Program Overview

Microprogram Animal Studies

The Microprogram in Animal Studies is an emerging and socially engaged field that explores the ethical, religious, philosophical, political, and sociocultural aspects of animal-human relationships. Animal Studies is concerned with the full range of historical and contemporary dimensions of humans relations with other living beings, including the great diversity in humans cultural attitudes toward the non-human world, the roles and representations of animals in human societies, and our moral responsibilities toward non-human animals.

Program Overview

The 15-course unit cross-disciplinary microprogram in Animal Studies proposes to engage students with ethical questions about the human co-existence with other species. It shares many of the theoretical perspectives, social and animal justice goals, and pedagogical tools of other advocacy-oriented disciplines.

Program Requirements

The table below includes only the microprogram-specific courses.

Course List

• Compulsory courses:
  • AHL 2110: Introduction to Animal Studies I (3 Units)
  • SRS 2172: Religion, Animals, Nature (3 Units)
• Optional courses:
  • 9 course units from:
    • AHL 2120: Special Topics in Animal Studies I
    • AHL 3120: Special Topics in Animal Studies II
    • AHL 4135: Capstone Seminar in Animal Studies
    • BIO 1130: Introduction to Organismal Biology
    • BIO 1300: The Human Animal
    • BIO 2135: Animal Form and Function
    • CML 3374: Law and Society
    • EAS 3103: Indigenous Spiritualities in the Americas
    • ENG 2141: Literature and the Environment
    • ENV 1101: Global Environmental Challenges
    • ENV 2301: History of Environmental Thought
    • GEG 1301: The Physical Environment
    • GEG 1302: Places and Spaces of Human Activity
    • GEG 3114: Biogeography
    • SOC 3105: Environmental Sociology
    • SRS 2115: Religious Ways of the Aboriginal Peoples
    • SRS 3111: Aboriginal Myths and Philosophy
    • SRS 3119: Shamanic Traditions
• Total: 15 Units