Husson University in Bangor is adding two career-focused online certificate programs to provide specialized knowledge to people working in psychology and across all business sectors.
The new programs are in animal-assisted therapy and in diversity, equity and inclusion.
Upon completing the therapy program, graduates will be able to analyze the physiological and mental health benefits of the bond between human and animal and have a stronger understanding of safe and effective therapeutic sessions involving animals.
“This certificate program can teach students how to facilitate effective human–animal interactions — a beneficial skill set that can enhance the health of patients with anxiety and the careers of mental health professionals everywhere,” said David Rogers, Husson’s director of online and distance education.
The DEI certificate program comes as the U.S. embraces diversity more fully, according to Sarah Dyer, an instructor and DEI officer at Husson.
“For companies to be successful moving forward,” she said, “individuals and organizations will need to create a more inclusive work environment that embraces diverse individuals and helps them develop, organize and implement change.”
The DEI program aims to provide current and aspiring professionals in the area with practical tools to with for integrating DEI topics into their organization.
Students will also be able to purposefully cultivate an inclusive environment within their organizations and evaluate the legal and ethical standards that apply to DEI leadership practices, according to Husson.
Around 550 Husson students currently take all of their coursework online, according to the school. The number does not include hybrid students who take some classes online and some in the classroom, or those who live on campus taking some classes face-to-face and others in a remote setting.
Eric Gordon, a spokesman for Husson, told Mainebiz that the institution is looking to increase the number of fully online students in the next few years and is currently actively recruiting for the upcoming fall semester.
Students currently have a choice of enrolling in six undergraduate and 10 graduate-level online certificate programs at Husson, which has been led by President Robert A. Clark since 2010.