Human-Animal Relationships
The creatures sharing our planet have a great deal to teach us about ourselves.
The Human-Animal Relationships (HARE) minor gives students the chance to explore the crucial, diverse, and often overlooked roles animals play in human society, culture, and well-being. HARE minors also investigate the impacts humans have on the lives of other animals, both wild and domestic.
HARE courses within the social sciences and humanities explore the roles animals have played among humans as symbols, workers, companions, entertainers and food, as well as how animals have affected our worldviews. Courses in the health sciences and social work reveal the positive social, emotional, physical and cognitive benefits animals bring to people’s lives. Courses in the biological and environmental sciences show what we can learn about human biology and behavior by studying animals, and how we can use what we know about human and animal behavior to help all beings thrive.
What You'll Learn
Choose from courses taught in more than a dozen programs, including anthropology, art, biology, English, environmental science, geography, nutritional sciences, philosophy, psychology, ranch management, social work, sociology and writing. Internships and student research projects are also encouraged and supported.
As a truly interdisciplinary program, HARE prepares you to be adaptable and successful in a variety of careers and graduate and professional programs. Career options for HARE minors include:
- Animal-assisted therapy in social work, psychology and/or health professions
- Environmental/humane education
- Governmental agencies: city/county animal shelters, Environmental Protection Agency, Fisheries and Wildlife, Forest Service, postal inspection, United States Department of Agriculture and others
- Law and policy: animal welfare, conservation, lobbyist, species protection
- Law enforcement: K9 units
- Nonprofit organizations: Alley Cat Allies, Audubon Society, Humane Society, Jane Goodall Institute, World Wildlife Federation and others
- Sustainable agriculture
- Veterinary medicine
- Wildlife conservation, management and/or rehabilitation
- Zoos: animal behaviorist, biologist, educator, fundraiser, habitat specialist, keeper/species specialist
Minor Requirements
The minor in human-animal relationships consists of 18 hours of coursework, including:
One required course (HARE=ANTH=SOCI 30403 Perspectives on Human-Animal Relationships)
Five additional electives to be selected from a list of approved courses; see course
catalog link below. (Many of these courses will also allow you to fulfill TCU core
requirements.) Other courses may be counted toward HARE with the permission of the
minor director.
No more than six hours of electives may be taken from the same discipline without
permission of the minor director. No course may count toward both your major and this
minor.
Directed study courses in your major(s) may also be counted toward the required electives with the approval of the HARE minor director.
See the course catalog for a complete list of course offerings and descriptions.