Animal Behavior
(A Graduate Group)

Alexander H. Harcourt, Ph.D., Interim Chairperson of the Group

Group Office, Center for Animal Behavior
(916-752-4863; Fax: 916-752-8391; e-mail: jmtrevitt@ucdavis.edu)

Faculty. The Group includes faculty from eleven departments in three schools and colleges.

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 psychology, zoology, animal science, veterinary science, ecology, and wildlife biology. Students choose one of the four areas of specialization: (1) ethology and evolutionary bases of animal behavior, (2) physiological basis of animal behavior, and (3) behavior and conservation of wild animals, and (4) behavior and management of domestic animals. All four 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 Bay Marine Biology Laboratory, and the Agricultural Field Stations.

There is an early application deadline of January 15 for fall quarter.

Preparation. Appropriate preparation is a bachelor's or master's degree in one of the several disciplines relevant to behavior, such as psychology, zoology, entomology, anthropology, physiology, wildlife biology, ecology, animal science, veterinary medicine, genetics, or animal behavior. In addition, at least one course from each of the following four areas must be taken before admission into the program or before the end of the first year in the program.

General genetics: Genetics 100 or the equivalent

Statistics: Statistics 102 or Psychology 103, or the equivalent

Evolution: Genetics 103 or Evolution and Ecology 100, or the equivalent

Animal behavior: Psychology 150, Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology 140, or Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior 155, or the equivalent

Students are encouraged to engage in some form of research as early as possible during the first year. This pre-dissertation research may be pursued under the guidance of any faculty member of the Group, not necessarily the student's major professor.

Breadth Requirement. The following core courses or the equivalent (22 to 24 units) are required of all students.

Systemic physiology: Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior 110 or 142

Statistical analysis: one course from Psychology 206, 207, Statistics 106, or 110

Scientific approaches to animal behavior research: Animal Behavior 201

Seminar in animal behavior: Animal Behavior 290

Ecology: Entomology 104, Environmental Studies 100, or Evolution and Ecology 101

College teaching: Biological Sciences 310 or Psychology 390

Comparative psychology: Psychology 250

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.

Courses in Animal Behavior (ANB)

*Course not offered this academic year.

Graduate Courses

201. Scientific Approaches to Animal Behavior Research (3) I. The Staff

Lecture--3 hours. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Philosophical issues, goals, strategies and tools in field and laboratory research. May be repeated for credit when topics differ.

220. Behavioral Aspects of Animal Domestication (3) III. Price (Animal Science)

Lecture--3 hours. Prerequisite: graduate standing and a course in animal behavior, or consent of instructor. History of animal domestication, the role of natural and artificial selection in domestication, the influence of environment and experience on domestic animal behavior and human-animal interrelations. Offered in alternate years.

230A. Interdisciplinary Approaches to Animal Behavior (3) II. The Staff

Seminar--3 hours; term paper. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Analysis of literature in behavior and an allied discipline or disciplines that offer the potential, in combination, to advance the understanding of a topic in animal behavior conceptually and empirically. Topics will vary from year to year.

230B. Interdisciplinary Approaches to Animal Behavior (5) III. The Staff

Workshop--4 days total; discussion--3 hours; term paper. Prerequisite: course 230A the previous quarter. Development of an empirical or theoretical interdisciplinary approach to research on a current topic in animal behavior.

270. Research Conference in Behavioral Ecology (1) I, II, III. Eadie, Page, Caro, Borgerhoff Mulder, Stamps

Conference--1 hour. Prerequisite: graduate standing and consent of instructor. Critical presentation and evaluation of current literature and ongoing research in behavioral ecology. Limited enrollment. May be repeated for credit. (S/U grading only.)

290. Seminar in Animal Behavior (1-3) I, II, III. The Staff

Seminar--1-3 hours. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Selected topics in animal behavior. (S/U grading only.)

298. Group Study (1-5) I, II, III. The Staff

Prerequisite: graduate standing and consent of instructor.

299. Research (1-12) I, II, III. The Staff

Prerequisite: and consent of instructor. (S/U grading only.)

UC Davis 1997-98 Online General Catalog. Posted August 1, 1997.
catalog-comment@ucdavis.edu
Keitha Hunter and Barbara Anderson, Editors

We welcome your comments.