Combine your desire to work with animals— and expand your career options.
Earn an Associate’s Degree in Animal Care plus a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology in the same amount of time as a Bachelor’s Degree alone!
Career Options Include:
•Animal-assisted therapy (licensure and non-licensure programs)
•Individual/family therapy
•Work in schools, hospitals, corrections facilities
•Service animal pairing/placement
•Advocacy, Training, Consulting
•Veterinary social work
Agile Dual Degree- Animal Care and Psychology (MHC)
| Fall Semester | Course Name | Credits | Spring Semester | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freshman Year | |||||
| ANSC 1001 | Career Exploration | 1 | CORE ENGL | The New Normal: Exploring Unstructured Problems | 3 |
| ANSC 1003 | Animal Care Management | 3 | ANSC 1010 | Animal Health Skills | 3 |
| BIOL 1001 | Biology I | 4 | ANSC 1400 | Introduction to Animal Science | 3 |
| CORE 1001 | Managing Transitions: Change as a Norm | 3 | BIOL 1002 | Biology II | 4 |
| PSYC 2001 | Psychology of Adjustment | 3 | SOCI 1001 | Introductiion to Sociology | 3 |
| PSYC 1001 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 | |||
| Semester Total: | 17 | Semester Total: | 16 | ||
| Sophomore Year | |||||
| ANSC 1005 | Animal Facilities Design and Management | 3 | MATH 2200 or | Statistics | 3 |
| Math Elective | |||||
| PSYC 2002 | Psychology of Personality | 3 | ANSC 2202 | Domestic Animal Behavior | 3 |
| PSYC 2705 | Basic Concepts and Principles in Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 | PSYC1002 or | Developmental Child Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 1107 | Human Growth and Development | ||||
| ENGL 1003 | Writing About Literature | 3 | PSYC 2014 | Writing for Psychology | 3 |
| ANSC 2900 | Externship Module I | 3 | PSYC 2303 | Psychopharmacology for Counselors | 3 |
| PSYC 2105 | Social Psychology | 3 | |||
| Semester Total: | 15 | Semester Total: | 18 | ||
| Junior Year | |||||
| PSYC 3902 or | Psychchology Internship I and Seminar | 3 | ANSC 2200 | Canine Behavior and Training | 2 |
| SOCI 2400 | Social Problems | 3 | |||
| PSYC 3903 | Psychology Internship II and Seminar | Animal Care Elective OR | 3 | ||
| PSYC 3305 | Group Counseling | 3 | Psychology Elective | ||
| PSYC 3400 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 | Animal Care Elective OR | 3 | |
| PSYC 2107 | Experimental Psychology | 3 | Health Science Elective | ||
| CORE3100 | Developing an Entrepreneurial Mindset | 3 | Humanities/ Fine Arts Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Total: | 15 | Semester Total: | 12 | ||
| Senior Year | |||||
| ANSC 2000 | Introduction to Laboratory Animal Science | 2 | PSYC 4600 | Senior Seminar in Psychology | 3 |
| ANSC 2401 | Animal Nutrition | 3 | PSYC 4306 | Counseling Theory and Practice | 3 |
| PSYC 2603 | Brain and Behavior | 3 | Animal Care Elective OR | 3 | |
| PSYC 4005 | Research Methods in Behavioral Sciences with Lab | 4 | Psychology Elective | ||
| Animal Care Elective OR | 3 | Humanities/ Fine Arts Elective | 3 | ||
| Psychology Elective | |||||
| Semester Total: | 15 | Semester Total: | 12 | ||
| Total | 120 |
Learning Outcomes
- Students demonstrate decision-making and personal conduct consistent with the professional standards of the animal care industry.
- Students demonstrate knowledge and application of the proper management and husbandry of a variety of animal species.
- Students demonstrate knowledge and application of proper nutrition for a variety of animal species.
- Students demonstrate knowledge and application of applied animal behavior for a variety of animal species.
- Students demonstrate written communication skills appropriate for the animal care industry.
- Students demonstrate oral communication skills appropriate for the animal care industry.
- Student learning outcomes are based on the American Psychological Association guidelines for undergraduate psychology programs.
- Demonstrate fundamental knowledge and comprehension of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, historical trends, and empirical findings to discuss how psychological principles apply to behavioral problems.
- Demonstrate knowledge, comprehension, and application of scientific reasoning and problem solving skills, including effective research methods and interpretation of research data.
- Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible behaviors for professional and personal settings in an increasingly diverse world.
- Demonstrate competence in written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills, including communications with different types of audiences and for differing purposes. Students will develop a repertoire of interpersonal skills and approaches that will enable them to be successful in an interconnected, global society.
- Demonstrate professional skills and behavior that will ready them for post-baccalaureate employment, graduate, or professional school. These include appropriate work habits, career preparation skills, project management skills, self-efficacy and self-regulation, enhanced teamwork capacity, and effective self-reflection.
Special Requirements
All full and part-time students are required to have proof of medical insurance, a tetanus booster within the last ten (10) years, and a tuberculosis test within one (1) year to participate in animal laboratories, veterinary clinic rotations, and career externship. Rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis immunization is highly recommended. Students are required to either show proof of rabies immunization or sign a declination form. Students must be able to lift 50 pounds and be able to demonstrate the physical capabilities to work closely and safely with animals of all sizes. Students with limitations to movement, sight, or hearing may find it difficult to meet all course requirements. For the health and safety of students appropriate attire will be addressed in all classes with laboratories.
