Equine Studies Major: Equine Assisted Activities & Therapies Option (B.S.)
Beginning in the 2022/23 academic year (Spring 2023), the Equine Studies Major: Equine Assisted Activities & Therapies option will no longer be accepting new students. Current students will continue to have access to the same high-quality education and resources until they graduate.
This option is designed for:
- Students interested in a teaching therapeutic riding or other equine-assisted activities and therapies.
- Students interested in an administrative career at a center conducting equine-assisted activities and therapies, such as fundraising, volunteer coordination, or management for a therapeutic riding center.
This option includes classes in equine studies, equine-assisted activities and therapies, non-profit organizations, and topics related to human development and special needs. Students also prepare and test for PATH International instructor certification, which allows them to teach therapeutic riding at any PATH International operating center.
In addition to the standard core courses for all Equine Studies majors, students in Equine Management take courses in human anatomy and physiology, agricultural business management and non-profit management, equine-assisted activities, therapeutic riding instruction, equine management, and equine conformation. Students then select 20 approved credits to allow them to focus in the areas most relevant to their desired career. Those courses may include classes in equine training, riding instruction, sign language, human development, and education.
A minimum grade of C-minus or better must be earned in all Equine Studies courses required by the major.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Core Equine Studies Requirements | ||
ANSC 411 | Freshman Seminar in Equine Science | 1 |
ANSC 437 | Equine Husbandry Techniques | 4 |
ANSC 504 | Equine Physiology | 4 |
ANSC 522 | Intermediate Horsemanship Theory | 3 |
or ANSC 405 | Theory of Horsemanship | |
ANSC 547 | Equine Stable Management | 3 |
ANSC 600 | Field Experience 1 | 1-4 |
ANSC 612 | Genetics of Animals | 4 |
or GEN 604 | Principles of Genetics | |
ANSC 665 | Principles of Horse Trials Management 1 | 2 |
ANSC 725 | Equine Sports Medicine | 4 |
ANSC 796 | Equine Senior Seminar | 2 |
ANSC 797 | Equine Capstone Experience | 4 |
BIOL 411 | Introductory Biology: Molecular and Cellular | 4 |
BIOL 412 | Introductory Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity and Ecology | 4 |
ENGL 501 | Introduction to Creative Nonfiction | 4 |
or ENGL 419 | How to Read Anything | |
or ENGL 502 | Professional and Technical Writing | |
or ENGL 503 | Persuasive Writing | |
or ANSC 543 | Technical Writing in Animal Sciences | |
EREC 411 | Environmental and Resource Economics Perspectives | 4 |
or ECON 402 | Principles of Economics (Micro) | |
Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies Requirements | ||
ANSC 426 | Equine Conformation and Lameness | 4 |
ANSC 500 | Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies | 4 |
ANSC 546 | Animal Business Applications | 4 |
ANSC 635 | Nonprofit Management for Agriculture Business | 4 |
ANSC 643 | Principles of Therapeutic Riding Instruction | 4 |
BMS 507 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
BMS 508 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
Therapeutic Riding Electives: Choose 20 credits from the following: | ||
ANSC 507 | Survey of Equine Training Techniques | 3 |
ANSC 536 | Preparation and Competition Techniques for the Modern Sport Horse | 4 |
ANSC 538 | Equine Handling/Longeing | 1 |
ANSC 602 | Animal Rights and Societal Issues | 4 |
ANSC 640 | Principles of Riding Instruction | 4 |
ANSC 641 | Principles of Dressage Instruction | 2 |
ANSC 642 | Principles of Jumping Instruction | 2 |
ANSC 695 | Supervised Teaching Experience | 1-2 |
ANSC 744 | Advanced Concepts in Therapeutic Riding Instruction | 4 |
COMM 401 | American Sign Language I | 4 |
COMM 420 | Survey of Communication Disorders | 4 |
COMM 502 | American Sign Language II | 4 |
EDUC 500 | Exploring Teaching | 4 |
EDUC 650 | Introduction to Disability in Inclusive Schools and Communities | 4 |
EDUC 701 | Human Development & Learning: Cultural Perspectives | 4 |
EDUC 751A | Inclusive Elementary Education: Literacies and Learning for Diverse Learners | 4 |
EDUC 751B | Methods of Inclusive Secondary Education: Literacies, Learning, and Transitions | 4 |
EDUC 760 | Introduction to Young Children with Special Needs | 4 |
MGT 535 | Organizational Behavior | 4 |
OT 500 | Behavior and Development of Children | 4 |
or HDFS 525 | Human Development | |
OT 510 | Exploring Occupational Therapy and Occupation | 4 |
PSYC 561 | Abnormal Behavior | 4 |
PSYC 581 | Child Development | 4 |
RMP 501 | Recreation Services for Individuals with Disabilities | 4 |
SW 424 | Introduction to Social Work | 4 |
SW 797 | Special Topics in Social Welfare | 4 |
ZOOL 613 | Animal Behavior | 5 |
- 1
Waived for TSAS equine management graduates
Sample Student Schedule by Semester - Therapeutic Riding
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
ANSC 402 | Horsemanship Lab | 1 |
ANSC 411 | Freshman Seminar in Equine Science | 1 |
ANSC 422 | Introduction to Horsemanship Theory | 3 |
ANSC 437 | Equine Husbandry Techniques | 4 |
BIOL 411 | Introductory Biology: Molecular and Cellular | 4 |
ENGL 401 | First-Year Writing | 4 |
Credits | 17 | |
Spring | ||
ANSC 426 | Equine Conformation and Lameness | 4 |
BIOL 412 | Introductory Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity and Ecology | 4 |
Discovery Course | 4 | |
Discovery Course | 4 | |
Credits | 16 | |
Second Year | ||
Fall | ||
ANSC 546 | Animal Business Applications | 4 |
ANSC 500 | Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies | 4 |
BMS 507 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
Choice of Major Elective | 4 | |
Credits | 16 | |
Spring | ||
ANSC 402 | Horsemanship Lab | 1 |
ANSC 522 | Intermediate Horsemanship Theory | 3 |
ANSC 643 | Principles of Therapeutic Riding Instruction | 4 |
BMS 508 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
ENGL 501 | Introduction to Creative Nonfiction | 4 |
EREC 411 | Environmental and Resource Economics Perspectives | 4 |
Credits | 20 | |
Third Year | ||
Fall | ||
ANSC 504 | Equine Physiology | 4 |
ANSC 547 | Equine Stable Management | 3 |
ZOOL 613 |
Animal Behavior or Principles of Riding Instruction or Investigations |
5 |
Discovery Course | 4 | |
Credits | 16 | |
Spring | ||
ANSC 635 | Nonprofit Management for Agriculture Business | 4 |
ANSC 643 | Principles of Therapeutic Riding Instruction | 4 |
ANSC 665 | Principles of Horse Trials Management | 2 |
Discovery Course | 4 | |
Credits | 14 | |
Summer | ||
ANSC 600 | Field Experience | 1-4 |
Credits | 1-4 | |
Fourth Year | ||
Fall | ||
ANSC 612 or GEN 604 |
Genetics of Animals or Principles of Genetics |
4 |
ANSC 725 | Equine Sports Medicine | 4 |
ANSC 744 | Advanced Concepts in Therapeutic Riding Instruction | 4 |
ANSC 796 | Equine Senior Seminar | 2 |
Credits | 14 | |
Spring | ||
ANSC 797 | Equine Capstone Experience | 4 |
Discovery Course | 4 | |
Major Elecitve | 4 | |
Major Elective | 4 | |
Credits | 16 | |
Total Credits | 130-133 |
- 1
2+ cr above/Horsemanship Theory
All students who graduate from the B.S. in Equine Studies program will be able to:
- Identify, explain, and demonstrate safe, effective, and humane equine handling and stable management skills.
- Identify, explain, and demonstrate equine health management practices and basic equine first aid.
- Explain guidelines for equine nutrition, feeding, and parasite management.
- Demonstrate technical proficiency with English tack, boots, bandages, and blankets.
- Demonstrate safe, competent longeing technique using a trained horse.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of riding practices in equestrian sport.
- Communicate effectively, in written and verbal form, about professional topics in the equine industry.
Therapeutic Riding option:
- Demonstrate an applied understanding of equine assisted activities & therapies (EAAT) teaching techniques for a broad spectrum of disorders and disabilities.
- Provide documentation of successful completion of the PATH Intl. registered instructor certification program.
- Identify ideal conformation and movement faults as they relates to equine form and function and the therapeutic needs of clients with disabilities.
- Demonstrate proficiency with adaptive equipment, tack, and procedures used in an equine assisted activities & therapies (EAAT) setting.
- Demonstrate working knowledge of key elements of business planning, management, and development, as they relate to an equine assisted activities & therapies (EAAT) setting.