Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare

What you will learn

Building on the highly successful BS in Animal Care and Behavior program, Husson now offers one of the only online master’s in animal behavior degrees in the country. Through our flexible curriculum, you’ll gain an advanced understanding of the behavior, health and nutrition of both domestic animals and wildlife. Whether you aspire to perform scientific research or work with animals in a more hands-on environment, such as a zoo, farm, wildlife conservation facility or rehabilitation clinic, you can graduate in less than a year with the skills and knowledge you need for success in a quickly growing career field. 

This graduate program is designed for anyone who has a bachelor's degree and is looking to expand their knowledge and skillset around animal behavior and well-being. It’s a good fit for both graduates of our BS in Animal Care and Behavior program and students who hold a bachelor’s degree in a life or physical science discipline. 

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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.

AB 621: Applied Animal Management - Zoos, Farms and Shelters 

In this course, you will study how the missions of zoos, farms and shelters can aim to support animal and human welfare. As part of this course, you’ll explore management considerations for zoos, farms and shelters, including finances, staffing and services. You’ll evaluate the efficacy of different business models for zoos, farms and shelters in the context of animal and human welfare. 

AB 701: Advanced Animal Behavior 

In this course, you will study the biology of animal behavior across a variety of species. You’ll follow a data-driven approach to examine the role of anatomy and physiology, genetics, and evolution in animal behavior, with a focus on a species or behavior of your choice. 

AB 702: Advanced Animal Training 

In this course, you will study applied animal behavior and develop an in-depth training plan. You’ll explore classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and techniques for application of a variety of methods of training that are effective and humane. 

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*Student’s curriculum will depend upon which credits are transferred.

Faculty Spotlight

Taylor Rezvani, Ph.D, M.A.T.

Dr. Taylor Rezvani is passionate about improving animal-human relationships and animal welfare through educational outreach and research, especially concerning the veterinary field and domestic dog preventative behavioral care. As an educator, Taylor strives to expand access to learning about animal behavior and welfare, particularly within the veterinary profession. Taylor has designed and delivered in-person and online curricula for high school, undergraduate, graduate and veterinary students as well as vocational learners. Interdisciplinarity has always been an important and natural part of Taylor’s personal educational trajectory, starting with her two undergraduate degrees: human biology (animal behavior: biology/psychology/sociology) and media studies (film), both from Pitzer College. She earned a master's degree in teaching biology from Lewis and Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling and an interdisciplinary doctoral degree in zoology, psychology and education from Washington State University. She was a postdoctoral fellow at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine and assisted with developing and curating educational materials regarding domestic dog welfare. Taylor co-founded and directed Whole Dog Academy, an education-based nonprofit that includes a career school for dog trainers.

Admissions Requirements:

Admission to the MS in Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare requires an earned BS degree in Ecology, Animal Behavior, Biology, or another related natural or physical science discipline. If the BS degree is in a non-biology discipline, applicants must have completed an animal behavior course and a statistics course during the BS program of study. If the BS program of study did not include an animal behavior and a statistics course, admitted students have the option to complete the undergraduate animal behavior and statistics courses at Husson as part of the master's program.

Husson University participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.