Southern Utah University is launching a new seven-week professional development program, Introduction to Animal Services, which offers participants an entry point into the contemporary animal services profession. The curriculum, curated by the Best Friends Animal Society alongside leading industry practitioners and researchers, provides pathways for both institutional certification and academic credit toward advanced degrees.
Program Structure and Options
The program is designed as a 29-hour online learning experience that includes online modules, assessments, reading reflections, and a summary paper. Students participating in the course are encouraged to engage in discussions relevant to their assignments to build a learning community focused on the profession.
Participants can choose between two distinct tracks depending on their educational goals. The Introduction to Animal Services Certificate costs $399 and results in an SUU Institutional Certificate and one Continuing Education Unit (CEU). Alternatively, the Introduction to Animal Services Fast Track is priced at $799 and provides three credits that may articulate into undergraduate or participating master's degree programs at Southern Utah University.
Curriculum and Industry Focus
The curriculum covers several critical pillars of the modern animal welfare industry. Students will examine the history of animal welfare in the United States, reviewing the evolution of the animal welfare movement, the origins of animal shelters, the role of public safety, and the transition to modern animal sheltering.
Additional coursework includes a review of pet ownership data and statistics from the past 40 years, examining reasons for pet relinquishment and the role of animal-related nonprofits in the community. The program also focuses on contemporary animal services, teaching the programs, policies, and procedures required to save pets before they reach a shelter, both within the community and inside the facility.
Furthermore, students will gain experience researching the specific tools used to measure lifesaving efficacy and examine the historical performance of various animal services communities.
Longstanding Institutional Partnership
The initiative builds upon a long-standing partnership between Southern Utah University and the Best Friends Animal Society. This collaboration was established to enhance the Contemporary Animal Services Leadership (CASL) curriculum, specifically focusing on how to manage animal-related nonprofits.
This partnership has previously supported specialized graduate-level work. For example, in March 2022, the two organizations joined forces to create a degree of emphasis in Contemporary Animal Services Leadership. This academic connection has already produced successful graduates, such as Tawny Hammond, who became the university's first-ever MIS graduate of the CASL program.
Academic Success and Industry Impact
Tawny Hammond, the director of No-Kill Advancement at Best Friends Animal Society, completed her master's degree through the university's Master of Interdisciplinary Studies (MIS) program. Hammond, who graduated in December 2020 with a 4.0 GPA, emphasized the value of the CASL curriculum in her professional development.
Before her work with Best Friends Animal Society, Hammond worked for the Fairfax County Park Authority for 25 years. She is also an entrepreneur and the owner of Discovery Cruises, where she captains both a 149-passenger tourism boat and a 65-foot schoaler.
The Value of Interdisciplinary Studies
Hammond noted that the customizability of the MIS program at Southern Utah University made it an ideal fit for her varied professional needs and her business interests. She stated that the program provides a combination of skills in both business practices and core professional areas.
Reflecting on her experience, Hammond noted that the degree provided her with a professional edge and increased the credibility of her reputation by broadening her depth and breadth of understanding. She encouraged others considering returning to school to begin the process without delay, noting that life is often too busy to wait for a perfect time.
Course Accessibility
The Introduction to Animal Services program is currently offered in English. While the university notes that most browsers provide built-in translation features to assist non-English speakers, the course material itself is provided in English.
Broader Educational Context
The course represents part of a broader suite of animal-related educational opportunities at Southern Utah University. The university offers twelve different degrees designed to help students enter various roles within the animal industry.
