Full course description
Contemporary issues related to animals include a number of topics, but animal welfare and animal rights are invariably discussed. Other topics are animal production methods, animal products, human health, companion animals, hunting and trapping, animals in sports and entertainment, and use of animals in biomedical research. Many of these topics are debated on a global level. Discussions of cultural perspectives are also included on these issues. Topics of more interest in other parts of the world, such as treatment of draft animals and managing elephant populations in Africa are also included.
Course Format
This course is available fully online with no scheduled class sessions or fixed due dates. You can start coursework at any time and work through it independently at your own pace.
Course Organization
This course is comprised of the following 11 modules:
- Introduction
- Philosophy
- Animals and Research
- Human Wildlife Issues
- Hunting, Trapping and Fishing
- International Issues
- Welfare Assessment and Audits
- Animals for Food, Fiber & Pharmaceuticals
- Social Issues
- Surgery
- Animals and Entertainment
Course modules include readings, pre-recorded lecture videos, lecture notes, and practice quizzes.
Technology Requirements
- For best performance, a computer or tablet that supports the most recent web browser versions can play mp4 files. It is recommended to use a computer five years old or newer with at least 1GB of RAM and high-speed internet connection. Some features may not be compatible with mobile devices.
- Adobe Acrobat Reader. Can be downloaded here for free.
- The recommended web browsers are Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Microsoft Edge.
Contact Us
If you have questions about the course, contact Stephen Boyles at boyles.4@osu.edu.
For technical assistance with the ScarletCanvas platform, including logging in and password concerns, please contact CFAES Online Outreach team at faes-onlineoutreach@osu.edu (preferred) or call and leave a voice message at 614-292-5213. Please allow at least 24 hours for a reply during business hours, 72 hours over holidays and weekends.
First Time ScarletCanvas Users: After you enroll, you will receive two automated emails, one with the subject "Please confirm your email address - Ohio State ScarletCanvas." Use the link in that email to set up the password you would like to use for your account.