Sheridan Course Outlines

Section I: Administrative Information

Total hours: 3.0
Credit Value: 3.0
Credit Value Notes: N/A
Effective: Fall 2019
Prerequisites: N/A
Corequisites: N/A
Equivalents: N/A
Pre/Co/Equiv Notes: N/A

Program(s): General Education
Program Coordinator(s): Sarah Sinclair
Course Leader or Contact: Selina Tombs
Version: 20190903_00
Status: Approved (APPR)

Section I Notes: N/A

Section II: Course Details

Detailed Description
In this course, students explore the diversity of human-animal relationships from a psychological perspective. Through interactive lectures, experiential activities and research, students examine human-animal interactions and the ways in which these relationships impact the human experience. Key topics explored by students include: the human-pet relationship, animal assisted activities, gender and the human-animal relationship, the use of animals in science, and the global movement towards helping animals. Students are challenged to think critically about the complexities of human-animal interactions and to reflect on the personal and societal importance of human-animal relationships.

Program Context

General Education

Program Coordinator(s): Sarah Sinclair

This course is part of the General Education curriculum which is designed to contribute to the development of the students, consciousness of the diversity, complexity and richness of the human experience; their ability to establish meaning through this consciousness; and as a result, their ability to contribute thoughtfully, creatively, and positively to the society in which they live and work. General Education courses strengthen student's generic skills such as critical analysis, problem solving, and communication, in the context of an exploration of topics with broad-based personal and/or societal importance.

Course Critical Performance and Learning Outcomes

	Critical Performance:
	By the end of this course students will have demonstrated the ability to explain the diversity and complexity of human-animal relationships from a psychological perspective.

Learning Outcomes:

To achieve the critical performance, students will have demonstrated the ability to:

Discuss why human-animal relationships matter on a personal and societal level.
Recognize the paradoxes and contradictions inherent in human-animal interactions.
Explain human behaviours, thoughts and feelings about animals from various psychological perspectives.
Describe the human benefits of animal-assisted activities.
Explain the unique relationship between humans and pets.
Explore the complexity of the human relationship with meat.
Identify the roles of gender and personality in human-animal relationships.
Discuss the ethics of using animals in scientific research.
Describe the global movement towards helping animals.

Evaluation Plan
Students demonstrate their learning in the following ways:

Evaluation Plan: IN-CLASS

	Tests (2 @ 15%; 2 @ 20%)	70.0%
	Class Activities (5 @ 2%)	10.0%
	Major Assignment	20.0%
	Total	100.0%

Evaluation Notes and Academic Missed Work Procedure:

TEST AND ASSIGNMENT PROTOCOL

To encourage behaviours that will help students to be successful in the workplace and to ensure that students receive credit for their individual work, the following rules apply to every course offered within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

 Students are responsible for staying abreast of test dates and times, as well as due dates and any special instructions for submitting assignments and projects as supplied to the class by the professor.

 Students must write all tests at the specified times. Missed tests, in-class activities, assignments and presentations are awarded a mark of zero.  If an extension or make-up opportunity is approved by the professor as outlined below, the mark of zero may be revised by subsequent performance.  The penalty for late submission of written assignments is a loss of 10% per day for up to five business days (excluding weekends and statutory holidays), after which, a grade of zero is assigned. Business days include any day that the college is open for business, whether the student has scheduled classes that day or not.

 Students, who miss a test or in-class activity or assignment or fail to submit an assignment on time due to exceptional circumstances, are required to notify their professor in advance of the class whenever possible.  A make-up test may be supplied for students who provide an acceptable explanation of their absence and/or acceptable documentation explaining their absence (e.g., a medical certificate). All make-up tests are to be written at a time and place specified by the professor upon the student's return. Alternately, students may be given an opportunity to earn the associated marks by having a subsequent test count for the additional marks. Exceptional circumstances may result in a modification of due dates for assignments.

 Unless otherwise specified, assignments and projects must be submitted at the beginning of class.

 Students must complete every assignment as an individual effort unless, the professor specifies otherwise.

 Since there may be instances of grade appeal or questions regarding the timely completion of assignments and/or extent of individual effort, etc., students are strongly advised to keep, and make available to their professor, if requested, a copy of all assignments and working notes until the course grade has been finalized.

 There will be no re-submission of work unless this has been previously agreed to or suggested by the professor.

 Students must submit all assignments in courses with practical lab and field components in order to pass the course.

Provincial Context
The course meets the following Ministry of Colleges and Universities requirements:

Essential Employability Skills
Essential Employability Skills emphasized in the course:

Communication Skills - Communicate clearly, concisely and correctly in the written, spoken, visual form that fulfills the purpose and meets the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Apply a systematic approach to solve problems.
Information Management Skills - Analyze, evaluate, and apply relevant information from a variety of sources.
Communication Skills - Respond to written, spoken, or visual messages in a manner that ensures effective communication.
Information Management - Locate, select, organize and document information using appropriate technology and information systems.
Personal Skills - Manage the use of time and other resources to complete projects.
Personal Skills - Take responsibility for one's own actions, decisions, and consequences.
Interpersonal Skills - Show respect for the diverse opinions, values, belief systems, and contributions of others.
Interpersonal Skills - Interact with others in groups or teams in ways that contribute to effective working relationships and the achievement of goals.

General Education
This General Education course relates to the following themes as specified by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

Personal Understanding

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition
PLAR Contact (if course is PLAR-eligible) - Office of the Registrar
Students may apply to receive credit by demonstrating achievement of the course learning outcomes through previous relevant work/life experience, service, self-study and training on the job. This course is eligible for challenge through the following method(s):

Challenge Exam
Notes:

Section III: Topical Outline

Some details of this outline may change as a result of circumstances such as weather cancellations, College and student activities, and class timetabling.
Instruction Mode: In-Class
Professor: Multiple Professors
Resource(s):

	Type	Description
Required	Textbook	Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why it's So Hard to Think Straight About Animals., H. Herzog, Harper Collins
Optional	Textbook	Animals in Society: An Introduction to Human-Animal Studies, M. DeMello, Columbia University Press

Applicable student group(s): Cross-College Courses
Course Details:

MODULE 1 – CONCEPTUALIZING ANIMALS

Unit 1: The Science of Human Animal Interactions

Readings: Herzog - Chapter 1

Unit 2: Animals and Human Cognition

Readings: Herzog - Chapter 2

Test 1 - 15%

MODULE 2 – HUMAN-PET RELATIONSHIPS

Unit 3: Why Do Humans Love Pets?

Readings: Herzog - Chapter 3;

Evaluation: Class Activities begin

Unit 4: The Human-Dog Relationship

Readings: Herzog – Chapter 4;

Evaluation: Class Activities continue

Unit 5: Gender and the Human-Animal Relationship

Readings: Herzog - Chapter 5;

Evaluation: Class Activities continue

Test 2 - 15%

MODULE 3 – USING ANIMALS

Unit 6: The Human-Meat Relationship

Readings: Herzog – Chapter 7;

Evaluation: Class Activities continue

Unit 7: The Use of Animals in Science

Readings: Herzog – Chapter 8;

Evaluation: Class Activities end

Unit 8: Animal Assisted Activities

Readings: DeMello – Chapter 10 (PDF copy provided via Slate)

Test 3 - 20%

MODULE 4 – UNDERSTANDING AND HELPING ANIMALS

Unit 9: Animal Behavior Studies and Ethology

Readings: DeMello – Chapter 17 (PDF copy provided via Slate)

Unit 10: The Global Movement Towards Helping Animals

Readings: Herzog – Chapters 9 & 10;

Test 4 - 20%; Major Assignment – 20%

Sheridan Policies

All Sheridan policies can be viewed on the Sheridan policy website.

Academic Integrity: The principle of academic integrity requires that all work submitted for evaluation and course credit be the original, unassisted work of the student. Cheating or plagiarism including borrowing, copying, purchasing or collaborating on work, except for group projects arranged and approved by the professor, or otherwise submitting work that is not the student's own, violates this principle and will not be tolerated. Students who have any questions regarding whether or not specific circumstances involve a breach of academic integrity are advised to review the Academic Integrity Policy and procedure and/or discuss them with the professor.

Copyright: A majority of the course lectures and materials provided in class and posted in SLATE are protected by copyright. Use of these materials must comply with the Acceptable Use Policy, Use of Copyright Protected Work Policy and Student Code of Conduct. Students may use, copy and share these materials for learning and/or research purposes provided that the use complies with fair dealing or an exception in the Copyright Act. Permission from the rights holder would be necessary otherwise. Please note that it is prohibited to reproduce and/or post a work that is not your own on third-party commercial websites including but not limited to Course Hero or OneNote. It is also prohibited to reproduce and/or post a work that is not your own or your own work with the intent to assist others in cheating on third-party commercial websites including but not limited to Course Hero or OneNote.

Intellectual Property: Sheridan's Intellectual Property Policy generally applies such that students own their own work. Please be advised that students working with external research and/or industry collaborators may be asked to sign agreements that waive or modify their IP rights. Please refer to Sheridan's IP Policy and Procedure.

Respectful Behaviour: Sheridan is committed to provide a learning environment that supports academic achievement by respecting the dignity, self-esteem and fair treatment of every person engaged in the learning process. Behaviour which is inconsistent with this principle will not be tolerated. Details of Sheridan's policy on Harassment and Discrimination, Academic Integrity and other academic policies are available on the Sheridan policy website.

Accessible Learning: Accessible Learning coordinates academic accommodations for students with disabilities. For more information or to register, please see the Accessible Learning website (Statement added September 2016)

Course Outline Changes: The information contained in this Course Outline including but not limited to faculty and program information and course description is subject to change without notice. Any changes to course curriculum and/or assessment shall adhere to approved Sheridan protocol. Nothing in this Course Outline should be viewed as a representation, offer and/or warranty. Students are responsible for reading the Important Notice and Disclaimer which applies to Programs and Courses.

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