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.
This course is part of the Animals and Society Specialization
Offered By
Animals and Society SpecializationUniversity of Colorado BoulderAbout this Course
Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?
Try Coursera for BusinessWhat you will learn
Demonstrate knowledge of how animals serve as symbols and metaphors in the media
Summarize the practices and interactions that allow for human-animal relationships
Identify the major factors that lead to animal abuse
Represent instances of human-wildlife conflict
Skills you will gain
- Animal welfare
- Sociological concepts
Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?
Try Coursera for Business
Offered by
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Thinking with Animals
Close Relationships
The Dark Side
Wild(life) Encounters
Reviews
- 5 stars75.75%
- 4 stars14.14%
- 3 stars9.09%
- 1 star1.01%
TOP REVIEWS FROM ANIMALS, SELF, AND SOCIETY
This 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.
Course is very informative. WARNING - If you sign up as audit, it will noe let you complete unless you upgrade to paid certificate course.
Excellent course. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of very good information!!
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.
About the Animals and Society Specialization
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
Is financial aid available?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
