Anthrozoology Catalog
Director: Sue Margulis, PhD
INTRODUCTION
Canisius University offers a unique undergraduate degree program in anthrozoology for students who are passionate about studying humanity’s relationships with other animal species. Throughout the program you will explore human-nonhuman interactions in a variety of contexts including the extraordinary relationships that exist between people and companion animals in shelters and in the home; the many ways that non-human animals are involved in therapeutic and educational settings; humans’ interactions with and attitudes toward wildlife; the roles of zoos and sanctuaries; policies and laws that impact nonhuman animals; humane education; and a wide range of environmental and conservation issues. The interdisciplinary curriculum includes a large variety of courses that provide a liberal arts foundation centered on human-animal relationships while enabling students to specialize in areas and skills that will be relevant to their ongoing studies or careers.
QUALIFICATIONS
Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA in their major and a 2.0 overall average to graduate with a degree in Anthrozoology.
ADVISEMENT
All students should have an advisor in the major and should contact the department directly to have an advisor assigned if they do not already have one. Meetings with academic advisors are required prior to students receiving their PIN for course registration each semester. All majors should work closely with their advisor in discussing career expectations, choosing their major electives, developing their entire academic program and planning their co-curricular or supplemental academic experiences.
DOUBLE MAJORS
Students who wish to expand their educational opportunities may decide to declare a double major. This decision may be based on career goals, planned graduate studies, and/or other student interests. Before a student declares a double major, it is important to meet with the appropriate academic departments for advisement. In order to declare a double major, the student must complete the appropriate double major request form and get the signature of each department chairperson and the appropriate associate dean.
Per college policy, each additional major requires a minimum of 15 credits that do not apply to the student's first or subsequent major. Some double major combinations can be completed within the minimum 120 credit hour degree requirement, but in other cases additional course work may be required. Please note that students will receive only one degree, regardless of the number of majors they complete. Both (all) majors appear on a student’s transcript.
MINORS IN OTHER DISCIPLINES
Minors provide students the opportunity to pursue additional interests but generally do not require as many courses as a major. Minors generally range from five to eight required courses. To receive a minor, the student must complete at least 9 credit hours of coursework distinct from their other credentials (i.e., majors, other minors). The minors page provides a complete list of minors and provides links to each minor. Some majors and minors can be completed within the minimum 120 credit hour degree requirement, but in some cases additional coursework may be required. Students must complete the appropriate minor request form.
Anthrozoology majors often choose to pursue one or more of the minors offered within the department. Additionally, Anthrozoology majors interested in informal education should consider the education minor offered in the School of Education and Human Services.
MAJOR EXPERIENCES
Many elective courses involve travel, field work, and/or service. The department also offers numerous internship opportunities. Students are encouraged to participate in these experiences.
CURRICULUM
An Ignatian Foundation
All undergraduate students must complete either the Canisius Core Curriculum or the All-College Honors Curriculum. Many schools refer to their college-wide undergraduate requirements as "general education" requirements. We believe that the core curriculum and the honors curriculum are more than a series of required classes; they provide the basis for a Jesuit education both with content and with required knowledge and skills attributes that are central to our mission.
Free Electives
Students may graduate with a bachelor's degree with more but not less than 120 credit hours. Free electives are courses in addition to the Canisius Core Curriculum or All-College Honors Curriculum and major requirements sufficient to reach the minimum number of credits required for graduation. The number of credits required to complete a bachelor's degree may vary depending on the student's major(s) and minor(s).
Major Requirements
Anthrozoology Major Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANZ 101 | Anthrozoology | 3 |
| ABEC 101 | Introductory Animal Behavior I | 3 |
| PHI 245 | Animal Ethics | 3 |
| Anthrozoology Major Electives (27 credits as described below) | 27 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Major Electives
Twenty seven credits must derive from the following electives. Students must take a minimum of six credits (two courses) in each category.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Humanities | 6 | |
ANZ 219 | Animals in the Ancient World | |
ENG 285 | Animals in Film and Literature | |
FAH 272 | Animals in Art | |
RST 229 | Religious Perspectives on Animals | |
ANZ 330 | Cross Cultural Perspectives on Anthrozoology | |
| Human - Animal Interactions | 6 | |
ABEC 332 | Animal Welfare | |
ANZ 310 | Psychology of the Human-Animal Bond | |
ANZ 315 | Equine Evolution and Behavior | |
ANZ 325 | Animal Assisted Interventions | |
ANZ 333 | Animals, Public Policy, and the Law | |
ANZ 336 | Children and Animals | |
| Skills | 6 | |
ABEC 220 & 220L | Animal Learning and Animal Learning Lab | |
ABEC 320 & 320L | Applied Dog Behavior and Applied Dog Behavior Lab | |
ABEC 335 | Conservation Education | |
ABEC 339 | Animal Enrichment | |
ANZ 335 | Humane Education | |
ABEC 491 | Internship 1 | |
ABEC 492 | Internship 2 | |
| 9 credits of additional major electives (any of the above or any of the following): | 9 | |
ABEC 217 | Careers in ABEC & Anthrozoology | |
ABEC 370 | Animal Cognition | |
ANZ 401 | Integral Ecology Caring for our Common Home | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Roadmap
Recommended Semester Schedule for Major Courses
| Freshman | |
|---|---|
| Fall | Spring |
| ABEC 101 | ANZ 101 |
| ENG 111 | ENG 112 |
| RST 101 | PHI 101 |
| Social Science Elective | Math Elective |
| Natural Science Elective | History Elective |
| Sophomore | |
| Fall | Spring |
| ABEC 220 & 220L | ABEC 332 |
| PHI 245 | ANZ 315 |
| RST 229 | ANZ 336 |
| Arts and Literature Elective | Free Elective |
| ANZ elective | ANZ elective |
| Junior | |
| Fall | Spring |
| ANZ 335 | FAH 272 |
| ANZ elective | ANZ elective |
| ANZ elective | ANZ elective |
| Free elective | Free elective |
| Free elective | Free elective |
| Senior | |
| Fall | Spring |
| ABEC491A | ABEC491A or 492A |
| ANZ 325 | Core Capstone |
| Free elective | Free elective |
| Free elective | Free elective |
| Free elective | Free elective |
Learning Goals and Objectives
Student Learning Goal 1
STUDENTS WILL DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE OF THEORETICAL AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES IN THE FIELD OF ANTHROZOOLOGY.
Students will:
- Objective A: Analyze representations of animals in history, culture, and the arts.
- Objective B: Evaluate human-animal interactions from the perspectives of both humans and non-human animals in various contexts.
Student Learning Goal 2
Students will demonstrate proficiency in skills that are employed in the service of human-animal relationships.
Students will:
- Objective A: Become skilled in observing non-human animals and humans.
- Objective B: Effectively communicate anthrozoological topics.
- Objective C: Be able to construct and employ evidence-based arguments.
Courses
ANZ 101 Anthrozoology 3 Credits
An engagement with the fundamental issues of the field of Anthrozoology by evaluating the history and the current status of human/ nonhuman interactions, the categories into which humans have sorted animals, and a variety of science-based and value-based approaches to humans' inevitable intersections with other living beings such as wild, companion, farm, service, educational and research animals. To achieve this end, this foundational course exposes students to various interdisciplinary approaches, science-based literacies, ethics focused evaluations, and cross-cultural inquiries, while nourishing their critical and lateral thinking skills.
Offered: every spring.
ANZ 219 Animals in the Ancient World 3 Credits
At the end of this course students have a sound understanding of how animals were imagined in antiquity and the role they played in mythology, religious thought, social identity, and rituals. The students will learn what the study of archaeology, art, literature, and anthropology tells us about the cultural importance of animals to ancient civilizations. In this course, a range of anthropological and archaeological evidence will be analyzed and the discussions will be based on contemporary critical animal theory. The students will also read a broad range of texts in translation (including epic, fable, novel, natural science) and explore themes of sacrifice, initiation, metamorphosis, animal culture, and the customs and ethics of eating animals, and of using them for military purposes, entertainment, or spectacle.
Fulfills College Core: Field 5 (Social Sciences), Global Awareness
Offered: every fall.
ANZ 310 Psychology of the Human-Animal Bond 3 Credits
This course will explore various studies of conventional and non-conventional human-animal relationships from a psycho-sociological perspective. Students will be exposed to a variety of psychology-based approaches, including social, biological, environmental, developmental, and cognitive human and animal psychology psychology to understand and evaluate diverse human-animal interactions. This interdisciplinary course will aid students in critically examining various factors impacting the human-animal bond, such as human demographics including profession, species and purpose of the animal, and the social and physical environment of the beings.
Prerequisite: ANZ 101.
Offered: Every other year.
ANZ 315 Equine Evolution and Behavior 3 Credits
Introduction to the latest theories regarding how horses evolved and were domesticated, with a focus on contemporary research into horse behavior, learning, cooperation, and cognition. This course utilizes equine behavior as a base to study also explores the significance of various human-horse relationships and partnerships in the past and in the modern day, including but not limited to the use of horses in wars, as companions, service animals, food, for entertainment, and for transport.
Prerequisite: ANZ 101.
Offered: every other year.
ANZ 325 Animal Assisted Interventions 3 Credits
This course examines the integration of non-human animals in various therapeutic and educational settings. Students will learn of the distinctions among Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI), Animal Assisted Therapies (AAT), Animal Assisted Activities (AAA), and service and emotional support animals. Also addressed are the issues of the inclusion of companion, farmed and wild/exotic animals in assisted endeavors.
Prerequisite: ANZ 101.
Offered: every other year.
ANZ 330 Cross Cultural Perspectives on Anthrozoology 3 Credits
This course aims to evaluate human-animal interactions through the lens of the fluid and ever-evolving nature of cultures across the world. The course will expose students to a variety of cross-cultural contexts of human-animal interactions, and the roles social realms such as politics, religions, economics, geographies, media, literature, dietary customs, festivals, and sports play in shaping them. Emphasis will also be given on the influence of technology, education, professions, globalization and diaspora on animal and human wellbeing, and the thereby arising human-animal interactions. The goal will be to inculcate in the students the concept of animal as mediated by culture, and how belief systems contribute to current animal, human, and environmental wellbeing.
Prerequisite: ANZ 101.
Offered: fall of even-numbered years.
ANZ 333 Animals, Public Policy, and the Law 3 Credits
An exploration of both American and other national approaches to public policy and law as factors impacting modern societies' views and treatment of nonhuman animals. Particular emphasis is given to issues involving companion animals, wildlife, research animals, and food animals.
Prerequisite: ANZ 101.
Offered: every other year.
ANZ 335 Humane Education 3 Credits
This course addresses the inclusion of nonhuman animals, animal themes and human and other animal social justice issues within various educational contexts. Students will learn the history of humane education and its connections to the humane and anti-cruelty movements. This course will also focus on the basic building blocks of effective humane education lessons and its implementation across the lifespan, from children to adults.
Prerequisite: ANZ 101.
Offered: every other year.
ANZ 336 Children and Animals 3 Credits
This course considers how animals play distinct roles in child development, children's cultures, and even in the social construction of 'childhood.' It draws upon psychology, ethology, ethics, cultural studies, education, and anthropology.
Restriction: juniors and seniors only.
Offered: every other year.
ANZ 401 Integral Ecology Caring for our Common Home 3 Credits
In 2015, Pope Francis wrote an encyclical (basically, a document), Laudato Si’, on Care for our Common Home, calling upon all people, of all faiths, to focus on the environment and our responsibility for it and for all beings, human and non-human, who inhabit the Earth. He described an integral ecology, in which science, society, and ethics were closely linked. In this class, we will explore the current state of our world within the framework of integral ecology and environmental justice. We will use local case studies to help us articulate potential solutions to environmental and social problems. This is not a science class – it is just as important, and arguably more important, for students of all disciplines to realize the role that they play in securing an environment for the future.
Fulfills College Core: Core Capstone
Offered: once a year.