Animal Ethics Programs

We are delighted to announce two new programs that build off our existing coursework. These programs will provide opportunities for participants to build practical ethics knowledge to identify and discern ethical dilemmas within research, practice, policy, and law related to the care and treatment of (non-human) animals.  Both of these programs are online, with optional live sessions to connect with faculty to discuss the curriculum.     

The first program, Foundations of Animal Ethics, begins with a brief introduction to ethical theory and bioethics to provide some necessary conceptual grounding for application to the care of (non-human) animals.  The program will then present theories, concepts, and topics related to non-human animal ethics.   Participants will learn a framework to integrate ethics within programs, policy, and law on animals. The program is grounded in helping practitioners (and a limited number of advanced students) identify and approach ethical issues within clinical practice, research, public health, law, and other settings.  The program will close with a discussion of how participants can become more involved in animal ethics through research, associations and conferences, education, and academic forums. This is our most introductory program on (non-human) animal ethics. No prior knowledge of ethics or philosophy is expected, and there are no course prerequisites.  

The second program, Special Topics in Animal Ethics,  requires prior completion of Foundations of Animal Ethics or other introductory bioethics coursework. Stay tuned for more information about this virtual, primarily asynchronous program.  Dates are not yet decided.

Wish you could join us in-person instead?

• The in-person Summer Institute in Bioethics offers one 2- to 3-week seminar on animal ethics.  Admission to (or previous attendance in) the Summer Institute is required to attend this seminar.
• We also sponsor the Animal Ethics Working Group which hosts a speaker series. All are welcome to this working group whose events are sometimes online and sometimes in-person.  Please sign up at the link above.