General Information | The Program | Courses | PDF File

Graduate Study. The Ph.D. program in Animal Behavior is an interdepartmental program that trains students for teaching and research in a variety of areas, including anthropology, animal science, ecology, entomology, neurobiology, psychology, physiology, veterinary science, wildlife biology, and zoology. Students choose one of five areas of specialization: (1) ethology and evolutionary bases of animal behavior, (2) physiological basis of animal behavior, (3) behavior and conservation of wild animals, (4) behavior and management of domestic animals, and (5) integrative studies. All five specializations emphasize the adaptive and evolutionary bases of animal behavior. Resources available to students, in addition to various departmental facilities, include those of the California Regional Primate Research Center, Bodega Marine Laboratory, and the Agricultural Field Stations.

There is an application deadline of December 15 for fall quarter.

Preparation. Appropriate preparation is a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a discipline relevant to the biology of behavior. In addition, at least one course from each of the following areas must be taken before admission into the program or before the end of the first year in the program.

Ecology: e.g., Evolution and Ecology 101, Environmental Science and Policy 100
Genetics: e.g., Biological Sciences 101
Statistics: e.g., Statistics 102 or Psychology 103
Evolution: e.g., Evolution and Ecology 100
Animal behavior: Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior 102
Physiology: e.g. Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior 100

Core Requirements. Students take two “breadth” courses, at least one course in statistics, a methodology and grant writing course, and a graduate seminar. Required courses:

Comparative psychology: Psychology 250
Methodology and grant writing: Animal Behavior 201
Advanced statistics: Psychology 204A, 204B, 204C, or 204D, Statistics 106, 108, 138, 205, Agronomy 205, 206
Graduate seminars: Animal Behavior 290
Strongly recommended: a course on teaching science: Biological Sciences 310, Psychology 390A, 390B

Strongly recommended: at least one additional course in statistics or modeling. In addition to the above listed courses, modeling courses include Population Biology 231 and Psychology 128.

Specialization: 12 additional units should be taken in the chosen area of specialization, with substitution as approved by the advisor. We also strongly recommend that students increase their breadth of training in animal behavior by taking at least one additional required course from a specialization other than their chosen one.

12 additional units should be taken in the specialty track that you choose.
Specialization. In addition to the requirements listed above, students must also take courses in one of the three areas of specialization with substitution as approved by the adviser.