Course Descriptions (Tentative)

 Course Title: Introduction to Behavior Analysis for Zoo Professionals
Textbook: Learning by Paul Chance
Program: Behavior Works Zoo School – Core Foundations Course; Term 1

Instructors: Dr. Susan Friedman and Rick Hester
Prerequisite Status: Required before enrolling in any other Zoo School course a la carte

Course Description:
This foundational course introduces zoo professionals to the science and application of behavior analysis, providing the conceptual and practical groundwork necessary for success in all subsequent Behavior Works Zoo School courses. Using Learning by Paul Chance as the primary textbook, students will explore core principles such as reinforcement, shaping, stimulus control, antecedents and consequences, and functional relations. Emphasis is placed on building a clear, actionable understanding of behavior processes that directly supports animal care, welfare, training, and management in zoological settings.

In addition to developing fluency with behavioral concepts, students will begin their Zoo School capstone project. Throughout the course, participants will conduct an initial literature search, identify emerging themes and knowledge gaps, and gather preliminary ideas for their final project. By the end of the term, each student will have a well-defined topic direction and a curated set of scholarly resources to guide their capstone work.

Designed as the gateway to the Behavior Works Zoo School curriculum, this course equips learners with the analytical tools, scientific literacy, and conceptual clarity needed to progress confidently into specialized coursework. Whether your focus is training, enrichment, welfare, or research, this introductory experience establishes the shared language and evidence-based framework that unite all modern behavior-analytic practices in zoos and aquariums.

Course Title: Ethics in Animal Training and Welfare
Program: Behavior Works Zoo School – Term 1 Course
Instructors: Ken Ramirez & Dr. Susan Friedman

Course Description:
This cornerstone course invites students to explore the ethical foundations that guide high-quality animal care, training, and welfare in modern zoological settings. Taught by world-recognized leaders Ken Ramirez and Dr. Susan Friedman, the class provides a rigorous and thoughtful framework for making humane, effective, and transparent decisions in everyday practice.

Grounded in behavior science, the course examines:

·       The principles of least intrusive, effective interventions and how they guide responsible teaching strategies.

·       The trainer’s ethical responsibilities in shaping environments, relationships, and conditions that support animal agency and well-being.

·       Welfare-centered problem solving, emphasizing proactive, humane approaches to behavior challenges.

·       Assent, choice, and control as essential elements of ethical training and enriched living.

·       Critical evaluation of common training practices, with attention to unintended effects, reinforcement dynamics, and long-term welfare outcomes.

·       Ethical decision-making models that help professionals navigate complex or conflicting goals.

Using real-world case examples, guided discussion, and reflective activities, students will learn to evaluate practices through both scientific and ethical lenses. The instructors integrate decades of field experience with contemporary research to help participants develop a professional ethic rooted in compassion, accountability, and evidence-based reasoning.

Designed to be taken in the first term alongside the Learning and Behavior course, Ethics in Animal Training and Welfare establishes the moral and scientific compass for the entire Behavior Works Zoo School curriculum. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with a clear, operational understanding of what ethical practice looks like—and how to champion it in their organizations.

Course Title: Not Your Grandfather’s Applications: Contemporary Animal Behavior Change Practices
Program: Behavior Works Zoo School – Term 2 Course

Instructors: Rick Hester and Amy Schilz

Course Description:
This hands-on, forward-looking course immerses zoo professionals in the modern applications of behavior analysis that are shaping today’s most effective animal behavior change programs. Moving far beyond traditional training approaches, Not Your Grandfather’s Applications emphasizes the sophisticated, science-based strategies that define contemporary practice in zoos, aquariums, and wildlife facilities.

Through live and recorded demonstrations with multiple species, students will see key concepts brought to life, including:

·       Noncontingent reinforcement as a tool for reducing problem behavior and supporting calm, predictable environments.

·       “Getting to yes” strategies that build cooperative behavior and maximize learner success.

·       Reinforcement systems that enhance clarity, consistency, and efficiency across training contexts.

·       Antecedent arrangements that set the stage for smooth behavior change and minimize learner errors.

·       Marking procedures and “backing up bridges” to strengthen communication and improve precision.

·       Errorless learning techniques that promote confidence, reduce frustration, and accelerate skill acquisition.

·       Blazing clickers and other contemporary tools that sharpen timing and improve teaching effectiveness.

Across all topics, the scientific foundations of behavior analysis are woven directly into practical demonstrations, ensuring that participants not only see techniques in action but understand the principles that make them work.

Designed for the second term of the Behavior Works Zoo School curriculum, this course builds on the conceptual groundwork established in the introductory sequence. By the end, students will be equipped with cutting-edge, humane, and evidence-driven methods that enhance training outcomes, strengthen human–animal partnerships, and support the highest standards of welfare in modern zoological practice.

Course Title: Research Methods for Zoo Professionals
Program: Behavior Works Zoo School – Term 2 Course

Instructor: Dr. Christy Alligood

Course Description:
Research Methods for Zoo Professionals provides zoo practitioners with the scientific foundation needed to evaluate behavior systematically and make data-driven decisions that enhance animal welfare and training outcomes. Taught by Dr. Christy Alligood, this course introduces the core methods and analytic strategies used in behavior analysis, with direct application to zoological settings.

Students will learn to:

·       Develop clear operational definitions and select appropriate behavior measurement systems.

·       Collect and interpret data using tools such as continuous and discontinuous measurement, interobserver agreement, and reliability checks.

·       Analyze behavior change through visual analysis, examining level, trend, variability, and the presence of functional relations.

·       Understand and compare single-subject experimental designs, including reversal, multielement, changing-criterion, and various baseline logic formats.

·       Navigate and critically evaluate behavior analysis research literature, gaining familiarity with scientific writing, methods, and data presentation.

A central feature of this course is the advancement of each student’s capstone project. With structured guidance, participants will refine and finalize their research question and select the most appropriate experimental design to address it. By the end of the term, students will be prepared to plan and implement a rigorous behavior-change project grounded in sound methodology and ethical practice.

Designed for the second term of the Behavior Works Zoo School curriculum, this course builds on foundational behavioral concepts and equips learners with the research competencies needed for subsequent program coursework and professional application.

Course Title: Environmental Enrichment and Ethology: Applications of Natural History
Instructors: Jill Fernandez, Ken Ramirez, and Rick Hester
Program: Behavior Works Zoo School – Term 3 Course

Course Description:
This course explores how a deep understanding of species’ natural history and ethological principles can guide the creation of enrichment systems that support meaningful, operant behavior in zoo and aquarium environments. Taught by Ken Ramirez and Rick Hester—renowned leaders in enrichment and animal behavior—Environmental Enrichment and Ethology: Applications of Natural History bridges the gap between theoretical ethology and practical enrichment design.

Students will learn to:

·       Interpret evolutionary and ecological influences on species-typical behavior.

·       Translate ethological insights into enrichment strategies that promote exploration, problem-solving, foraging, and other natural behavior classes.

·       Design enrichment that strengthens operant behavior, creating conditions that encourage animals to engage actively with their environment.

·       Use operant principles to arrange habitats that naturally cue desired behaviors through thoughtful placement of structures, sensory opportunities, and choice points.

·       Evaluate enrichment through behavioral measurement, ensuring programs are purposeful, functional, and aligned with welfare goals.

·       Integrate enrichment with training and husbandry to build comprehensive, behavior-driven management plans.

As a third-term course in the Behavior Works Zoo School curriculum, this class builds on students’ earlier learning in behavior analysis and research methods. By combining natural history with principles of operant learning, students will develop the skillset to create dynamic environments that foster engagement, agency, and high-quality welfare across species.

Course Title: Environmental Enrichment and Ethology: Applications of Natural History
Instructors: Ken Ramirez, Rick Hester, and Jill Fernandez
Program: Behavior Works Zoo School – Term 3 Course

Course Description:
This course integrates the science of ethology with modern enrichment practices to help zoo professionals design environments and experiences that support species-appropriate behavior, encourage agency, and promote optimal welfare. Taught by master practitioners Ken Ramirez and Rick Hester, Environmental Enrichment and Ethology: Applications of Natural History offers an in-depth exploration of how animals’ evolutionary histories can—and should—guide the way we shape their daily lives in human care.

Through lectures, demonstrations, and case-based discussions, students will learn to:

• Interpret natural history and species-typical behaviors to inform enrichment planning.

• Design multifaceted enrichment programs that target sensory, cognitive, social, and physical needs.

• Collect and analyze meaningful data to evaluate enrichment effectiveness.

• Apply behavioral indicators of welfare to assess engagement, choice, and well-being.

• Integrate ethological observations into training, husbandry, and habitat design.

• Develop sustainable enrichment systems that evolve with the animals’ needs and organizational resources.

Building on the behavioral principles established in earlier terms, this course emphasizes the practical applications of natural history within an evidence-based enrichment framework. Students will leave with the skills to create thoughtful, goal-driven enrichment plans that align with each species’ ecological niche and behavioral repertoire.

Designed for the third term of the Behavior Works Zoo School curriculum, this course prepares participants to bring scientific depth, creativity, and strategic planning to enrichment programs across diverse taxa—ultimately enhancing welfare and strengthening the human–animal relationship.

Course Title: Function-Based Assessments and Intervention Design
Instructors: Dr. Christy Alligood & Kiki Yablon, M.S.
Program: Behavior Works Zoo School – Term 3 Course

Course Description:
This advanced course prepares zoo professionals to identify the variables that influence animal behavior and to design effective, ethical, and data-driven interventions. Taught by Dr. Christy Alligood and Kiki Yablon, M.S., Function-Based Assessments and Intervention Design emphasizes practical application of behavior-analytic assessment strategies within zoological settings.

Building on foundational coursework in learning science and research methods, students will learn to:

• Conduct function-based assessments to identify the environmental events that reliably predict and maintain behavior.

• Use indirect, descriptive, and experimental assessment tools to clarify the purpose of behavior and rule in—or out—potential maintaining consequences. Note: Add preference and reinforcer assessment.

• Translate assessment results into functionally-aligned intervention plans that prioritize the least intrusive and most effective procedures.

• Integrate antecedent strategies, reinforcement systems, and skill-building approaches to produce sustainable behavior change.

• Evaluate intervention effectiveness through ongoing data collection and visual analysis, making informed adjustments as needed.

A key component of this course is the advancement of each student’s capstone project. By the end of the term, participants will have fully developed the procedures for their project, including operational definitions, assessment methods, intervention components, and data-collection systems.

Designed for the third term of the Behavior Works Zoo School curriculum, this course equips learners with the analytical and practical skills necessary to solve complex behavior challenges and contribute meaningfully to the assessment, planning, and implementation phases of animal behavior change programs.

Course Title: Capstone
Instructors: TBD
Program: Behavior Works Zoo School – Term 4 Course

Course Description:
The Capstone course is provides students the opportunity to bring together the full range of knowledge and skills they have developed throughout the program. Designed for the fourth term, this course guides students through the implementation, monitoring, and analysis of their individualized capstone projects.

Students will:

• Implement the assessment and intervention procedures they designed in earlier terms.

• Collect, manage, and evaluate behavioral data using scientifically sound measurement and analysis methods.

• Apply visual analysis to identify trends, assess intervention impact, and determine the presence of functional relations.

• Troubleshoot challenges in real time, adjusting procedures while maintaining ethical standards and methodological integrity.

• Prepare a comprehensive summary of their project, including rationale, design, results, and implications for practice.

Throughout the course, instructors will provide guidance, feedback, and individualized support as students carry their projects from concept to completion. The emphasis is on applying the principles of behavior analysis, research methods, and welfare-focused decision-making in a practical, real-world context.

By the end of the Capstone course, students will have produced a polished, data-driven project that cements their readiness to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of animal welfare and training practices.

Course Title: Human Applications and Leadership
Instructors: Bob Chastain & Dr. Christy Alligood
Program: Behavior Works Zoo School – Term 4 Course

Course Description:
Human Applications and Leadership extends the science of behavior analysis beyond animal care to the people and systems that make high-quality zoological work possible. Designed for the fourth term of the Behavior Works Zoo School curriculum, this course prepares students to apply behavior principles to leadership, teamwork, and organizational effectiveness.

Guided by Bob Chastain and Dr. Christy Alligood, students will explore evidence-based strategies for building strong professional relationships, shaping productive staff behavior, and creating environments in which both people and animals can thrive.

Course topics include:

·       Behavior-analytic leadership practices, including positive reinforcement strategies for teams and individuals.

·       Organizational systems analysis, with emphasis on how antecedents, consequences, and environmental design shape workplace performance.

·       Coaching and feedback models grounded in behavioral principles that promote clarity, accountability, and professional growth.

·       Behavior-based communication and culture-building to support cohesive and mission-driven teams.

·       Strategic planning and problem-solving using collaborative processes and ongoing data analysis.

·       Applying human-centered ABA to improve training programs, staff engagement, and cross-departmental cooperation.

By integrating leadership science with applied behavior analysis, students will learn to design effective systems that support organizational success as thoughtfully as they support animal welfare. Graduates of this course will be prepared to lead with clarity, compassion, and competence—advancing both the culture and the impact of their institutions.

Course Title: Video Coaching in Animal Training
Instructors: TBD
Program: Behavior Works Zoo School – Required Each Term

Course Description:
Video Coaching in Animal Training provides students with personalized, hands-on guidance to refine and advance their practical skills throughout the Behavior Works Zoo School curriculum. Offered concurrently with two other courses each term, this course emphasizes real-time feedback and individualized coaching to accelerate competence in behavior-analytic training practices.

In this course, students will:

·       Submit monthly video recordings of their training sessions with animals for review.

·       Receive detailed, individualized feedback on technique, timing, reinforcement strategies, and behavioral observation.

·       Learn to self-assess performance and integrate feedback into ongoing practice.

·       Develop precision, consistency, and confidence in applying operant conditioning principles.

·       Track progress over time, identifying strengths and areas for targeted improvement.

Designed to complement theoretical and applied coursework, the Video Coaching course ensures that each student receives hands-on mentorship tailored to their learning pace and professional goals. By the end of the program, participants will demonstrate advanced, practical proficiency in behavior-analytic animal training, with a portfolio of skill development documented through coached video practice.

Course Title: Onsite Experience
Program: Behavior Works Zoo School – Culminating Experience

Course Description:
The Onsite Experience provides students with a unique, immersive opportunity to apply and synthesize the knowledge and skills acquired over four terms of coursework. Scheduled after completion of all program terms, this intensive 5-day experience combines hands-on demonstrations, guided training sessions, and professional engagement with leading experts in the field.

During the onsite experience, students will:

·       Participate in live demonstrations and practical training with a variety of species, reinforcing operant principles and enrichment strategies.

·       Apply behavior analysis, research methods, and enrichment design in real-world zoological settings.

·       Receive direct feedback and mentorship from experienced instructors and practitioners.

·       Engage in collaborative problem-solving, observing and reflecting on best practices in animal care and training.

·       Present their capstone project in a live poster session, sharing results, methodology, and implications with peers and faculty.

·       Synthesize program learnings to develop professional competence, integrating scientific principles, ethical considerations, and applied skills.

This culminating course bridges theory and practice, providing students with the confidence, experience, and professional connections to excel in modern zoological behavior and welfare programs. The Onsite Experience serves as both a celebration of achievement and a launchpad for continued professional growth in animal training and behavior analysis.