master of science: program description

The Master of Science (MS) degree program is designed to fuel students’ thirst for more development in the theoretical and applied studies of human-canine relationships, expand their awareness of issues and concepts, enhance problem-solving abilities, and promote appreciation for the subject matter from a more knowledgeable context. The program focuses on the dog’s usage and abilities to assist humans in differing capacities with the expectation that graduates will further evolve and develop this field. Students also study the human-dog relationship from legal, historical, and developmental points of view.

Each Master’s student must have access to a dog to train during the program. The dog may be the student’s dog or from another source. The University does not provide dogs for students. The Master’s program requires 22-24 months of course work with an additional one year allowed to complete a thesis or culminating project.

Students are not required to be on-site during the entire program. Instead, the students will attend the University twice a year for short, but intensive class sessions that may last from one to three weeks at a time. When away from the school, the students will work on readings, assignments and practice of skills acquired in applied sessions. During that time, the students will be encouraged, and, at times, required, to communicate with instructors and each other through electronic means.


Degree Requirements

To graduate, students in the Master of Science Canine Life Sciences program must successfully complete 36 credits. All courses must be passed with a GPA of 2.5 or better. Any course identified as a Master’s degree course receiving less than a GPA of 2.5 must be repeated to receive credit toward the Master of Science degree. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 (“B”) is required for graduation. A thesis or culminating project must be completed. Transfer credits, defined as credits obtained from a U.S. Department of Education accredited Master’s institution, may be accepted only if the coursework is identical in scope to the University’s offering.

Program Description: MS in Canine Life Sciences

The mission of the Master’s degree program in Canine Life Science is to advance the competencies and expand the vision of post-baccalaureate canine professionals and enthusiasts with the expectation that as graduates they will further evolve and develop canine business and assistance dog roles, enjoy expanded job opportunities and mentor the relationship between humans and canines. Visionary, futuristic, discovery-based canine scholarship is juxtaposed against cutting-edge science-based academic educational offerings preparing the student to help shepherd in the dog’s future as they develop critical thinking skills, moral and ethical awareness, managerial competence, an international perspective and a momentum that will inspire them to contribute to the next rung in the human-canine evolutionary ladder.

The unique relationship between human and dog has exploded into a billion dollar business. The partnership of individuals with disabilities and assistance dogs has grown into a world-wide phenomenon. Each requires the expertise, the leadership abilities, the decision-making and problem-solving skills of these graduates to help guide it.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the University’s Master of Science in Canine Life Sciences degree program will have acquired the following learning, skills, and competencies:

• Theoretical basis and practical application of human and canine learning theories, development, and behavior at a post-graduate level as applied to human-canine recreational, work and assistance dog activities;
• Theoretical basis and practical application of human-canine relationships at a post-graduate level as applied to human-canine work, recreational and assistance dog activities;
• Ability to compare and contrast human-canine behavior, development, learning, and physiology;
• Use, design and implementation of research into canine subjects;
• Awareness of the dog’s economic, psycho-social, physiological, therapeutic and educational viability in society;
• Current and emerging theories and practice in canine health, well-being and management;
• Theoretical, practical, and ethical issues regarding canine work, recreational and assistance dog activities;
• Knowledge of the dog’s role in human development;
• Current knowledge base and contemporary issues surrounding the canine’s role in human society;
• Design and implementation of training programs for humans and canines.
  

Program Curriculum

This Master’s degree requires 36 Master’s credits (500 level courses).

LIF 505 The Emotional Lives of Dogs and Other Animals 3 credits

LIF 510 Introduction to Scholarly Inquiry and Research or Culminating Project 3 credits

LIF 515 Human-Canine Cognition and Communication Compared 3 credits

LIF 520 Ethical, Moral and Legal Perspectives of Canine Training, Use and Ownership 3 credits

LIF 530 Innovations in Dog-Human Partnerships 3 credits

LIF 540A Theories of Canine and Human Learning 3 credits

LIF 540B Theories of Canine and Human Learning 3 credits

LIF 550 Analysis and Design of Human-Canine Training Programs 3 credits

LIF 560 Dogs of the World 3 credits

LIF 565 Behavioral Ecology of Predators and Prey 3 credits

LIF 570 Advances in Canine Health and Well-Being 3 credits

LIF 590 Thesis/Culminating Project 3 credits