Animal-Assisted Therapy
A program that prepares health and human service professionals to integrate the use of animals into their treatment practices in order to facilitate change in people with mental and physical disabilities. Includes instruction in psychology, psychology of disabilities, animal behavior, animal training, the human-animal bond, integration of animals into therapeutic settings, and ethical and cultural issues.
- Schools offering
- 8
- Annual completions
- 48
- Typical degree level
- Associate's + Bachelor's
- Median earnings (5yr)
- $56k
About this major
A program that prepares health and human service professionals to integrate the use of animals into their treatment practices in order to facilitate change in people with mental and physical disabilities. Includes instruction in psychology, psychology of disabilities, animal behavior, animal training, the human-animal bond, integration of animals into therapeutic settings, and ethical and cultural issues.
Examples of specialized tracks: Equine, Assisted Therapy.
Where this major leads
Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.
| Occupation | Median wage | Job growth | Typical education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health specialties teachers, postsecondary | $106k | +17.3% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Therapists, all other | $65k | +11.5% | Bachelor's degree |
Earnings at a glance
Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.
Median 5-year earnings
$56k
Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings
Associate's
$46k
Bachelor's
$58k
Top colleges for Animal-Assisted Therapy
Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.
| College | Location | Assoc. | Bach. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll College | Helena, MT | 0 | 16 | 16 |
| Aurora University | Aurora, IL | 0 | 15 | 15 |
| Hocking College | Nelsonville, OH | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Lake Erie College | Painesville, OH | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Isothermal Community College | Spindale, NC | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill | Cobleskill, NY | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Wilson College | Chambersburg, PA | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Tri-County Community College | Murphy, NC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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Art Therapy/Therapist
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Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor
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Considering this direction?
We've taken a hard look at the debt, earnings trajectory, and degree-level tradeoffs for the Animal-Assisted Therapy field. Read our verdict before you commit.
Is Animal-Assisted Therapy worth it? Read verdict