EKU Animal Studies Offers Unique Perspective on Animal Relationships

For many people, watching a black bear take a nap is not part of everyday life, let alone part of their daily education. For students like Emily Howard, a senior in Eastern Kentucky University’s (EKU) animal studies program, it’s an educational opportunity.

Howard, from Winchester, Kentucky, never doubted that EKU was the school for her, thanks to the animal studies program. 

“When I started my college career I knew I wanted to work with animals, but everywhere I looked programs were more focused on raising livestock, training veterinarians or managing wildlife,” said Howard. “Those programs are wonderful, but they weren’t the right choice for me. When I found the description for EKU’s animal studies program, I knew it was perfect for me.”

EKU’s animal studies program is unique because it focuses on the interactions between humans and animals. As part of the psychology department, the program’s coursework emphasizes the various types of relationships humans have with animals. 

From spending time observing wildlife in their natural habitat to giving bobcats enrichment with pumpkin spice scented leaves, Howard said the program offers students unbeatable opportunities for hands-on experience with all different kinds of animals.

“The unique interdisciplinary nature of the animal studies program has given me the opportunity to learn many skills that I would have otherwise missed out on,” she said. “I have learned about animal welfare, the environment, conservation programs, animal ethics and so much more.”

Courses like conservation education give students the opportunity to plan educational outreach programs for organizations like wildlife centers or zoos. The program even allows students to study special topics and specific animals. Howard took a course that focused on horses, where she “created an imaginary world tour about the evolution of the horse and a special program for the Kentucky Horse Park.”

The animal studies program also allows students to gain experience with several disciplines in all corners of the animal care industry, including courses relating to history, sociology, anthropology, psychology and other fields. 

Howard added that the faculty in the program have always been helpful to her, saying, “They are extremely supportive, and they make learning entertaining and interesting.”

Faculty in the program are passionate about animal studies, and students work alongside faculty on interesting research studies. For example, Dr. Robert Mitchell, a professor of animal studies, focuses his research on aspects of dog-human play. Mitchell’s extensive list of academic research includes “Look at me, please! Human attention-getting devices in dog-human play,” and “Pet directed talk.”

For Howard, the animal studies program has opened many doors of opportunities giving her several options moving forward. “I came to EKU wanting to work in wildlife conservation or rescue, but as I have found new topics that I am interested in, my original plan has evolved,” she said.

The animal studies program is an applied science program concentrating on animals and their interactions with people. Its unique interdisciplinary approach helps students fully explore the complexities of animals’ lives, human-animal relationships, ethical and moral concerns about animals, representations of animals and humans, and the significance of animals in human evolution, history, culture and civilization.