Animal-Assisted Therapy Degree
Bachelor of Science
At Husson University, you can earn a Bachelor of Science in Animal-Assisted Therapy fully online and learn how to incorporate trained therapy animals into healthcare and therapeutic settings.
Through our animal-assisted therapy degree program, you’ll study the psychology and physiology behind the human-animal relationship and learn how to utilize domestic animals, such as dogs, cats and horses, to improve the physical and mental well-being of patients. You’ll also take foundational courses in animal behavior, human psychology, animal welfare and more to gain a comprehensive understanding of this field.
Earn your Bachelor of Science in Animal-Assisted Therapy online from Husson University and start your journey toward a rewarding career.
Prepare for a career in animal-assisted therapy
- Flexible online classes with 24/7 access
- Transfer up to 90 credits
- 7-week courses
- Access to an array of student support resources
- Specialize your education through certificates and badges
As a student in our B.S. in Animal-Assisted Therapy program, you can tailor your education by pursuing one of our many undergraduate certificates. One such certificate, the Certificate in Animal Training, allows you to continue developing your animal-focused knowledge and skillset while also enhancing your résumé for future employers and/or clients. While in this program, you can also earn digital badges, which certify your expertise in a professional subject area.
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*Time to completion varies based on allowable transfer credits from any prior undergraduate coursework. **All rates subject to change. Please see Cost and Aid for more information.
To complete your online Bachelor of Science in Animal-Assisted Therapy degree, you will be required to earn at least 30 credits at Husson. View the full curriculum below.* Reach out to us today if you'd like more information or if you'd like to speak to an enrollment advisor.
*Student’s curriculum will depend upon which credits are transferred.
Faculty Spotlight
Emily Kieson, Ph.D, MS, PgDip
Emily Kieson, Ph.D, MS, PgDip, serves as research director and educator at MiMer Centre, a Swedish-based nonprofit focused on education and research in equine-human interactions and horse welfare. Kieson's research focuses on equine behavioral psychology, equine welfare and horse-human interactions as they apply to both horse owners and equine-assisted activities and learning programs. She holds a doctorate degree in comparative psychology, master's degree in psychology, graduate degree in equine science and also holds multiple certifications in various models of equine-assisted activities. She currently serves as chair of the Equine Welfare Committee with the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH). Her current research involves looking at equine affiliative behaviors to study how horses create and maintain social bonds and how those can overlap with human affiliative behaviors for application in management, horse ownership and equine-assisted activities. She also has a passion for supporting sustainable systems of horse management and husbandry that promote physical and psychological welfare of the horse while simultaneously supporting sustainable ecosystem practices on small and large scales (for both feral and domestic equids).
Online Enrollment Counselor