Course Offerings

Animal Behavior

Asterisks (*) indicate courses in which animal dissection OR experimentation with living animals may be involved in the course or laboratory.

Below is the complete lists of courses offered by the department. Follow this link to see what courses are being offered this semester

266. Animal Behavior (I; 3, 0)

A survey of important theories, issues, and empirical techniques in the interdisciplinary field of animal behavior emphasizing both proximate and ultimate mechanisms and explanations for behavior. Crosslisted as BIOL 266 and PSYC 266.

296. Laboratory in Animal Behavior (I or II; 0; 3*) Half course.

Laboratory and/or field research to accompany ANBE/BIOL/PSYC 266 (Animal Behavior) Prerequisite: PSYC 215 and prerequisite or corequisite ANBE/BIOL/PSYC 266. Crosslisted as PSYC 296.

309. Appetite and Eating Behavior (I or II; 3, 0)

Advanced seminar on research and theories regarding neural and psychological controls of appetite, and causes and treatment of eating disorders. Prerequisite: PSYC 203. Crosslisted as PSYC 309.

313. Mammalogy (I; 3, 3*)

Biology of mammals, including evolution, classification, biodiversity, behavior, anatomy, physiology, ecology, and conservation. Lab will include specimen identification, preparation, and field study. Prerequisite: BIOL 206 and permission of the instructor.

317. Learning and Adaptive Behavior (I or II; 3, 0)

Advanced seminar in issues of nature/nurture, learning, development, and adaptation, in behaviors such as foraging, mating, and communication in several species. Prerequisite: ANBE 266 or PSYC 203. Crosslisted as PSYC 317.

321. Behavioral Ecology (I; 3, 0)

The consideration of behavioral adaptations to various ecological situations. Topics include habitat choice, foraging behavior, defenses against predation, mate choice, and brood care. Prerequisites: BIOL 208 and permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as BIOL 321.

341. Organic Evolution (AI; 4, 0)

The principles and mechanisms of evolution in plants and animals, covering population phenomena, speciation, life history strategies, adaptation, systematics, and biogeography. Prerequisites: BIOL 208 and permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as BIOL 341.

342. Neuroethology (II; 3, 0)

A course that integrates neurobiology and behavior in natural contexts. Emphasis on signal detection, recognition, discrimination, localization, orientation, and the control of complex acts. Neuronal and hormonal mechanisms, ontogeny and evolution of behavior will be considered. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as BIOL 342.

354. Tropical Ecology (II; 3, 0)

Introduction to tropical ecology, including life history strategies of vertebrates and invertebrates, biodiversity management and conservation. Emphasis on class and individual projects, data collection, and journal keeping. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as BIOL 354.

355. Behavior of Social Insects (II; 3, 3*)

Evolution and genetics of social behavior, caste, communication in foraging and colony defense, queen and worker control over reproduction, social homeostasis, and population dynamics. Prerequisites: BIOL 208 and permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as BIOL 355. Juniors and seniors only.

356. Plant-Animal Interactions (I; 3, 3)

The coevolution and ecology of plants and animals covering pollination ecology, seed dispersal, plant-herbivore interactions, and habitat constraints on the behavioral ecology of animals. Prerequisites: BIOL 122 or 208 and permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as BIOL 356.

357. Ornithology (II; 3, 3)

The biology of birds, including evolution, behavior, anatomy, physiology, ecology, and conservation; lab trips focus on identification of birds in the field. Prerequities: BIOL 206 and BIOL 208 or permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as BIOL 357.

366. Ethology and Comparative Psychology (I or II; 3, 0)

Detailed analysis of contemporary theory and research in animal behavior emphasizing the evolution of behavior. Prerequisite: PSYC 266 or permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as PSYC 366.

370. Primate Behavior and Ecology (I; 3, 3*)

Introduction to research on prosimians, monkeys, and apes. Diversity, habitat, diet, growth, reproduction, social behavior, cognitive abilities. Prerequisites: BIOL 122, or 208, or 266 and permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as BIOL/PSYC 370.

391. Research (I, II, and S; R; 1-3, 1-3) Half to full course.

Independent research, with faculty supervision, in the study of animal behavior. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.

399. Senior Thesis (I, II, and S; R; 2, 10)

Original research leading to a thesis presentation on a topic related to the study of animal behavior. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Seniors only.

415. Conservation Biology (II; 4, 0)

A synthesis of topics relating to the conservation of plants and animals including extinction, genetics, demography, insularization, threats to biodiversity, conservation economics, environmental ethics, and strategies for conservationists. Prerequisites: BIOL 208 or BIOL 122 and permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as BIOL 415.