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University of Colorado Boulder

Animals, Self, and Society

This course explores how animals and people are situated within the web of structures and connections known as “society.” Module 1 considers some of the key symbolic roles that animals play in society by investigating the practice of “thinking with animals.” We investigate how people construct different meanings of animals and the implications these meanings have for both animals and humans. You will gain first-hand experience of this by analyzing how animals are represented in the media. Modules 2 and 3 investigate human-animal relationships, including those that involve suffering as well as those that are beneficial. Although many people describe their pets as friends or family members, Module 2 takes a deeper dive into what constitutes friendship and family membership where other species are concerned. Module 3 examines the dark side of these relationships, focusing on animal abuse and its relationship to domestic violence. Module 4 focuses on people’s encounters with those animals outside the boundaries of the home and the farm. The way people understand and regard the species commonly considered “wild” shapes the treatment and moral status of these animals.

Status: Social Justice
Status: Child Welfare
BeginnerCourse5 hours

Featured reviews

Reviewed Sep 29, 2020

Excellent course. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of very good information!!

Reviewed Nov 18, 2020

very informative and highly reccomended for anyone in the field of human and animals dyad.

Reviewed Jan 17, 2024

Lots of videos make it an easy to pass course that packs a lot of information. Requires a bit of writing skill, as there is one multiparagraph writing assignment that is peer graded.

Reviewed Jan 4, 2022

T​his specialization covers interation between ourselves as a human and other species.It will challenge your thinking and beliefs. Well worth taking even if it is not in your normal area of interest.

Reviewed Feb 13, 2021

Awesome course! Learned a lot. Very interesting and easy to learn from. Educational. I am studying to be a vet tech and this will be a valuable course on my resume.

Reviewed Nov 21, 2020

A really great course, easy to follow lectures and great information! I had a really fun time with it, and the peer graded assignment really solidified what I had learnt. I definitely recommend! :)

Reviewed Oct 5, 2023

I got ever best learning. Thank you, Coursera, and thank you university of colorado

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