Home | Graduate Specialization in Animal Studies

Graduate Specialization in Animal Studies
Social Science and
Humanities Perspectives

The Graduate Specialization in Animal Studies: Social Science and Humanities Perspectives, which is administered by the Department of Sociology, provides graduate students with basic knowledge of relationships between humans and other animals and how they are linked together in a fragile biosphere.

The graduate specialization is available as an elective for students who are enrolled in master's or doctoral degree programs at Michigan State University. With the approval of the department and college that administers the student's degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the specialization may also be used to satisfy the requirements for a master's or doctoral degree.

Students who plan to complete the requirements for the graduate specialization should consult the graduate advisor for the specialization in the Department of Sociology.

Requirements for the Graduate Specialization in Animal Studies: Social Science and Humanities Perspectives

Complete a total of 12 credits from the following:

1.	All of the following courses:		CREDITS
	SOC 840	Animals and Social Transformations	3
	SOC 989	Research Practicum in Animal Studies	3
2.	3 credits from any of the following courses, with approval from the Director of the specialization:		CREDITS
	ANS 805	Animal Welfare	3
	ESP 891	Special Topics in Environmental Science & Policy	1-3
	LAW 565A	Animal Law	3
3.	Complete 3 credits of additional course work that focuses on any aspect of the human-animal relationship that meets the interests of the student. The course must be approved by the student's academic advisor for the specialization. Recommended Elective Courses (PDF)

Upon completion of the requirements for the degree program and the Graduate Specialization in Animal Studies: Social Science and Humanities Perspectives, the student should contact the Dean of the College of Social Science and request certification of the completion of the specialization. After the certification is approved by the Dean, the Office of the Registrar will enter on the student's academic record the name of the specialization and the date that it was completed. This certification will appear on the student's transcript.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Linda Kalof
Department of Sociology
Michigan State University
6H Berkey Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824
Telephone: (517) 355-6638
lkalof@msu.edu