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New and Updated Course Descriptions

PSY 130 - Foundations of Animal Assisted Therapy

This course has been deactivated and no longer offered at MCC

3 Credits

This course will explore the foundations of animal assisted therapy using a variety of teaching materials and observing an animal assisted therapy visit. Students will learn about the history, theoretical base, key empirical research support, and ethics of animal assisted therapy as well as evidence based advantages and disadvantages of applications utilizing animal assisted interventions. The course will cover the populations of individuals and groups with whom animal assisted interventions are utilized as well as applications to educational, mental health, behavioral, criminal justice, medical and health care settings. The course is an introduction to the field of animal assisted therapy and will not allow the student to independently implement animal assisted therapy.

Course Learning Outcomes
1. Describe the historical evidence for the use of animal assisted therapy.
2. Identify the empirical research and theoretical frameworks that supports animal assisted therapy.
3. Describe applications of animal assisted therapy used with children and adults in educational, mental health, behavioral, criminal justice, medical and health care settings.
4. State key ethical and legal considerations of therapy and service animals.
5. Describe the ethical and legal concepts upon which therapy animals and service animals are based.
6. Describe functions of professional organizations involved in animal assisted therapy.
7. Identify issues of the future of research, education and clinical practice of animal assisted therapy.

Course Offered Spring

Use links below to see if this course is offered:
Fall Semester 2024
Spring Semester 2024
Summer Session 2024