UC DAVIS GENERAL CATALOG--Programs and Courses

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Animal Behavior (A Graduate Group)

Alexander H. Harcourt, Ph.D., Chairperson of the Group
Group Office, Center for Animal Behavior (530-752-4863; Fax: 530-752-8391; e-mail: jmtrevitt@ucdavis.edu)
World Wide Web: http://www.npb.ucdavis.edu/abggpage/abgg.htm

Faculty. The Group includes faculty from 11 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 anthropology, animal science, ecology, enotmology, psychology, veterinary science, wildlife biology, and zoology. Students choose one of the five 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, (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 early application deadline of January 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 four 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 or Entomology 104
General genetics: Biolgical Sciences 101
Statistics: e.g., Statistics 149 or Psychology 103, or the equivalent
Evolution: Genetics 103 or Evolution and Ecology 100, or the equivalent
Animal behavior: Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior 102
Systemic physiology: e.g. Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior 110 or 119

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.

Interdisciplinary topics in behavior: Animal Behavior 230A
Statistical analysis: one course from Psychology 205, 207A, 207B, Statistics 206, 106, 108 or 110
Methodology and grant writing: Animal Behavior 201
Seminar in animal behavior: Animal Behavior 290
College teaching: Biological Sciences 310 or Psychology 390A, 390B, Animal Behavior 390A, 390B
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)

Professional Course

*Course not offered this academic year.

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Graduate Courses

Graduate Courses

201. Scientific Approaches to Animal Behavior Research (3) III. 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.

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.)

Professional Course

396. Teaching Assistant Training Practicum
(1-4) I, II, III. The Staff (Chairperson in charge)

Prerequisite: graduate standing. May be repeated for credit. (S/U grading only.)


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UC Davis 1999-2000 Online General Catalog. Posted July 30, 1999.
catalog-comment@ucdavis.edu
Molly Theodossy, Keitha Hunter and Barbara Anderson, Editors

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