Contemporary Animal Services Pathways
To our contemporary animal service friends, we welcome you to Southern Utah University and the Master of Interdisciplinary Studies Program! We offer a graduate emphasis in Contemporary Animal Services Leadership (CASL) through our Master of Interdisciplinary Studies Degree. A first ever in the nation!
We are so excited to partner with Best Friends Animal Society, and our University Community & Professional Development 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.
Four Learning Pathways
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 Southern Utah University's Community and Professional Development 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 Southern Utah University's Community and Professional Development 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 Southern Utah University's Community and Professional Development 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 Best Friends Executive Leadership Certification. The second track is for those who are graduates of the BFELC.
**Note: Only nine (9) 5000-level graduate credits can be applied to the MIS degree.
Visit the SUU Catalog for information about classes and block requirements.
- Students are able to complete this learning block in place of two 9-credit learning blocks.
- For Best Friends Animal Society Executive Leadership Certification (ELC) program graduates.
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.
In the News
- Creating a professional lifeline for 23 remarkable animal shelter leaders during the pandemic (Best Friends)
- SUU partners with Best Friends to offer first university endorsed animal services program (KUTV)
- Best Friends Animal Society and SUU Expanding Partnership (SUU Marketing & Communication)
- Best Friends Announces Nation’s First University-Endorsed Animal Services Executive Leadership Program (SUU Marketing & Communication)
- Academic learning opportunities through Best Friends and Southern Utah University partnership (Best Friends)
- Best Friends Animal Society and SUU announce first-of-its-kind partnership to end killing of shelter animals (St George News)
- Southern Utah University to teach students how to run a no-kill animal shelter (Salt Lake Tribune)