Back to Animals and Institutions
University of Colorado Boulder

Animals and Institutions

This course explores animals within the context of the functional relationships that sociologists call “institutions.” We first examine the use of animals in laboratory science. We then examine the controversial transformation of animals into “livestock” and "meat." We also explore the perspectives of people committed to rejecting the construction and use of animals as food. Next, we focus on some of the roles of animals in human entertainment with particular attention to dog fighting and zoos. Finally, we investigate animal health and welfare through the lens of dilemmas in veterinary medicine and decisions in animal shelters.

Status: Research
Status: Social Sciences
BeginnerCourse5 hours

Featured reviews

VQ

5.0Reviewed Jan 24, 2024

The course turned out to be much more interesting than I imagined. It's great to have been able to take this course, which is very important for protecting our animals.

JK

5.0Reviewed Jun 10, 2022

Great Course raising concern about welfare for all animals

RR

5.0Reviewed Oct 11, 2020

Really enjoyed the course!! Learned about the way we treat animals and perceive their existence.

HW

5.0Reviewed Jul 12, 2024

This was a very informative course. I liked the peer reviewed assignment. I am looking forward to doing the next one in the specialisation.

All reviews

Showing: 19 of 19

Taylor Jacobson
3.0
Reviewed Aug 25, 2022
Muazzam Rahimova
5.0
Reviewed Nov 11, 2020
Reshob Routh
5.0
Reviewed Oct 11, 2020
Alejandra Ramírez
5.0
Reviewed Nov 12, 2020
Winston Anthony Wheelis
5.0
Reviewed Sep 28, 2020
Javlon Abdullaev
5.0
Reviewed Sep 19, 2020
MWENDWA NKATHA MBAE
4.0
Reviewed Aug 15, 2022
Megan rebecca jones
5.0
Reviewed Jul 12, 2023
Victor Quinteros
5.0
Reviewed Jan 24, 2024
Honor Westcott-Walker
5.0
Reviewed Jul 13, 2024
Santiago Guillermo Naranjo Monje
5.0
Reviewed Sep 1, 2021
Ana Carola Terrazas
5.0
Reviewed May 10, 2023
WILLY OBBO
5.0
Reviewed Feb 3, 2021
Julius Kasigwa
5.0
Reviewed Jun 10, 2022
Thanusan Pathmanathan
5.0
Reviewed Feb 9, 2026
hamid farahani
5.0
Reviewed Dec 21, 2021
Mona Abdulrazzaq Alsharea
5.0
Reviewed Jul 12, 2022
erica zozula
1.0
Reviewed Feb 6, 2025
Oh No Stoltzman
1.0
Reviewed Sep 12, 2022