Explore learning and behavior from a
natural science perspective
How We're Unique
Although our name is Behavior Works Zoo School, we welcome animal professionals from all walks of life and levels of experience, including domestic, companion, and zoo communities.
Our program represents the fusion of different levels of analysis, which we like to call the science sisters: behavior analysis, ethology and welfare science.
Our team of instructors are well-respected for their global influence improving animal care and wellbeing. Our knowledge and skills continue to define the cutting edge with science-based solutions, effective dissemination, and commitment to people and animals.
The BWZS mentors come from an auspicious list of mentors themselves. By standing on the shoulders of giants, we offer a deeper understanding of the science of behavior change and practical application.
We apply a natural science approach to practical training supported by a deeper understanding of learning and behavior. Personal recipe knowledge is not enough for today's standards of animal wellbeing.
Our close relationships with Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and Karen Pryor's National Training Center, as well as European and Australian sites, allows us to use a unique hands-on laboratory school approach to teaching and learning.
Our curriculum is based on sound instructional design principles, including dynamic, interactive teaching with small group coaching and one-to-one feedback.
Our philosophy of mentoring is characterized by a high level of engagement and commitment to the continued growth of each student. You are the future!
8 Course Curriculum
Starting: October 2026
Ending: July 2027
Course Fee
$5,700 USD for the complete 8 course curriculum. Discounts may apply.
$1,000 USD for individual courses selected à la carte.
The BW Zoo School Mission
We are very excited to introduce Behavior Works Zoo School (BWZS). BWZS offers the unique fusion of different fields of expertise essential to a contemporary and holistic approach to animal care and wellbeing.
Mentored by renowned experts in behavior analysis, training, ethology, welfare, and leadership, BWZS is designed to explore learning and behavior from a natural science perspective, emphasizing its critical role in advancing modern animal care practices.
The curriculum focuses on implementing evidence-based programs, with continuous assessment and data-driven decision-making at its core. Students learn to tailor behavior-change strategies by incorporating each animal’s natural history, individual learning history, and current context and conditions to promote individualized, humane care.
Throughout the program, strong emphasis is placed on upholding the highest ethical standards, preparing students to become thoughtful and responsible leaders in animal behavior and welfare.
Our Philosophy
Three standards drive the BWZS curriculum: compassion, confidence and collaboration. Throughout the curriculum, instructors will reflect the ways in which their course objectives embody these standards.
Compassion turns empathy into action to alleviate discomfort and distress. Compassionate training includes functional assessment, adherence to the least intrusive principle, respecting each animal’s assent and dissent behaviors, and consideration of natural history.
Confidence is the result of knowledge, technical skills and experience to ensure that our work produces a net welfare gain for the animals, coworkers, clients and visitors with whom we interact.
Collaboration with relevant sister sciences, such as ethology, neuroscience, veterinary medicine, and nutrition is critical for success. This requires relationship-building skills that include listening, communicating, perspective taking and critical thinking.
Program Learning Objectives
After completing the BW Certificate Program, you will:
Explain learning and behavior from a natural science perspective and describe its significance to contemporary animal care.
Locate and evaluate relevant research articles and use research findings to inform your practice caring for animals.
Effectively incorporate natural and individual history into behavior-change programs to improve the wellbeing of animals.
Effectively lead evidence-based behavior-change programs using ongoing assessment and data analysis.
Behave in accordance with established ethical guidelines regarding changing behavior of animals in your care.
Certificate Program
Experience a transformative, year-long professional training program designed for animal-care and behavior professionals seeking advanced, practical, real-world skills.
Comprehensive Coursework
(October 2026 – June 2027)
The curriculum consists of eight courses delivered across four terms from October 2026 through June 2027. Two courses run concurrently during each eight-week term. Detailed syllabi will be provided prior to the start of the program.
Monthly Video Coaching
Participants enrolled in the full program receive personalized video coaching sessions every month. Students will upload a one-minute training video and then meet virtually in a small group with expert instructors for focused feedback using the Start / Continue / Stop coaching model.
This process strengthens your own training performance and builds deep behavioral insight—empowering you not only to improve your work, but also to coach others with confidence.
5-Day Immersive Workshop at a Premier Zoo
The program begins with a five-day, in-person workshop hosted at an accredited zoo facility. The upcoming session will take place at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and will include hands-on training opportunities with giraffes and other species.
Travel and lodging are not included in tuition fees.
Time Commitment
Class Sessions: Two per week, 3 hours each
Estimated Out-of-Class Work: 2 hours per week per course
Total Weekly Time Commitment: Approximately 10 hours
This structure allows participants to maintain a manageable schedule while gaining high-caliber instruction, hands-on learning, and ongoing coaching from seasoned behavior professionals.
Rick Hester is the Director of Animal Care and Wellbeing at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado. His career at the zoo spans nearly two decades, beginning as a zookeeper in 2006 caring for a wide variety of species, including small primates, great apes, penguins, African lions, and bears. In 2015, he started working with Dr. Susan Friedman and began to understand the importance of behavior analysis and its application for animals in human care. He began curating the zoos behavior programs in 2018 and now oversees the zoo’s animal department. His work includes the zoo's animal training for husbandry, medical, and public show behaviors, engineering enriched environments, developing programs to improve problem behavior situations, the zoo's formal animal welfare assessments, and exhibit design. He is affiliative faculty at Colorado State University in the Department of Biology and a behavior consultant and course co-instructor for Susan Friedman's Behavior Works LLC.
Rick Hester
Chief Executive Officer
Rick Hester is the Director of Animal Care and Well-Being at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
Dr. Christy Alligood is a sought-after teacher, speaker, and thought leader whose experience spans the science and practice of behavior analysis.
Dr. Alligood received an MA (2003) from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a Ph.D. (2007) from West Virginia University. She is also a doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D).
For over 17 years, Dr. Alligood served as a behavior scientist at Disney’s Animals, Science, and Environment. In that capacity, she used her expertise in the application of behavior analysis to enhance the welfare of nonhuman animals through cooperative training, environmental enrichment, behavioral problem solving, and behavior change strategies supporting the conservation of wildlife and wild places.
Dr. Alligood is now a faculty member in the Department of Applied Behavioral Science at the University of Kansas. She previously held faculty positions at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and the University of Florida, where she was a nominee for the 2021 UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Teacher of the Year Award. She has served in many leadership roles in the Association for Behavior Analysis International, including president of the Applied Animal Behavior Special Interest Group, Coordinator of the Special Interest Groups Board, and At-large Representative to the Executive Council. She is also a past president and secretary of the Southeastern Association for Behavior Analysis and a general member of the AZA Behavior Advisory Group serving on the Culture Change working group.
Christy Alligood, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Chief Science Officer
Dr. Allgood is a faculty member in the Department of Applied Behavioral Science at the University of Kansas.
Ken Ramirez is the Executive Vice-President and Chief Training Officer at Karen Pryor Clicker Training where he helps to oversee the vision, development and implementation of training education programs for the organization.
Previously, Ken served as EVP of animal care and animal training at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium, where he developed and supervised animal care and animal health programs, staff training and development as well as public presentation programs for more than 32,000 animals. He worked at Shedd Aquarium for over 25 years and continued as a consultant for several years after.
A more than 50-year veteran of animal care and training, Ramirez is a biologist and animal behavior specialist who has overseen or consulted on training projects for many zoological organizations throughout the world. He began his training career working with guide dogs for the visually impaired and has maintained a close affiliation to pet training throughout his career. He hosted two successful seasons of the pet training television series Talk to the Animals that compared pet training to the important work done with training and caring for animals in zoological facilities. He has also worked closely with several search and rescue dog organizations, service dog groups, as well as with bomb and narcotic dogs.
Ramirez has been active in several professional organizations, including the International Marine Animal Trainer’s Association (IMATA), of which he is a past president. He taught a graduate course on animal training at Western Illinois University for 20 years. Ramirez has written for numerous scientific publications and authored countless popular articles. He authored the book ANIMAL TRAINING: Successful Animal Management through Positive Reinforcement, published in 1999. His most recent book The Eye of the Trainer: Animal Training, Transformation, and Trust, was published in 2020. Notably, in the past ten years, Ken has received three lifetime achievement awards from different professional training organizations: ABMA (Animal Behavior Manager’s Alliance), IMATA (International Marine Animal Trainers Association), and APDT (Association of Professional Dog Trainers).
Ken Ramirez
Chief Training Officer
Ken Ramirez is Executive Vice-President and Chief Training Officer of Karen Pryor Clicker Training
Dr. Susan G. Friedman, Ph.D. is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychology at Utah State University. Susan has co-authored chapters on behavior change in five veterinary texts, and her popular articles have been translated into 17 languages. She teaches seminars and courses on animal learning online (How Behavior Works: Living & Learning With Animals), with students from 63 countries so far. Susan also consults with zoos and animal organizations around the world. She was appointed to the F&WS California Condor Recovery Team from 2002 – 2010, after which time the team was retired due to the success of the birds in the wild. She is the Chairperson of the Scientific Advisory Committee of American Humane Association (AHA) Film and TV Unit, and a member in good standing of ABAI, ABMA, IAATE and IAABC.
Susan G. Friedman, Ph.D.,
Founder
Dr. Friedman is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychology at Utah State University.
Carl D. Cheney, Ph.D is Professor, Emeritus, of Psychology at Utah State University, USA. He taught behavior analysis and physiological psychology, and published widely in the experimental analysis of behavior-conducting basic analyses of predator-prey interactions, diet selection in domestic livestock, as well as reinforcement-schedule alterations and transitions in humans. His current research is focused on encouraging the wider use of behavior analysis in all appropriate situations.
