Animal Behavior Institute
2625 McDowell Road
Durham, N.C. 27705

The Animal Behavior Institute was founded in 2004 by Dr. Gary Fortier and Dr. Janis Hammer to offer animal behavioral and training courses and majors online to animal professionals as well as those who wish to better understand animals and the human-animal bond.

Animal Behavior Institute offers certification programs in animal training and enrichment, animal assisted therapy and activities, exotic animal management, and wildlife rehabilitation. The certificate programs consist of five courses to help students gain knowledge in their chosen field of animal study. The animal assisted therapy program courses include animal assisted therapy, human-animal bond, practical psychology, animal training, and animal behavior. The animal training and enrichment courses include animal training, animal enrichment, animal behavior, animal minds and emotion, and behavior and training of marine mammals. The exotic animal management courses include exotic animal management and conservation, animal nutrition, health and disease, husbandry and recordkeeping, environmental education and outreach, and animal training. Students in the wildlife rehabilitation program study principles of wildlife rehabilitation, animal nutrition, health and disease, animal behavior, wildlife management, and environmental education and outreach.

Quick Facts

• Animal Behavior Institute's courses are taught in 10 weeks, each trimester, by faculty with doctoral degrees in their respective areas of study.



• The courses are offered through Animal Behavior Institute's eCollege platform, a professional virtual classroom with interactive study guides, discussion sections, and exams.



• Tuition is $1,115 per class and financial assistance is available through student loans or employer reimbursement.



• Animal Behavior Institute provides career assistance to its students, including resume writing and employment search.



• Academic support and contact with professors is available through email, telephone, and discussion boards.



• Animal Behavior Institute provides continuing education courses that are approved by the American Association of Veterinary State Board's Registry of Approved Continuing Education. Courses include animal minds and emotion, animal assisted therapy, animal behavior, animal enrichment, animal training, and the human-animal bond.