live and Let Live
- Stunning of Animals with Hammer before Slaughtering
- Making a killing - Four Corners
- Meatopia
- Echo: An Elephant to Remember
- Racing Extinction
- Maximum Tolerated Dose
- Project Nim
- Lion Ark
- Blood Lions
- For the Love of Elephants
- Blinders (on horse carriages)
- The Last Pig
- Forks over Knives
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For more than a quarter-century, the Animal Legal Defense Fund™ has been fighting to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. Founded in 1979 by attorneys active in shaping the emerging field of animal law, ALDF™ has blazed the trail for stronger enforcement of anti-cruelty laws and more humane treatment of animals in every corner of American life.
Animal Welfare Act and Regulations
The Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) is mandated by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to provide information for improved animal care and use in research, testing, teaching, and exhibition.
The Animal's Voice is an award-winning, independent, networking source of recent media coverage, timely information, and an incalculable volume of resources for animals and their defenders. The site features the latest animal rights news, multimedia, calendar, victories, thought-provoking and inspirational editorial, graphic and compelling photography, and in-depth investigative reports.
Animals Today Radio Program with Dr. Lori Kirshner
Listen live online every Sunday at 4 p.m. Central Time, or listen to archived past programs. Dr. Kirshner interviews a variety of fascinating guests who advocate for the humane treatment of animals.
The Conservative Animal Advocate Blog with Dr. Peter Spiegel
Do you think that advocating for the humane treatment of animals is of interest only to liberals? It is time to re-think those out-dated assumptions!
The Desert Paws Animal Discovery and Education Center
The center will be a unique and exciting center that entertains and educates children and their families about the world of animals. Support and invest in humane education.
DJ & T Foundation
Bob Barker, well-known television personality, established the DJ&T Foundation in 1995. The Foundation's goal is to fund low cost spay/neuter clinics and voucher programs as a way to help relieve animal over population. Barker, who ends every "Price is Right" show with an appeal to viewers to spay or neuter their pets, felt compelled to do more to address the problem.
Home page of the author of The Sexual Politics of Meat: A Feminist-Vegetarian Critical Theory.
Farm Sanctuary works to end cruelty to farm animals and promotes compassionate living through rescue, education and advocacy. We envision a world where the violence that animal agriculture inflicts upon people, animals and the environment has ended, and where instead we exercise values of compassion.
Professor Gary L. Francione, J.D.: Animal Law and the Abolitionist Approach
The mission of this website is to provide a clear statement of an approach to animal rights that requires the abolition of animal exploitation. Francione rejects all violence and promotes activism in the form of creative, non-violent education.
“Protecting the rights, welfare and habitats of animals”
Founded by renowned primatologist Jane Goodall, the Jane Goodall Institute is a global nonprofit that empowers people to make a difference for all living things.
HVCC Animal Outreach offers resources for adopting animals in need of homes, as well as alerts, news, and updates on the subject of animal rights.
Pet-Abuse.Com is a national animal protection organization that researches and tracks incidents of criminal animal cruelty. The site offers a wide range of services and tools for animal advocates, humane law enforcement, researchers and prosecutors.
Performing Animals Welfare Society
Since 1984, The Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has been at the forefront of efforts to rescue and provide appropriate, humane sanctuary for animals who have been the victims of the exotic and performing animal trades. PAWS investigates reports of abused performing and exotic animals, documents cruelty and assists in investigations and prosecutions by regulatory agencies to alleviate the suffering of captive wildlife.
Rare Breed of Love (Puppy Mills)
Jana Kohl is a writer, artist, psychologist and animal welfare advocate. Having worked for the Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies for many years, she has long been concerned with how cruelty can become legally sanctioned by society.
Tribe of Heart specializes in creating & distributing documentary films that showcase compassion and animal advocacy.
Steven Wise has practiced animal protection law for twenty years and teaches "Animal Rights Law” at the Harvard Law School, Vermont Law School, John Marshall Law School, and in the Masters Program in Animals and Public Policy at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine.
Vivisection
Warning: The following sites may contain graphic & disturbing images.
National Anti-Vivisection Society
Founded in 1929, the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) is an educational organization whose ultimate goal is the elimination of animal use in product testing, education and biomedical research
Learn more about humane research alternatives, and how to take action against vivisection.
Vivisection on a Human Being (1874)
This article discusses the first known vivisection performed on a human being in 1874. The experiment was performed without the patient’s consent.