Human–Animal–Environment Interactions Coursework

MSW@Denver online students may apply to complete the Human–Animal–Environment Interactions in Social Work (HAEI-SW) certificate of specialization in the Denver Campus MSW program through the Visiting Student option. It is also possible to take the first course in the sequence (SOWK 4795) as a standalone course offering. For completion of the HAEI-SW certificate, please review the following process and disclaimers in full:

  • The HAEI-SW courses are taken sequentially:
    • SOWK 4795 (3 credits; the only course available as a standalone course offering)
    • SOWK 4796 (3 credits)
    • SOWK 4797 (3 credits)

*Students do not need a specialized field internship placement to complete the certificate.

  • If approved, the HAEI-SW courses are counted as electives in your program.
  • MSW students who started the program Summer 2023 or before have 6 total credits of elective requirements. If a MSW student is interested in taking all three courses, please note this would exceed the total credit requirements for your program.
    • It may be possible to substitute one HAEI-SEW course for a degree requirement—this requires program approval and is not guaranteed. Please contact your SSA for more information.
  • Advanced-Standing MSW students who started the program Summer 2023 or before have 9 total credits of elective requirements.
  • MSW Students who started the program Fall 2023 and after have 12 total credits of elective requirements and may not be eligible for degree requirement substitutions. 
  • HAEI-SW online courses are held through the Denver Campus online learning management system, Canvas, rather than Digital Campus.
  • We cannot guarantee that courses will be offered each term and/or fully online throughout the academic year, as these are Denver Campus courses.
    • You can reference the online schedule through MyDU to see which courses are available. On the online schedule, under the course title, “Lecture” signifies an on-campus course and “Online/Distance” signifies an online course.

MSW@Denver Students must apply for the courses through the Visiting Student Application. If approved, Visiting Students can take up to 10 credit hours outside of their “home” program. Students must submit their request by the deadline posted on the Registration Toolkit.

  • Approval is not guaranteed, and courses are subject to availability.
  • Note: The Denver Campus summer term does not follow the typical 10-week structure that the MSW@Denver program follows. View GSSW academic calendars.

For more information about the certificate, please reach out to your Enrollment Specialist.