The Master of Professional Science in Animal Science and Behavior at Unity Environmental University is a flexible, fully online graduate degree that combines animal welfare, behavior, and professional leadership training. Designed for working professionals, the program emphasizes applied learning, humane training, and evidence-based welfare practices, preparing graduates for careers in shelters, zoos, service animal programs, and beyond.
Executive Summary
The Master of Professional Science in Animal Science and Behavior at Unity Environmental University is an online graduate program that prepares students to become leaders in animal welfare, training, and management. Grounded in scientific evidence and applied practice, the program provides graduates with the skills needed to address the growing complexity of human–animal interactions in a rapidly changing world.
Animal science and behavior is an expanding field that integrates biology, psychology, welfare science, and human–animal studies. As companion animal ownership rises globally and society places greater emphasis on ethical care, demand has surged for professionals who can apply research-driven, low-stress training methods, navigate welfare regulations, and design programs that improve both animal and human well-being. This program situates graduates at the heart of these developments, preparing them to contribute to shelters, sanctuaries, zoos, conservation organizations, advocacy groups, and service-animal programs.
Unity’s curriculum blends a Professional Skills Core—with courses in innovation management, communication, and ethical policy—with an Animal Science and Behavior Core that includes advanced coursework in training, nutrition, shelter management, and service-animal regulations. Students also complete an applied capstone sequence, producing projects with direct impact in professional or community settings. This structure ensures graduates are not only proficient in scientific knowledge but also capable of applying it in leadership, management, and policy contexts.
The program is fully online, flexible, and designed to serve working professionals. With five start dates each year and options for accelerated or part-time pacing, it accommodates diverse learners while maintaining academic rigor. Graduates leave prepared to evaluate risks in human–animal interactions, design effective and humane training protocols, apply welfare laws, and optimize animal well-being using evidence-based practices.
The impact of this program is reflected in its scale: the Master of Professional Science in Animal Science and Behavior is Unity Environmental University’s largest graduate degree program, a testament to both its accessibility and its relevance in today’s world. Alumni enter careers as animal trainers, shelter managers, humane educators, policy advisors, and more—roles where they advance the field of animal welfare while shaping a more ethical and sustainable future for animals and humans alike.
Program Overview
The Master of Professional Science in Animal Science and Behavior at Unity Environmental University is a fully online graduate degree that provides a deep exploration of animal behavior, welfare, and human–animal interaction. This 30-credit program can be completed in as little as one year, and its flexible structure allows students to set a pace that fits their personal and professional lives (Unity Environmental University).
Unlike a traditional research-oriented Master of Science, the Master of Professional Science is designed to prepare students with workplace-ready competencies. Unity’s program emphasizes practical knowledge in areas such as project management, communication, policy analysis, and applied technical skills that connect directly to roles in animal care, training, shelter management, and advocacy (Unity Environmental University).
This program aligns closely with Unity’s mission to prepare sustainability leaders through accessible and purpose-driven education. Unity Environmental University, formerly known as Unity College, is fully accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education and has become a recognized leader in distance education with a focus on environmental and sustainability fields (Unity Environmental University – History and Evolution).
The admissions process reflects the university’s commitment to serving diverse learners. Applicants are expected to have earned a bachelor’s degree before entering the program. The program requires successful completion of 30 credits with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, and Unity’s rolling start dates throughout the year give students the flexibility to begin when it is most convenient. Additional support, including admissions guidance and multiple payment plan options, makes the program accessible to professionals at various stages of their careers (Unity Environmental University – Paying for College).
Students with prior coursework or professional training may be able to transfer credits, which can shorten the time needed to complete the program (Unity Environmental University – Transfer Students).
Key Highlights at a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
| Degree Type | Master of Professional Science in Animal Science and Behavior |
| Delivery Format | 100% Online (Distance Education) |
| Credits Required | 30 credits; minimum 3.0 GPA |
| Program Length | Accelerated option of one year or flexible pacing |
| Distinctives | Applied learning focus, professional skill development in communication, policy, and management |
| Program Start Dates | Multiple entry points each year |
| Transferrable Credits | Available for qualified students |
The Larger Discipline: Animal Science and Behavior
The study of animal science and behavior spans multiple scientific domains and remains essential for understanding life’s complexities. Originally grounded in the study of domestic livestock (think breeding, nutrition, and physiology) animal science has broadened its scope to include companion and exotic species, reflecting shifting societal values and evolving professional needs. This interdisciplinary field now incorporates everything from genetics and reproduction to welfare science and behavior, adapting to the modern demands of conservation, care, and human-animal coexistence (Wikipedia—Animal Science).
Parallel to this expansion, ethology, the scientific study of animal behavior, emerged in the early twentieth century, pioneered by figures like Tinbergen and Lorenz. Their work elevated behavior from anecdotal observation to a discipline grounded in field and laboratory research, integrating ecology, neuroscience, and evolutionary theory in explaining how and why animals act as they do (Wikipedia—Ethology).
Over the past several decades, the discipline has expanded even further through the rise of animal welfare science. Originally an offshoot of veterinary medicine, it has evolved into a full-fledged multidisciplinary area that intersects behavior, physiology, neuroscience, pathology, ethics, and environmental stewardship. Today, universities worldwide incorporate welfare science into veterinary and animal science academic programs, with growing focus on both populations and individual well-being across contexts including farms, zoos, labs, and domestic environments (Marchant-Forde, 2015).
Worldwide, animal behavior research increasingly serves conservation goals. It helps scientists understand how animals respond to human disturbances and informs strategies for habitat design, wildlife corridors, and management interventions. Interpreting behavioral signals can offer early indicators of environmental stress or ecosystem degradation, thereby improving conservation outcomes (Greggor et al., 2019). This blend of behavioral research and ecological practice known as conservation behavior has gained traction as an interdisciplinary toolkit for addressing biodiversity loss and ecosystem disturbance (Wikipedia—Conservation Behavior).
The convergence of behavior and welfare with conservation has also inspired ethical frameworks such as compassionate conservation, which emphasizes the well-being of individual animals while pursuing species and ecosystem-level outcomes. This approach challenges traditional conservation methods when they fail to account for individual suffering, advocating instead for strategies that aim to do the least harm possible while maximizing conservation effectiveness (Wikipedia—Compassionate Conservation).
Beyond its theoretical and ethical relevance, animal behavior plays a practical and predictive role in biology. It serves as a bridge between molecular systems and ecological outcomes, linking neurological processes with adaptive responses in changing environments. Scientists argue that understanding behavior is fundamental to interpreting health, welfare, cognition, and ecosystem function—making it one of the most vital yet often underappreciated facets of biological science (CSUN—Significance of Animal Behavior Research).
The discipline of animal science and behavior also extends into the growing field of human–animal interaction and services, which recognizes the profound psychological, emotional, and social benefits that animals provide to people. Research shows that companion animals contribute to reduced stress, improved mental health, and stronger social connections for their human caregivers (NIH The Power of Pets). This relationship is not one-sided: when humans are educated in animal behavior and welfare, animals also experience improved quality of life through appropriate care, training, and enrichment. The demand for professionals trained in both animal science and human–animal services is expanding in areas such as animal-assisted therapy, service and emotional support animal programs, and community-based shelter services. As societies increasingly acknowledge the role of animals in promoting human health and resilience, the discipline is being reshaped to serve both species in tandem, reinforcing the interdependence captured in the concepts of the human–animal bond (Blazina, et al., 2011) and One Welfare (One Welfare).
In essence, animal science and behavior intersect with some of the most critical global challenges—biodiversity loss, animal welfare, and sustainability—in part because behavior reflects how animals adapt, struggle, or thrive amid environmental changes. Educating professionals in this discipline situates them at the nexus of research, policy, ethical care, and applied conservation, positioning them to drive meaningful outcomes in both human and animal communities.
How the Degree Program Serves the Discipline
The Master of Professional Science in Animal Science and Behavior directly advances the growing field of animal science and welfare by preparing graduates to apply behavioral knowledge in ways that create measurable impact. While many graduate programs emphasize research for academic pathways, Unity Environmental University’s professional science degree is structured to train practitioners who can enter the workforce with the confidence and applied skills needed to address pressing challenges in animal care, welfare, and conservation.
One of the most significant contributions of this program is its alignment with the evolving workforce needs in animal-related professions. Organizations such as the American Veterinary Medical Association highlight the increasing demand for expertise in behavioral health, enrichment, and welfare science as societal expectations shift toward more humane and scientifically informed care practices (AVMA, 2023). Unity’s curriculum addresses this by combining behavioral science with professional training in communication, project management, and leadership—competencies essential for managing shelters, rehabilitation centers, sanctuaries, and other animal-focused organizations.
The program outcomes demonstrate how Unity prepares graduates to address the discipline’s most pressing challenges. Students learn to evaluate risks to humans and animals in their interactions and to develop strategies that minimize harm, a skill that has become increasingly essential as more households include companion animals and as public awareness of animal welfare and the human–animal bond continues to grow. They are trained to design and assess training protocols using low-stress and least intrusive techniques, approaches that research has shown to be more effective for long-term learning while also protecting animal welfare and strengthening the human–animal bond. Graduates also gain the ability to apply U.S. animal welfare laws and regulations to ensure compliance and improve practices, a skill critical in industries that are increasingly shaped by legal standards and public accountability. Finally, the program emphasizes applying theoretical and practical knowledge of species-typical behavior to optimize animal welfare, preparing professionals to make evidence-based decisions that improve the lives of animals across contexts.
Unity reinforces these outcomes through courses that directly reflect the realities of professional practice. Advanced Animal Training equips students with evidence-based strategies to design humane training systems, while Animal Shelter Best Practices and Management prepares graduates to handle the operational and behavioral challenges of shelter environments. Emotional Support and Service Animals: Rules and Regulations addresses the rapidly growing field of assistance animals, ensuring students are prepared to navigate the legal and ethical complexities surrounding them. By combining these discipline-specific courses with a professional skills core that includes Strategic Management of Innovation, Communication for Environmental Professionals, and Ethical Practice and Policy, the program ensures graduates are not only experts in animal behavior but also capable leaders and advocates in their fields (Unity Environmental University).
Compared to similar programs, Unity’s approach is distinctive in its accessibility and applied orientation. Many universities offer advanced degrees in animal behavior, but these are often highly research-focused, requiring in-person attendance and emphasizing laboratory or field research aimed at academic careers. By contrast, Unity provides a fully online program that is flexible and designed for working professionals. This format widens access to individuals already active in animal care careers—shelter workers, zookeepers, veterinary technicians—who may not be able to leave their positions or relocate to attend graduate school. The online model also allows students to apply their coursework directly in their workplaces, creating an immediate feedback loop between academic learning and professional practice (Unity Environmental University).
Looking toward the future of the discipline, the program emphasizes skills and knowledge areas that are likely to remain in high demand. These include the ability to analyze and interpret behavior, design enrichment programs that meet welfare standards, navigate evolving animal welfare policies, and integrate behavioral knowledge into applied welfare science. Scholars emphasize that applied animal welfare science is now a multidisciplinary field combining physiology, pathology, neuroscience, and behavior with ethics and law, and that professionals must be trained to operate across these domains in order to improve welfare outcomes (Marchant-Forde, 2015). Unity’s curriculum is designed with this interdisciplinary orientation in mind, ensuring that graduates are positioned not just to keep up with the discipline but to shape its future direction.
In short, the Master of Professional Science in Animal Science and Behavior serves the discipline by addressing both its current challenges and its trajectory. It prepares professionals to move the field forward with applied expertise, leadership capacity, and a sustainability-centered vision that reflects Unity’s larger institutional mission.
Curriculum Highlights and Applied Learning
The Master of Professional Science in Animal Science and Behavior is built around a transdisciplinary framework that blends behavioral science with leadership, ethics, and management training. This design ensures graduates are not only knowledgeable in animal behavior and welfare but are also capable leaders and decision-makers in professional environments.
The curriculum requires students to complete 30 credits, with at least 21 credits earned through Unity Environmental University, and to maintain a cumulative graduate-level GPA of 3.0. The degree combines a Professional Skills Core with an Animal Science and Behavior Core, creating a balance between applied behavioral expertise and professional competencies that support leadership roles in the field (Unity Environmental University).
Professional Skills Core
The professional skills sequence equips students with tools in management, communication, and ethical policy application, which are skills that are often missing in traditional science-based graduate programs but essential in the workforce.
- Strategic Management of Innovation (PROF 505): Focuses on developing the ability to design and lead innovative projects, preparing graduates to manage organizations that must adapt to evolving standards of animal care.
- Communication for Environmental Professionals (PROF 510): Teaches clear, audience-focused communication skills, vital for professionals working with stakeholders, policymakers, and the public.
- Ethical Practice and Policy (PROF 515): Examines how ethical frameworks and regulatory systems shape professional practice, particularly relevant to animal welfare and training.
- Capstone I & II (PROF 590 and PROF 690): Provide the culminating applied experience, where students work on projects that address real-world challenges, such as designing enrichment protocols for a shelter, assessing welfare compliance, or developing advocacy strategies.
Animal Science and Behavior Core
The discipline-specific core courses provide the scientific and practical foundation necessary to understand and improve human–animal interactions.
- Animal Behavior and Modification (ANIM 505): Covers the fundamentals of animal learning and behavior, as well as humane behavior modification strategies.
- Canine and Feline Nutrition (ANIM 510): Explores nutritional needs for two of the most common companion animals, linking diet to health, welfare, and behavior.
- Advanced Animal Training (ANIM 605): Focuses on evidence-based training techniques, emphasizing low-stress and least intrusive methods.
- Animal Shelter Best Practices and Management (ANIM 610): Provides insight into the operational, behavioral, and welfare challenges faced in shelters, preparing graduates for leadership roles in this critical sector.
- Emotional Support and Service Animals: Rules and Regulations (ANIM 630): Guides students to apply U.S. laws and standards governing the training and use of support animals, an area of growing demand and public interest.
Learning Outcomes in Practice
Through this structured curriculum, students develop the ability to:
- Evaluate sources of risk in human–animal interactions and implement processes that minimize harm.
- Design and assess training protocols that use humane and least intrusive methods.
- Apply U.S. welfare laws and standards to professional practice, ensuring compliance and best care.
- Integrate theoretical and practical knowledge of animal behavior to optimize welfare outcomes.
Applied Learning and Capstone
The applied focus of the degree distinguishes it from more research-centered graduate programs. Students engage in real-world projects throughout the curriculum, culminating in the capstone sequence. These capstones are not academic theses but professional projects with direct relevance to the field. For example, a student may create a behavior enrichment plan for a regional shelter, design welfare-compliant service animal training protocols, or partner with an advocacy group to assess the impact of policy on animal care outcomes.
Because the program is fully online and flexible, students can incorporate their learning directly into their workplaces or volunteer environments. This model allows professionals already engaged in animal care to apply new knowledge in real time, strengthening both their career development and the organizations they serve.
In combining professional skill-building, scientific rigor, and applied projects, Unity’s curriculum ensures graduates leave not only with advanced knowledge of animal science and behavior but also with the leadership capacity to shape the future of the discipline.
Student Outcomes
Graduates of the Master of Professional Science in Animal Science and Behavior emerge with a blend of scientific expertise and professional competencies that prepare them for leadership in animal care, training, and welfare organizations. The program emphasizes applied outcomes that can be put into practice immediately, ensuring that graduates are equipped to meet the evolving needs of the discipline and the expectations of employers.
Knowledge and Skills Gained
By completing this degree, students develop:
- Expertise in animal behavior and welfare science, with the ability to evaluate species-specific needs and design programs that improve quality of life for animals in diverse contexts.
- Competence in humane training practices, using least intrusive and low-stress approaches to modify behavior and enhance human–animal relationships.
- Knowledge of U.S. animal welfare laws and regulations, enabling graduates to ensure compliance, shape policy, and serve as advocates for evidence-based standards.
- Risk assessment skills, including the capacity to identify and minimize sources of harm in human–animal interactions.
- Leadership and management capabilities, through training in innovation, organizational communication, and ethical policy. These skills prepare graduates to guide teams, manage facilities, and influence institutional culture.
- Applied research and project design experience, gained through the capstone sequence, which provides opportunities to address real-world challenges in animal welfare and management.
These outcomes ensure that graduates are not only scientifically informed but also prepared to take on strategic, supervisory, and advocacy roles.
Career Pathways
The demand for professionals trained in animal behavior and welfare continues to grow across multiple sectors. Graduates of this program are well positioned for careers such as:
- Animal Behaviorist or Trainer – working with companion animals, zoos, aquariums, or rehabilitation centers.
- Animal Shelter Manager or Operations Coordinator – leading shelter teams and implementing best practices in welfare and enrichment.
- Humane Educator or Welfare Advocate – promoting public awareness and influencing policy on animal welfare issues.
- Service and Support Animal Program Specialist – designing training and compliance programs for emotional support and service animals.
- Policy Analyst or Advisor – applying welfare science in government, NGOs, or advocacy organizations to shape regulations and practices.
Alumni and Professional Impact
Unity’s Master of Professional Science in Animal Science and Behavior builds on the university’s long history of producing sustainability and conservation leaders. Graduates contribute to fields where the intersection of welfare, behavior, and human values is increasingly important. By integrating professional skills training with animal science, alumni are prepared not only to participate in the discipline but to help drive its evolution in a direction that reflects ethical responsibility and ecological awareness.
