Comments: NARHA is a national non-profit organization that promotes the benefit of the horse for individuals with physical, emotional and learning disabilities. Visit NARHA’s web site for a listing of schools and universities offering therapeutic riding courses and information.
University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work
Comments: DU's Graduate Schoool of Work offers two certificate programs: an academic certificate in Animal-Assisted Social Work for MSW students, and an ONLINE nonacademic professional development certificate and individual courses in Animals and Human Health, for persons with a Bachelors degree in any field or equivalent experience/training. Contact Lori Klumb for the most up-to-date information and class schedules.
Connecticut
No current listings
Delaware
No current listings
Florida
Florida Gulf Coast University
Address: Department of Health Sciences; 10501 FGCU Blvd. South; Ft Meyers, FL 33965-6565.
Contact: Dr. Linda L. Buettner.
Phone: 239-590-7497 or 239-590-7500.
Comments: Florida Gulf Coast offers a Gerontology Certificate Program Internet course entitled: AAT and the Older Adult for graduate students in the health professions (recreational therapy, nursing, occupational therapy, social work, physical therapy). This is an elective course in the Gerontology Master's or Gerontology Certificate Program designed to help focus graduate students on advanced practice using a therapy animal. Each student prepares an indepth project on a specific health problem of older adults and develops an AAT protocol for that population, policy & procedure manual, and final presentation.
Comments: · This Animal-Assisted Therapy and Education (AAT/E) Certificate course is titled “Animals in Healing Environments” and is presented by PAN (People, Animals, Nature, Inc.) in Cooperation with DePaul University, School for New Learning, Chicago. "Animals in Healing Environments: AAT/E Certificate Program" is being offered for the eighth year to professionals who are interested in learning more about AAT/E, the field’s scientific basis, and its best practices. This intensive course uses a multi-media approach. This course is offered in an independent study format. Students meet for a 3-day session in Niagara Falls, New York on October 10, 11, and 12, 2003. Students will receive books and videos at this time. After the opening 3-day session, they will participate in a listserv discussion. Assignments are submitted and discussed over the Internet. They will meet again for a closing session the following year to present their culminating projects. Tuition is $1000 per semester ($2000 total).
Indiana
No current listings
Iowa
No current listings
Kansas
No current listings
Kentucky
No current listings
Louisiana
No current listings
Maine
No current listings
Maryland
No current listings
Massachusetts
Tufts University, Center for Animals and Public Policy
Address: 200 Westboro Road; North Grafton, MA 01536.
Contact: Gary Patronek, VMD, PhD; School of Veterinary Medicine.
Comments: Tufts University offers a Master of Science in Animals and Public Policy, a full-time program (32 credit hours) that is expected to take no more than 12 months in residence to complete. This is a program in residence - there is no distance learning option. Scheduled classes run from September through May. During the summer, students are expected to be working on final projects and wrapping up any outstanding tutorials. It is rare for a student to have completed all requirements by the end of classes in May, so all applicants are encouraged to include time during the summer months into their financial and personal planning.
Michigan
No current listings
Minnesota
CENSHARE (Center to Study Human-Animal Relationships and Environments), University of Minnesota
Comments: This course explores various aspects of the interrelationships of people and animals in society today, including the ecological, environmental, cultural, economic, social, psychological, and health/medical dimensions of these interrelationships. Multidisciplinary knowledge of how and why these factors interact is considered to be essential to a better understanding of what is often called the "human-animal bond."
Mississippi
No current listings
Missouri
No current listings
Montana
No current listings
Nebraska
No current listings
Nevada
No current listings
New
Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
Address: Thompson School of Applied Science; Barton/Cole Hall; 291 Mast Road; Durham, NH 03824.
Comments: The Associate Degree Program in Applied Animal Science, Small Animal Care includes electives in Animal-Assisted Activities and Therapy and the Human/Animal Bond. UNH has a School of Health and Human Services, and professional students can also take the electives. UNH also has an NARHA certified volunteer Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program on campus affiliated with the Equine Sciences Program.
New Jersey
Camden County College
Address: P.O. Box 200, College Drive; Blackwood, NJ 08012.
Comments: · Centenary College offers a 4-year B. S. in Equine Studies, which includes an elective in Therapeutic Riding Instructing. This course is approved by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA). Beginning September 2003, Centenary College will offer an onsite program called T.R.A.C. (Therapeutic Riding at Centenary). The program will include hippotherapy, equine-assisted activities and therapy, and therapeutic riding.
Comments: A Certificate Program in Animal Assisted Therapy is available through Green Chimneys in conjunction with Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, NY. These courses are geared towards training professionals already licensed in a field, who are interested in learning how to integrate animals into their practices. All courses take place at Green Chimneys main campus in Brewster. All courses integrate hands-on work with theoretical perspectives, looking at the wide range of applications in this burgeoning field. The course is taught by Dr. Susan Brooks of Green Chimneys.
Comments: Mercy College offers a 4-year B.S. in Veterinary Technology with Special Program in Pet Assisted Therapy in addition to the Certificate Program in Animal-Assisted Therapy in conjunction with Green Chimneys.
North Carolina
St. Andrews Presbyterian College
Address: 1700 Dogwood Mile; Laurinburg, NC 28352.
Contact: Pebbles Turbeville, Director of the Therapeutic Riding Program.
Comments: The University of Findlay offers a 4-year Bachelor of Science Degree in Equestrian Studies, which includes an Introduction to Therapeutic Riding course.
Oklahoma
No current listings
Oregon
No current listings
Pennsylvania
Animal Behavior Institute, Inc.
Address: 2643 Springhill Circle; Furlong, PA 18925 .
Comments: The Animal Behavior Institute, Inc. provides classes on-line for a certificate in Animal Assisted Activities, Therapy and Education. The Institute provides quality education for those unable to take courses in the classroom settings.
Comments: Delaware Valley College offers a 15 credit, 5 course certificate program in Animal Assisted Activities, Therapy and Education. The program is offered through the Department of Continuing Education, Introduction to Psychology, Animal Behavior (must have taken a biology course) and Abnormal Psychology or Educational Psychology. You may take individual courses alone, without going for a certificate. Matriculated undergraduate students may complete the certificate program while completing the requirements for their bachelors degree.
Comments: Introduction to Animal-Assisted Therapy & Animal-Assisted Activities" is a 30-hour Distance Learning on-line course with 10 hours of additional clinical observation time. Ten modules on the human-animal bond and its therapeutic applications include reading of a textbook and articles on the course web site, on-line research, on-line discussions, and visits to healthcare facilities in the student's community. This non-credit, Certificate of Completion course may be eligible for Continuing Education Units for most healthcare and other professions, according to association requirements.
Rhode
Island
No current listings
South
Carolina
No current listings
South
Dakota
No current listings
Tennessee
No current listings
Texas
University of North Texas, College of Education, Center for Animal Assisted Therapy
Address: P.O. Box 311337, Denton, TX 76203-1337.
Contact: Dr. Cynthia Chandler, Counseling Program.
Comments: The Center for Animal-Assisted Therapy at the University of North Texas offers weekend workshops and an accredited university course for training in animal-assisted therapy. The instructor is a certified instructor and team evaluator for Delta Society. This course is open to undergraduates and graduates of all majors and returning professionals and is usually offered in the summer.
Utah
No current listings
Vermont
No current listings
Virginia
No current listings
Washington
June 1, 2007 in Woodinville, WA
Activity: Animal Assisted Therapy's Group Connection, 10am - 2pm ($75)
The intent of this workshop is to educate professionals on techniques utilizing a registered therapy animal in a variety of clinical group settings. The focus is for appropriate patient connection with others.
This workshop will show how the therapy animal can serve as a bridge in this connection process. At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will have an increased repertoire of therapy animal techniques and understand the rationale for each technique used a variety of group settings.
Prerequisite: Master's degree or higher in the field of Mental Health
Activity: Animal Assisted Therapy: Its Time Has Come, 9am - 1pm ($75)
The intent of this workshop is to move animal-assisted activities/therapy to the next level, that of a paid profession. This serves to advance the credibility of utilizing registered therapy animals as tools of change when working with a variety of populations, while keeping within the boundaries of the handler's professional degree. At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will have the confidence and desire to return to their communities with strategies for starting their own AAA/T businesses.
Activity: Developing Animal-assisted Activity/Therapy Training Courses, 10am - 5:30pm ($125)
The intent of this workshop is to create needed trainings in workshop participants' communities. The focus will be two-fold. One will be on the creation of a therapy team introductory workshop. This will cover what it means to be a therapy team and the procedures for registering with one of the country's leading therapy animal organizations, Delta Society. Secondly, the focus will be on the creation of a therapy animal class, which will conclude with Delta Society's Pet Partners Team Evaluation. It is geared toward volunteers and professionals interested in participating in animal-assisted activity and therapy programs with their animals.
