Animal Assisted Therapy Certificate
15 credits/30 CEUs
 Individuals wishing to work or volunteer in the field of animal assisted activities, therapy and/or education need a broad understanding of the behavior of both humans and animals. Our multidisciplinary certificate in Animal Assisted Therapy was developed for students that want to incorporate AAT into the therapeutic or educational setting. The program provides the training and skills required to develop a safe, effective program.
Certification from ABI requires satisfactory completion of 15 credit hours or a program of five certificate courses. Certification demonstrates mastery of all material in the program. While the courses may be taken in any order, we recommend starting with either Animal Assisted Therapy or The Human Animal Bond.
Want to learn more about Animal Assisted Therapy, Education and Activities?
Animal Assisted Therapy Certificate
| Course |
Name |
Credits |
CEUs |
| ABI 211 |
Animal Assisted Therapy |
3 |
6 |
| ABI 232 |
The Human Animal Bond |
3 |
6 |
| ABI 233 |
Animal Training |
3 |
6 |
| ABI 116 |
Practical Psychology |
3 |
6 |
| ABI 331 |
Animal Behavior* |
3 |
6 |
*The following courses may be substituted for ABI 331 Animal Behavior.
| Course |
Name |
Credits |
CEUs |
| ABI 272 |
Feline Behavior & Enrichment |
3 |
6 |
| ABI 271 |
Canine Behavior & Enrichment |
3 |
6 |
| ABI 251 |
Behavior & Training of Marine Mammals |
3 |
6 |
Note: ABI 251 is an elective for students interested in dolphin assisted therapy.
Animal Assisted Therapy
There is a rapidly growing movement to incorporate animals as part of the therapeutic setting. Students will learn about the difference between animal assisted activities, therapy and education (AAA/T/E), working animals and assistance animals. The course will cover working with animals and children, adults, the elderly, and the disabled in various settings including hospitals, nursing homes, schools and prisons. We will also review what is required to start and run a safe and effective program.
Texts (2): "Wanted! Animal Volunteers" by M.R. Burch and "Starting a Visiting-Animal Group" by A.R. Howie
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The Human-Animal Bond
This course explores the history and psychology of human relationships with animals and nature. The student will learn about the relationship between people and animals by discussing domestication, socialization, religion, culture, farming, research, and pets. Other topics include pet overpopulation, relinquishment, bonding, and health benefits from the bond (for people and animals). The principal objective is to gain an understanding of the various roles animals play in our lives.
Text: " The Animal/Human Bond: A Cultural Survey" by Orland Soave.
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Animal Training
We will explore operant conditioning and the basic principles of animal psychology and learning theory. Students will learn how to use these principles to train domestic and exotic animals and improve their captive husbandry and psychological well being.
Text: "Essentials of Conditioning & Learning" (3rd ed.) by M. Domjan and "Don't Shoot the Dog" (2nd ed.) by K. Pryor
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Practical Psychology
Careers working with animals also require working with people. Understanding people and interpersonal relationships is critical to a successful career of any kind. The focus of this course is to provide a basic understanding of how people relate to each other, and how to work successfully with others. Topics to be discussed include emotions, learning, motivation, perception and body language.
Text: "Reading People" by Jo-Ellan Dimitrius (1999) and "The Everything Psychology Book" by Lynda L. Warwick (2004).
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Animal Behavior
This course builds an evolutionary framework for understanding why animals exhibit particular patterns of behavior. Animal behavior is investigated through both the ecological processes that have driven the evolution of behavior and the physiological mechanisms that allow behaviors to be performed. Topics covered include genetics and behavior, learning, organization of behavior, communication, mating systems, paternal behavior and cooperation. The principle objective of this course is to understand how natural selection has shaped animal behavior.
Text: "Animal Behavior: an Evolutionary Approach" by J. Alcock (2005)
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Canine Behavior & Enrichment
The effective training and husbandry of dogs requires that we understand their communication signals, recognize signs of stress and aggression, and take a proactive stance in preventing the development of stereotypical or self-destructive behavior. This course will focus on canine body language, communication and behavior. We will review how enrichment and socialization can be used to address behavioral issues in a variety of captive settings from laboratories to dog day care.
Text: "The Dog's Mind: Understanding Your Dog's Behavior" by Bruce Fogle.
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Feline Behavior & Enrichment
While most species of cat are relatively asocial, they still have social needs. We will take an in-depth look at feline behaviors, communication, and body language. Enrichment and training will be discussed in light of managing cats in the home, lab, or zoo environment. However, emphasis will be on the domestic cat (Felis catus). Specific enrichment strategies will be evaluated for their effectiveness in treating or preventing problem behaviors in captivity.
Texts: "Feline Behavior" (2nd Edition) by Bonnie Beaver.
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Behavior & Training of Marine Mammals
We will explore how operant conditioning and training techniques can be used to train a variety of marine mammals, such as dolphins, orcas, sea lions and sea otters. The course will also include a discussion of the field of marine mammal training and tips for breaking into this competitive field.
Texts (2): "Whales With Fur: How to train any animal using dolphin training techniques" by Pete Davey and "A dolphin in front of you" also by Pete Davey
Optional but recommended: "Animal Training: Successful Animal Management Through Positive Reinforcement" by Ken Ramirez
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