HS 299 - Clinical Experience

3 Credits

Outline Effective Date: Academic Year 2026/2027
Revised Date: May 12, 2026 Date Approved: July 13, 2026

Lecture Hours: 30

Course Description:
This is the final course for students in the animal assisted wellness program. Emphasis is placed on students working with animals and determining their individual scope of practice to integrate an animal into their chosen profession. Students observe, identify, demonstrate programming which partners with animals, facilitates change, and supports clients or students within an ethical framework.

Rationale:
This is a required course for Animal Assisted Wellness certificate students. Students further their knowledge and skill development through demonstrating and discussing scenarios while partnering with animals. The focus of experiential learning is on the integration of classroom theory into professional practice. Students apply their knowledge and skills as an Animal Assisted Wellness practitioner.

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: Students must have completed or be in the process of successfully completing 9 courses including AN 223 with an overall GPA of 2.0 or greater.

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

demonstrate professional workplace behaviour.
identify ethical considerations for clients/students and animals.
role play scenarios related to integrating animals into a setting.
demonstrate incorporating skills into professional practice.
incorporate feedback and adjust activities and interventions accordingly.
identify needs, strengths, vulnerabilities, and resources to formulate plans, activities and/or interventions appropriate for the client/student within the scope of practice.
articulate and abide by the ethical obligations consistent with their professional designation and the scope of practice as an Animal Assisted Wellness practitioner.

Required Resource Materials:
None

Optional Resource Materials:
None

Conduct of Course:
Students attend an intensive animal assisted interventions internship. The internship is offered through Dreamcatcher Animal Assisted Wellness Academy. Students experience an intensive three-day course that is experiential and integrates competencies from the courses in the program.

Regular attendance is essential for success in any course as this is an intensive course in a condensed model. Student are required to attend the entirety of the course to receive a final grade. Dates for the course are determined well in advance. If a student is unable to attend the entire internship in person, they are asked to register for another time.

In cases of an emergency or illness, the student is requested to submit a medical certificate.

Content of Course:

Professional Behaviour

attitudes and behaviours
ethics within professional practice
parameters of professional practice
documents and program plan
relationships in settings

Observing Animal Behaviour

care and treatment
specific behaviours
screening process
appropriate settings

Activities and Interactions

demonstrations
client/student role play
practitioner role play
planning and goals
documentation

Ethical Considerations

animal
clients/students
practitioner
settings

Course Assessments:
Students are evaluated through direct observation and communication with the Assigned College Instructor.

The student is required to have a formal and approved scope of practice for both them and for their partner animal if they have one at the time. If they do not have one at the time of the course, they must ensure their animal is trained and certified and given a formal scope of practice before the animal works in professional practice.

This evaluation is designed to give students and instructor an opportunity to discuss performance and suggestions for improvement. If a student is having serious difficulties, he/she may be requested to withdraw from the course.

Course Pass Requirements:
This is a pass/fail 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

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.

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.

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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.