Animal Health and Welfare
Give Animals a Voice
The Bachelor of Arts in Animal Health and Welfare provides students with opportunities to work with and on the behalf of animals outside the traditional medical/pre-veterinarian routes. Students will learn introduction-level biological mechanics of the animals, gaining a breadth of knowledge in various animal roles/groups (e.g., companion, farm, wildlife, shelter, rescue and animals) and animal welfare (treatment of animals and their rights across cultures).
The Bachelor of Arts in Animal Health & Welfare has a robust interdisciplinary curriculum with the majority of the course within humanities and social sciences, but with core classes in natural and life science-based courses that prepare students 1) to critically evaluate the roles of animals in our society, 2) for careers in animal care and health upon graduation and 3) for graduate school in animal health-related fields. Students gain the knowledge, skills and professionalism necessary to promote and safeguard the health and welfare of animals across various species and settings, including rehabilitation clinics, rescues, shelters, research institutions and animal welfare organizations.
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Apply fundamental principles of animal health and welfare to solve relevant health and treatment of animals related to problems in our society.
- Apply laboratory techniques and properly analyze data generated using those techniques.
- Communicate information from multiple sources to peers and to society.
- Evaluate health and welfare needs of various animals and develop best treatment plans for multiple settings.
All students seeking a degree in animal health are required to complete the following core courses in Animal Health (30 credits):
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AH 101 | Introduction to Animal Health and Welfare | 3 |
| AVS 211 | Animal Anatomy & Physiology | 3 |
| AH 291 | Animal Health Literacy Seminar | 3 |
| AH 301 | Ethical Treatment of Animals & Their Environment | 3 |
| AVS 311 | Animal Nutrition | 3 |
| AH 350 | Internship in Animal Health | 3 |
| AH 390 | Careers in Animal Health Seminar | 3 |
| AVS 411 | One Health Approach | 3 |
| AVS 450 | Animal Health Clinical Experience | 3 |
| AVS 330 | Social Behavior of Animals | 3 |
Animal Health and Welfare B.A. Required Courses
Students seeking a Bachelor of Arts degree in Animal Health and Welfare are required to complete the following courses (29 credits):
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 111 | Biology and Society | 4 |
| CHEM 105 | Chemistry and Society | 4 |
| CJ 344 | Environmental and Wildlife Crime | 3 |
| PH 202 | Global Health | 3 |
| PH 310 | Food Systems | 3 |
| REL 204 | Dialog Across Difference | 3 |
| Critical Thinking (choose one) | ||
| MATH 100 | Mathematical Thinking | 3 |
| MATH 101 | College Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 207 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| Communication (choose one) | ||
| MCOM 305 | Public Relations Writing | 3 |
| MCOM 318 | Environmental Communication | 3 |
| MCOM 350 | Business and Professional Communication | 3 |
| Writing (choose one) | ||
| WR 250 | Fundamentals of Writing Practice | 3 |
| WR 350 | Professional & Technical Writing | 3 |
Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Requirement
Students seeking a Bachelor of Science in Animal Health and Science are required to successfully complete courses to promote equality, embrace diversity, and foster a more inclusive society. Students may choose 1 course below for a total of 3 credits:
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AAG 101 | African American/Global Black Studies | 3 |
| ENG 287 | African American Literature | 3 |
| ENG 351 | African American Women Writers | 3 |
| ENG 403 | Africana Studies | 3 |
| GLS 101 | Introduction to Global Studies | 3 |
| GWST 301 | Theories of Gender | 3 |
| GWST 320 | Interdisciplinary Seminar in Gender and Women’s Studies | 3 |
| GWST 322 | History of Gender in Advertising | 3 |
| GWST 329 | Gender and Women’s Literature | 3 |
| GWST 425 | Psychology, Gender and Culture | 3 |
| REL 202 | Navigating Religious Diversity | 3 |
| REL 332 | Christianity and the African-American Experience | 3 |
| SOC 312 | Social Class and Inequality | 3 |
| SOC 315 | Gender Issues | 3 |
| SPAN 300 | Making Sense: Exploring the World Through Spanish | 3 |
| SPAN 311 | Spanish Civilization and Culture | 3 |
| SPAN 312 | Latin American Civilization and Culture | 3 |
Students interested in this program should also look into these other majors and minors:
Shenandoah University works on rolling admissions and accepts applications throughout the year. Applications are reviewed individually and holistically.
Submit your application, review required admission materials, and find our admissions standards.