Dog Fancy magazine and DogChannel.com are offering dog owners a chance to earn a free online degree by enrolling in Dog College.

The program sponsored by Iams Healthy Naturals runs from April 15-July 15. The three-month program consists of nine courses that give pet owners better insights into caring for their dogs.

The Dog College curriculum includes courses on physiology, natural nutrition, communication, genetics, environmental science and art history.

"Whether you are just thinking about getting a dog, or already have a puppy, older dog, purebred or rescue, you can learn more about dogs, and how to make the relationship with your pet stronger, by taking these classes,” said Ernie Slone, editor of Dog Fancy and DogChannel.

Each course includes advice and information from dog experts, along with reading material, video and slide shows. To graduate, students must complete all of the quizzes with a passing score of 60 percent or higher.

A valedictorian, chosen from those who score 100 percent on all quizzes, will win a year’s worth of Iams Healthy Naturals dog food provided by PETCO.