
Pursue your passion to save the lives of dogs and cats
Whether you’re an experienced animal services professional looking to grow your career or new to the field, the partnership between Best Friends and Southern Utah University offers unique learning opportunities in contemporary animal services tailored to fit your needs — from degree programs to professional certifications and credentials.
Prepare to make a lifesaving impact
Our programs provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to save the lives of cats and dogs in your community.
Learn from the experts

Make valuable connections

Gain the skills you need

Ready to take the next step in your career?
Whether you’re an experienced animal services professional looking to grow your career or you’re new to the field, these courses offer unique learning opportunities and can be tailored to fit your specific goals.
Foundational courses
To get the most out of your learning experience, we recommend taking our foundational courses in this order:
Specialized courses
If you’re interested in what it takes to run an animal sanctuary, Running a Lifesaving Sanctuary is the course for you.
Leadership certifications
If you're an existing leader in the field, we offer the Executive Leadership Certification and the Management Leadership Certification.
Master’s degree program
This 30-credit master’s degree can be completed online and covers a wide variety of contemporary animal services topics, from managing people and budgets to fundraising and crisis communications.
Course availability may vary.
What past participants have to say about the programs

"Being part of the ELC helped me build skills and a tool set to approach my work with greater confidence."

“As a leader in animal welfare, I never really had a solid direction until I met the great teams with Best Friends Animal Society and Southern Utah University. Their guidance has shown me structure and passion and dedication, and also has shown me my true potential in helping people and pets in my community.”
