First Year Seminar 191PHHS01 - FYS-UThrive:HumanAniml Interac

This seminar will support your transition to college and introduce you to a topic in public health and health sciences. The first six weeks will provide foundational skills for students to thrive at UMass. The last seven weeks will focus on exploring the topic: The Science of Human-Animal Interaction. Students will explore human-animal interactions and the human-animal bond, defined by the American Veterinary Medical Association as "a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and other animals that is influenced by behaviors that are essential to the health and well-being of both." Students will learn about this complex and pioneering field of study, and examine the numerous ways in which interactions with animals impact a wide variety of human physical, social, mental and emotional health outcomes. Our topics will range from childhood attentional and emotional outcomes, to adult physical activity, to older adult cognitive health and social interactions.

First year (Fr or Soph)