Course on Animal Abuse
The specific topics change each semester. For example, a seminar was once offered called “Exotic Birds.” This year, however, the seminar is called “Animal Abuse and Interpersonal Violence.”
This is a three credit course and it is offered in person or online. Students who take this seminar do not have to be in a particular major. The seminar is open to everybody and can be used as a free elective.
The animal abuse seminar is being offered as a late sprint course.
Sara Martin, Adjunct Instructor of the Criminal Justice Department, created the “Animal Abuse and Interpersonal Violence” course.
As shown by many statistics, family and domestic violence has a strong correlation to animal abuse.
“I teach the family violence course and the topic of animal abuse is what we talk about a lot,” said Martin. In many cases animal abuse and child abuse are closely related.
This course focuses on the connection between animal abuse and human abuse such as domestic violence. The course not only focuses on the connections, but what can be done to stop such abuse.
This seminar may be of particular interest to students who are a part of the Animal Advocacy Certificate Program. This program is for students who are looking for a career in animal advocacy.
However, this certificate is not a degree. The Animal Advocacy Certificate is usually obtained in addition to a degree. In this program there are 27 credits required. Some of the required courses include the Animal Advocacy Seminars.
Most students wait until the end of college to take seminar courses. Seminar courses are typically a group of advanced students who get together and discuss information.
The seminar taught online consists of readings and critiquing of other students’ input. However, in the in person seminar there is a lot of group interaction, such as group projects.
“There is a lot of current research on the topic of animal abuse being related to domestic abuse,” said Martin, “many scholarly articles and journal entries are about this issue.”
The “Animal Abuse and Interpersonal Violence” seminar may be offered again next spring, but it is dependent on the level of student interest. In the criminal justice department, at least seven students must be in a course for it to be offered.
Throughout the United States, laws are being made and used every day to show how serious of a crime animal abuse is. In New York State, animals can be put on orders of protection.
In fact, many cases of animal abuse are considered felonies and perpetrators of animal cruelty may have a stricter punishment than someone who abuses a human.
“We hear about animal abuse happening all the time on the news. But this course will teach students what should be done about the problem,” said Martin.
For more information contact Martin at s.martin@hvcc.edu.