Animal-Assisted Therapy

obligatory courses

The course raises issues related to using animals in therapeutic and rehabilitation practice in a broad sense. It discusses different types of such activities and the role they can play as well as the limits of their application. The subject matter is placed within the wider context of human-animal interactions, and also includes the history of using animals in work connected with therapy, the role of animals, and the wellbeing of animals used for such purposes. We will also discuss the ways in which the species most often involved in therapy are used.

Provided by the lecturer.

Knowledge:

Basic knowledge of comparative psychology and zoopsychology as well as biological foundations of behaviour

Understanding the principles of operation of the main social (political, economic and cultural) institutions dealing with animals

Skills

Analysing the main phenomena of human-animal relations from the perspective of different disciplines

Analysing and interpreting – in a cultural, social and ethical context – artistic projects featuring animals or their images

Knowing how to continually update and expand one’s knowledge and improve one’s skills

Social competences

Being prepared for fact-based argumentation in academic debates and ideological disputes while respecting views different from one’s own

Being prepared for acting in accordance with the code of scientific work ethics and decency while respecting one’s own and others’ health as well as intellectual property rights

Being prepared for using deductive thinking skills in analysing natural phenomena and cultural processes