Anthrozoology
MADELYN BRUSTKERN, M.S.
MARGO DEMELLO, PH.D.
H. MARIE SUTHERS, D.V.M., DEPT CHAIR
Mission and Goals
Anthrozoology is an interdisciplinary field that explores the spaces that animals occupy in human social and cultural worlds and the interactions humans have with them. Central to this field is an exploration of the ways in which animal lives intersect with human cultures. At its core, the field of anthrozoology is about understanding the incredibly complex and often contradictory relationships that humans share with other species. We look at the good—how animals make our lives richer, more meaningful, and healthier—and the bad—the vast levels of human exploitation of other animals to serve human needs. Students in the anthrozoology program, explore human-animal interactions through a variety of disciplines, including psychology, sociology, anthropology, and geography, and develop the knowledge and skills to improve the lives of both animals and people through animal-assisted therapy, veterinary medicine, humane education, and other service occupations. The program blends a core liberal arts education with extensive hands-on training in which students work with horses, dogs, cats, and even wildlife.
Student Learning Outcomes
By completing this major students will:
- Complete hands-on learning and interaction with dogs, horses, cats, birds and many other species.
- Increase their understanding of the role animals play in human society.
- Recognize the interconnectedness of human and animal well-being.
- Acquire knowledge and skills from the biological, social and psychological sciences to describe and explain the interactions between humans and animals.
- Study and apply various therapeutic and educational approaches to improve the well-being of both humans and animals.
- Experience high impact learning through community-centered safety education, animal interpretation, animal sheltering, wildlife rehabilitation, veterinary clinics, and other sources of community outreach.
- Receive mentoring from professionals and scholars with expertise in animal sheltering, working dogs, service and therapy animals, human-equine studies, animal behavior and training, veterinary science, zoos, wildlife, animal agriculture, critical animal studies, intersectionality, animal law, and cross culture studies.
- Be provided with opportunities to study human-animal interactions internationally.
- Participate in anthrozoological research studies.
- Be provided with opportunities to join faculty at national and international academic
conferences.
Carroll College’s unique combination of classroom instruction and hands-on experience with horses, dogs, and some wild animals prepares students for graduate or professional study or immediate entry into an animal-related profession. The curriculum benefits any student interested in animal-assisted activities and therapies, animal-related non-profit organizations, counseling, veterinary medicine, physical and occupational therapy with animal-assisted modalities, wildlife biology, animal care and rehabilitation, animal advocacy, social work, and many other fields.