New Huron College degree inspires students to confront, question animal welfare and ethics

Huron University College is launching an undergraduate degree in animal ethics and sustainability leadership to help shape the future of animal welfare at a time when the climate is changing. 

The major will officially launch in September at the London, Ont., school and be the first of its kind in the world, according to the university.

"There are still a lot of challenges in terms of the climate, in terms of the way that some animals are being treated, especially animals we don't see," said the program's co-ordinator, Kendra Coulter. "Students are really wanting to confront the climate crisis to create more ethical opportunities for us."

Students will be required to take courses in law and policy, business, philosophy, animal ethics and nature and technology. However, they're able to take other elective courses to customize their degree, Coulter said.

"The degree is designed to really allow students to customize [their program] based on their own particular goals," said Coulter. "We're really excited about the possibilities."

The new degree was created for students who are looking for ways to tackle the climate crisis or challenge animal ethics issues, such as animal testing.

"Like so many of us, we have that curiosity and that love for animals," said Coulter, who notes she would have loved this degree when she was in university. "In the past, if you wanted to pursue that, you would use the sciences as the route."

Now that there's a particular major for students to address and problem-solve environmental and animal issues, Coulter hopes the degree will attract people passionate about creating change.

"I got a little emotional thinking about it," said Coulter. "I mean, these are really motivated students that we have at Huron and we're going to be attracting many more."