Program Overview 

• The certificate consists of two 8-week and one 6-week online courses, as well as an experiential 2-day capstone in Denver, CO 
  • The 3 core courses are completely online; structured with your cohort, and are instructor-led 
  • The certificate takes eight months to complete, with no summer courses or obligations 
• The total tuition is $3500 
• The program is offered annually with a fall start date. 
• Graduates obtain 29 CEUs (continuing education units) on University of Denver transcript 
• Graduates walk away with a self-developed humane education program that is peer and instructor-reviewed, and ready to be implemented within their own organization or community 
• Program is designed for educators, mental health professionals, and parents who would like to develop practical knowledge and skills in humane education, which can then be applied in their career and personal life 

Certificate Description: This certificate explores humane education as a pedagogy and philosophy of teaching practice and learning. Students will gain an in-depth understanding of humane education’s history, application, resources, and importantly, how to design and implement their own program in their current or dreamed-of place of employment, and ways to utilize humane education philosophy and practice for the population within whom they work.   

Humane education maintains three pillars of intersectional knowledge and practice. The three pillars of human rights, animal protection, and environmental preservation are often addressed as separate areas of concern or care, however they are implicitly interlinked and problems within one of these domains cannot be solved without attending to needs within the others. Humane education draws upon developing and maintaining critical thinking, empathy, and skills development to address harm and suffering in the areas of human rights, animal protection, and preservation of the natural world. 

Students will learn how to utilize humane education principles and concepts for working with all ages and in a variety of settings. This certificate aims to help develop practical knowledge and skills in humane education, which can then be applied in their career and personal life.  

Course and Assignment Times:  The three core courses will be completed fully online, with a mix of readings, videos, discussion boards, video conference meetings, field/community assignments, and writing assignments. Each core course will have two group meeting times via the Zoom video conferencing system that will be determined based on student availability at the start of each course. Otherwise, the courses do not have assigned class times to be online and assignments may be completed around the student’s schedule, while adhering to weekly due dates. 

Workload: We estimate about 8-12 hours per week for students to spend on coursework, depending on the speed of your reading and workstyle.  

This certificate helps students create practical skills that can be applied to many facets of their life, and many different career paths. The community/experiential learning components help students to not only gain hands-on, real life experience, but also help them to build a network in their local community. Students also get the opportunity to network with their fellow classmates from around the country, and sometimes internationally.  Learn more at: https://socialwork.du.edu/humananimalconnection/education-certificates/humane-education-practitioner-certificate 

Humane Education Practitioner Certificate | Social Work

https://socialwork.du.edu/humananimalconnection/education-certificates/humane-education-practitioner-certificate