Master program Ethology & Human-Animal Interaction - EHAI

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Master program Ethology & Human-Animal Interaction - EHAI

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Note: This page belongs to Prof. Dr. Alina S. Erasmus and other types of foreign students are also welcome in the master’s program.

Rusu, who teaches the following subjects in the EHAI master program: Animal Cognition & Consciousness, Animal Assisted Interventions, Human Ethology, Animals in Society & Humane Education. Description: The master's degree program in Ethology & Human-Animal Interaction (EHAI), currently the only one of this type in Romania, has a duration of 2 years (4 semesters), with teaching in English, being oriented towards the formation of specialists in animal behavior/ ethologists. The EHAI master provides in an interdisciplinary and interactive manner theoretical and practical knowledge about the scientific study of animal behavior, animal quality of life and needs, about the responsible management of interactions with them, and the psycho-social factors associated with attitudes and compassion-based behaviors for humans, animals and the environment. During the two years of the program, students have the opportunity to interact not only with specialists from the host University, but also with national and international experts in the field of human-animal interactions, as well as with community representatives. Admission: open to undergraduate graduates in the fields of animal sciences, veterinary medicine, psychology, ecology, public health, law, human medicine, social work and others. Logo: Get involved, learn to be responsible and empathetic toward people, animals and the environment.

01/11/2026

About this page: This page belongs to Prof. Dr. Alina S. Rusu, who is part of the teaching staff of the EHAI Master's Programme (Ethology and Human-Animal Interaction) and coordinator of the Human-Animal Interaction Research Lab - HAIRlab.

Within the EHAI master programme, Prof. Dr. Rusu teaches the following subjects:

Animal Cognition & Consciousness

Animal Assisted Interventions

Human Ethology

Animals in Society & Humane Education

Ethics and Academic Integrity

She also served as the Coordinator of the EHAI Master's Programme from 2022 to 2026.

For questions regarding admission to the EHAI Master's Programme, please contact the Secretariat of the Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnologies:

📧 [email protected]

06/09/2026

🎓🐾 Exciting news to kick off the 2026–2027 academic year 🫶

The Master program Ethology & Human-Animal Interaction - EHAI, USAMV Cluj-Napoca, Facultatea de Zootehnie si Biotehnologii USAMV Cluj-Napoca, is delighted to launch a new series of Human-Animal Interaction Research Lab - HAIRlab invited online lectures 🌍💻🐾

We are thrilled to welcome three outstanding international speakers, who will bring fascinating perspectives on animal cognition, welfare, human-animal relationships, and animal-assisted services:

📅 November 6 | 4:00 PM (Romania time)
🎙️ Dr. Rise VanFleet
“Embracing the Animal's Perspective – Book presentation with practical ideas for animal well-being and healthy human-animal relationships”
Host: Prof. Alina Rusu, class "Animal Cognition & Consciousness"

📅 November 13 | 4:00 PM (Romania time)
🎙️ Dr. Christian Nawroth
“The Smarts of Farm Animals – Experimental Approaches and Relevance for Animal Welfare”
Host: Prof. Alina Rusu, class "Animal Cognition & Consciousness"

📅 November 19 | 4:00 PM (Romania time)
🎙️ Dr. Christine Olsen
“Personality and Emotional Stability in Dogs Assessed for Animal-Assisted Services”

💻 All lectures will take place online via Google Meet and are open to students, teachers, researchers, practitioners, and everyone interested in human-animal interactions.

📲 Check the flyers below for the QR codes and meeting details.

We can’t wait to learn, connect, and explore these fascinating topics together! 🐕🐄🐾🐈🐄

11/08/2026

NEW WEBINAR! 🕊️ Pet loss is a profound but often disenfranchised form of grief — and research on it has largely overlooked the experiences of African American pet owners.

Join us for this webinar presenting findings from a qualitative study of 23 African American adults who experienced pet loss in adulthood. Grounded in the Dual Process Model of Coping with Bereavement, the session explores eight key themes — including anticipatory grief, disenfranchised grief, inequities in bereavement care, and spiritual and emotional growth — and what they mean for building more inclusive, culturally responsive approaches to pet loss support.

📅 Wednesday, August 19, 2026
🕐 10:00–11:30 AM MDT

RSVP now: https://www.human-animal-interaction.org/events/pet-loss-culture-and-coping-african-american-experiences-of-grief/

29/07/2026

📚 Students and graduates of the Master program Ethology & Human-Animal Interaction - EHAI- here's a new released paper (Littlewood, Beausoleil & Mellor, 2026) you won't want to miss.

The latest update to the Five Domains Model refines how we think about welfare-focused animal care by introducing important changes to the Five Provisions, including:

🐾 Appropriate Behaviour ➜ Appropriate Choices
🏡 Good Environment ➜ Good Living Space
🤝 Positive Mental Experiences ➜ Integrated Care

These updates reinforce the distinction between animal care (what we provide) and animal welfare (what animals experience), while highlighting the importance of agency, choice, and consistent care in promoting positive welfare.

A valuable read for anyone studying or working in animal welfare and human-animal interaction fields.

📖 Read the open-access article here: [https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/16/12/1927]

13/07/2026

🎓 New admission session on September 2026 🐾

Ready to turn your passion for animals into a career? Join the "Master's Programme in Ethology and Human-Animal Interactions ( )" – a 2-year, English-taught programme at the USAMV Cluj-Napoca, Facultatea de Zootehnie si Biotehnologii USAMV Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

🌍 Explore animal behaviour, animal welfare, and the complex relationships between humans, animals, and the environment while gaining advanced, internationally recognized qualifications.

🎯 We welcome graduates from:
🐶 Animal Science • 🧬 Biology • 🩺 Veterinary Medicine • 🌿 Ecology & Environmental Sciences • 🧠 Psychology • 🏥 Public Health • ⚖️ Law • 👨‍⚕️ Human Medicine • and other related fields.

🐾🌱📌 Admiterea din sesiunea de toamna are loc din 31 August pana in 11 Septembrie 2026. Atentie: Confirmarea locului (cu aducerea actelor necesare in original) se poate face acum in ziua inscrierii.

🔗 [https://fzb.usamvcluj.ro/admitere/programs-overview-master/]

✨ Become part of the next generation of professionals advancing the science of human-animal interactions 💙🐾

05/07/2026

🎓 O nouă generație de specialiști în etologie și interacțiunea om–animal a absolvit programul internațional EHAI de la USAMV Cluj-Napoca!
🐾 De la bunăstarea animalelor și conservarea biodiversității până la impactul relației om–animal asupra sănătății și societății, acești absolvenți sunt pregătiți să contribuie la un viitor mai bun pentru animale și oameni.

03/07/2026

🎓 Celebrating a New Generation of EHAI Graduates 🎉

On 3 July 2026 we happily celebrated the graduation of the 2024–2026 cohort, the fourth generation of students to complete the "Ethology & Human–Animal Interaction" (EHAI) Master's programme at the Facultatea de Zootehnie si Biotehnologii USAMV Cluj-Napoca, USAMV Cluj-Napoca

As the only programme of its kind in Romania, EHAI brings together ethology, animal welfare and social sciences to explore the complex relationships between humans and animals through the One Health - One Welfare perspective and other integrative models.

This year's Master's theses covered diverse topics, such as: the reciprocal behavioural influences between children and rescued animals, public perceptions of animal cruelty on social media, attitudes towards beaver conservation, dairy cow temperament assessment, anthropological perspectives on Arctic cervids, the role of ethology in observing wild cervids in Romania, and human-dog relationship-based personal development programmes.

Each project reflects the curiosity, dedication, and scientific passion of our students.

👏 Congratulations to all our graduates! We wish you every success as you embark on the next chapter of your academic and professional journeys. We can't wait to see the impact you'll make in the world of animal behaviour, welfare, and human–animal interaction.

🌍 Ready to join the next EHAI cohort?

Admissions for the 2026 intake are scheduled as it follows:
📅 14–31 July 2026** – Romanian citizens
🌐 14 May–17 July 2026 – International applicants

Applications can be submitted online or in person.

👉 Learn more and apply here:
[https://fzb.usamvcluj.ro/admitere/how-to-apply-master/](https://fzb.usamvcluj.ro/admitere/how-to-apply-master/)

We look forward to welcoming the next generation of EHAI students! 🐾

05/06/2026

Volunteering opportunities - animal-assisted support / animal-assisted activities in Cluj-Napoca.

24/03/2026

🐾 The Human-Animal Interaction Research Lab invites you to a special international webinar on one of the most complex and sensitive topics in animal welfare: animal hoarding.

“Too Many to Save: Understanding Animal Hoarding and Its Impact on Welfare – Insights from Veterinary Behaviour Experts”

This event is open to everyone — students, professionals, and anyone interested in animal welfare, human–animal relationships, and behavioral science. Whether you work in the field or simply care deeply about animals, this is a valuable opportunity to learn from leading experts.

🎓 Invited speakers:

Dr. Med. Vet. Luigi Sacchettino
PhD Student Med. Vet. Viviana Giuliano
Prof. Dr. Med. Vet. Danila D’Angelo
(University of Naples Federico II, Italy)

📅 Date: May 15
🕒 Time: 11:00 (Bucharest time)
💻 Location: Online (Google Meet)
🔗 Join here: https://meet.google.com/qrx-zton-nro?authuser=1&pli=1

This webinar is part of the course “Animals in Society & Humane Education” within the Master program Ethology & Human-Animal Interaction - EHAI (Year 1), Facultatea de Zootehnie si Biotehnologii USAMV Cluj-Napoca, USAMV Cluj-Napoca.

We warmly welcome everyone interested in understanding and improving animal welfare in challenging real-world situations. 🐶🐱

Address

Calea Manastur 3-5
Cluj-Napoca

Website

https://fzb.usamvcluj.ro/2021/06/08/ethology-and-human-animal-interaction/

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