YC 218 - Animal Assisted Interventions

3 Credits
Outline Effective Date: Academic Year 2025/2026
Revised Date: Aug 15, 2025
Date Approved: Aug 15, 2025

Lecture Hours: 45

Course Description:
Animal Assisted Interventions is a unique and growing field in working with individuals and groups of all ages. This course explores why/how qualified practitioners partnering with animals can be such an effective helping modality. An overview of the different ways animals can partner with practitioners to help people is provided. Students should take this course to gain a better understanding of the human-animal bond and the potential benefits of partnering with animals in practice.

Rationale:
This course is an elective for the Child and Youth Care Counsellor, the Early Childhood Education, and Educational Assistant students. The course explores a variety of issues relating to the field of human services. Students connect the knowledge from their previous course work to current issues and trends. Emphasis is placed on students developing critical thinking skills by listening to guest speakers, media, examining research articles on current topics and presenting findings to fellow students.

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None

Course Learning Outcomes:
A student who successfully completes the course will have reliably demonstrated the ability to

describe the historical perspectives related to human and animal relationship.
explain the terms and definitions related to human and animal relationships.
examine how animal assisted interventions can be applied in the Human Service scope of practice.
research how different animals partner to assist specific populations.
describe how animals are selected and screened.
argue in support of the ethical treatment of animals.

Required Resource Materials:
Online resources and research material

Optional Resource Materials:
Fine, A. H. (2019). Handbook on animal-assisted therapy: Theoretical foundations and

guidelines for animal-assisted interventions (5th ed.). Academic Press.

Conduct of Course:
Lectures, class discussions, group exercises, media, and guest speakers are used to deliver the course content. Participation is necessary.

Regular attendance is essential for success in any course. Absence for any reason does not relieve a student of the responsibility of completing course work and assignments to the satisfaction of the instructor. Frequent absences may result in the student being probation. Further absences may result in suspension from the program.

Online attendance is demonstrated by keeping up with readings and assignments, participation the discussion board and completing assignments.

In cases of repeated absences due to illness, the student may be requested to submit a medical certificate. Instructors have the authority to require attendance in classes.

Content of Course:

Introduction to the Human/Animal Bond
Animal assisted interventions historical perspectives
Terminology
Benefits of animal assisted intervention
Animals and professional practice
Animal Assisted Intervention within scope of practice
Safety and risk management
Animal ethics
Animal assessment
Animal /personal awareness
Loss of a therapy animal
Ethical animal treatment

Course Assessments:

Mid-term Exam	15%
Research Assignment	30%
Presentation Assignment	25%
Final Exam	25%
Participation	5%
Total	100%

Official final grades will be available on My Lakeland. Grades posted in D2L should be considered interim grades.
“Lakeland College is committed to the highest academic standards. Students are expected to be familiar with Lakeland College policies and to abide by these policies. Violations of these policies are considered to be serious and may result in suspension or expulsion from the College.”

Course Pass Requirements:
A minimum grade of D (50%) (1.00) is required to pass this course.

Letter	F	D	D+	C-	C	C+	B-	B	B+	A-	A	A+
Percent Range	0-49	50-52	53-56	57-59	60-64	65-69	70-74	75-79	80-84	85-89	90-94	95-100
Points	0.00	1.00	1.30	1.70	2.00	2.30	2.70	3.00	3.30	3.70	4.00	4.00

Students must maintain a cumulative grade of C (GPA - Grade Point Average of 2.00) in order to qualify to graduate.

Every effort has been made to ensure that information in this course outline is accurate at the time of publication. Lakeland College reserves the right to change courses if it becomes necessary so that course content remains relevant.

In such cases, the instructor will give students clear and timely notice of changes.

No part of this course outline may be reproduced in any form or resold without written permission from Lakeland College.

Copyright©LAKELAND COLLEGE.
2602 - 59 Avenue, Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada T9V 3N7. Ph: 780 871 5700
5707 College Drive, Vermilion, Alberta, Canada T9X 1K5. Ph: 780 853 8400
Toll-free in Canada: 1 800 661 6490 E-mail: admissions@lakelandcollege.ca

Here at Lakeland College, we acknowledge that the land we gather on is the traditional homeland, hunting, and ceremonial gathering places of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit. The Plains Cree, Woodland Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Métis, Dene, and Nakota Sioux people have practiced their culture and languages on Treaty 6 and Métis Region 2 territories for generations and were the original caretakers of this land. Many First Nation, Métis and Inuit peoples call this land home today and have done so for millennia. We would like to acknowledge the history we have created together on this land, and to be thankful for the opportunity to walk together side-by-side in friendship, learning from our past, and promoting positive relationships for the past, present and future.