Foundations of Animal Ethics

Overview

This virtual program will be offered from January 5 - February 13, 2026. It is open to people with and without a Yale affiliation.

This program is intended for those who are interested in animal ethics as it relates to the clinical setting, research, policy, and law. The program includes our signature programming, which provides an overview of ethical theory, case-based learning, a short introduction to the history of bioethics, an introduction to bioethical principles, theories, and terms, and concluding practical information to help participants engage more fully in the animal ethics community after the conclusion of the program. 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 curriculum is paced over several weeks to promote part-time learning, flexibility, and plenty of time with the curriculum. Our faculty are well-versed in providing virtual programming and look forward to engaging with you on our discussion boards and in optional live sessions.

Please see:

Program guide with schedule and faculty
Program flier with learning objectives and dates

Would you like to apply?

We are offering rolling admissions until our class is filled. We will review the first batch of applications on November 22, the second batch on Nov 29th, and the third batch on Dec. 6th. If our class is not filled by then, we will continue to review applications as they are received. Contact us at bioethics@Yale.edu if the dates have passed, but you would still like to apply.

We expect to limit the program to approximately 30 participants. Please complete the application to be considered. If accepted, we request payment within 7-10 days of acceptance to hold your space. Yes, we have partial scholarships!

Format

The program will include (1) live sessions with faculty on the Zoom platform and (2) an asynchronous curriculum on Canvas with short video lectures, case studies, analysis skills training, and small-group discussion forums.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this six-week, part-time program, participants will have gained exposure to:

A short introduction to ethical theory, grounded in its application to animal ethics;
The history, strengths, and objections to utilitarian, deontological, virtue, feminist, and care ethics, as they apply to animal ethics;
The history of bioethics and its contributions to animal ethics;
Principles, frameworks, arguments, and common terms within bioethics and animal ethics
The major branches of bioethics, including research ethics, clinical ethics, law, policy, and public health, and how they are (and can be) applied to animal ethics;
An introduction to current, pressing animal ethics dilemmas;
A framework to design or evaluate a program, policy, or law about animals;
Ways in which program participants can become more involved in animal ethics through academic and professional associations, additional coursework and programs, participation within research, and other avenues.

Intended Participants: Professionals & Advanced Students

• Researchers and research staff interested in topics related to non-human animals;

• Practitioners including veterinarians and veterinarian technicians;

• Scholars of topics broadly related non-human animals (including, for example, public health, theology, philosophy, the environment, etc);

• A limited number of graduate students;

• Additional profiles are also welcome to apply; please describe your background in the application form.

Level of Effort & Timelines

Participants will listen to online mini-lectures (designed to be approachable and just long enough to communicate key points) and engage in related online discussion forums. Participants can choose to attend some live sessions which are designed to be an open forum to discuss the online material. We will keep the portal open for approximately 2 months after the program in case participants would like to revisit any of the materials. There is much flexibility in this program to enable busy practictioners - and busy students! - to attend without feeling the pressure to quickly absorb all materials in a compressed format.

Continuing Education Credits

Continuing Education credits will not be provided but a certificate of completion will be provided upon request.

Requirements

Participants must be highly comfortable with Zoom and online learning platforms. No previous knowledge of ethics is expected or required, and all lectures assume no previous knowledge of philosophy.

Fees

We are committed to accessible bioethics education, and as such, our rates are much lower than similar programs.

• We believe that bioethics education should be collaborative, multidisciplinary, and affordable. We have a limited number of partial scholarships. To request consideration, applicants should respond to the scholarship prompt on the application form. Have questions? Please don’t hesitate to ask us! We can be reached at bioethics@yale.edu.

• Graduate students and young professionals (less than 2 years professional experience): $925

• Professionals: $1,325

Withdrawal Policy

Registrants who pay, then withdraw from the program, are subject to the following refund schedule.

• 75% of the program fee is refunded if withdrawal notification is received within 2 months before the program start date;

• 50% of the program fee is refunded if withdrawal notification is received 20 days before the program start date;

• Otherwise, no refund can be offered.

Contact Us

To decide whether the program is a good fit for you, please first review all the program webpages and materials. Please direct questions to Lori Bruce, D.Bioethics, MA, MBE, HEC-C, Research Scientist & Program Director, and her program staff, at bioethics@Yale.edu. We are grateful for your interest!

Learn More about Events at our Center

Did you know we also have a free work group on animal ethics, and another on ethics of technology? We also offer a cherished and renowned in-person Summer Institute in Bioethics, and our Community Bioethics Forum has influenced law and policy across the US. Explore our links across our website. We hope to include you in some of our upcoming programs.