Contemporary Animal Services Pathways
SUU and BFAS on partnership signing day
Some of the BFAS original founders with SUU President Scott L. Wyatt
A class of Best Friends Executive Leadership Certification (BFELC) students along with their leaders Aimee Charlton and Tawny Hammond
Signing of SUU and BFAS Partnership
SUU President, Scott L. Wyatt and BFAS CEO, Julie Castel
SUU President, Scott L. Wyatt
Hello to our contemporary animal service friends, welcome to Southern Utah University (SUU) and the Master of Interdisciplinary Studies (MIS) Program! We offer a graduate emphasis in Contemporary Animal Services Leadership (CASL) through our master of interdisciplinary studies (MIS) degree. A first ever in the nation!
We are so excited to partner with Best Friends Animal Society, and our University Community & Professional Development (CPD) Office to bring you several contemporary services leadership educational pathways for those either in the contemporary animal service field, or those wanting to be in it.
Here are our 4 pathways to get you started:
**Note: Only nine (9) 5000-level graduate credits can be applied to the MIS degree.
Best Friends Executive Leadership Certification (BFELC)
- A vetted leadership training program run by BFAS.
- BFELC graduates can earn six (6) SUU graduate credits and apply them toward the MIS degree under the Contemporary Animal Services Leadership (CASL) emphasis.**
- If you were selected by BFAS to be in their BFELC, apply through SUU’s CPD Office to learn how to earn your 6-graduate credits and apply them toward the MIS degree.
Best Friends Professional Development Symposium
- By taking the PRDV 5000 - Best Friends Professional Development Symposium course, you can earn three (3)-graduate credits and apply them toward the MIS degree under the Contemporary Animal Services Leadership (CASL) or General Studies learning blocks.**
- Apply through SUU's CPD Office.
Principles of Contemporary Animal Leadership (POCAS)
- Through the PRDV 5000 - Professional Development: Principles of Contemporary Animal Leadership (POCAS) course, you can earn three (3)-graduate credits and apply them toward the MIS degree under the Contemporary Animal Services Leadership (CASL) or general studies learning block.
- Apply through SUU's CPD Office.**
Master of Interdisciplinary Studies (MIS) Emphasis in Contemporary Animal Services Leadership (CASL)
You can earn 9-18 graduate credits in contemporary animal services leadership (CASL). See coursework below. The first track is for those not in the BFELC. The second track is for those who are graduates of the BFELC.
Visit the SUU Catalog for information about classes and block requirements.
- Contemporary Animal Services Leadership (CASL) - 18 credits
- Students are able to complete this learning block in place of two 9-credit learning blocks.
- Contemporary Animal Services Leadership (CASL) - ELC Graduates - 9 credits
- For Best Friends Animal Society Executive Leadership Certification (ELC) program graduates.
- Creating a professional lifeline for 23 remarkable animal shelter leaders during the pandemic
- SUU partners with Best Friends to offer first university endorsed animal services program
- Best Friends Animal Society and SUU Expanding Partnership
- Best Friends Announces Nation’s First University-Endorsed Animal Services Executive Leadership Program
- Academic learning opportunities through Best Friends and Southern Utah University partnership
- Best Friends Animal Society and SUU announce first-of-its-kind partnership to end killing of shelter animals
- Southern Utah University to teach students how to run a no-kill animal shelter
To enroll in the MIS degree with CASL emphasis, contact MIS Program Enrollment Advisor, Lydia Lee at lydialee@suu.edu or (435) 865-8463, or simply complete the online MIS Application.
These are exciting times in the contemporary animal services field. And SUU’s honored, through our Best Friends Animal Society partner, and our University Community & Professional Development (CPD) Office, to be leading the way by providing educational pathways in this field.
Feel free to contact me with any questions. My cell is (435) 879-1301. You can also reach me at cynthiakimballdavis@suu.edu or make a calendar appointment.
Looking forward to hearing from you! In the meantime, keep doing great things! :)
Cynthia Kimball Davis, Ph.D.
MIS Program Director
