Graduate Degrees in Animal Behavior
Faculty from the Departments of Biology, Psychological & Brain Sciences, Anthropology and other departments provide broad and intensive training in neuroscience, learning, development, ecology, and evolution. Focal research topics include mate choice and sexual behavior, parental behavior and development, migration and orientation, communication and learning and developmental plasticity. Program graduate students are encouraged to work in more than one laboratory, bringing to bear multiple techniques and conceptualizations on particular problems. Training requirements include courses in neuroscience, evolution, and learning/ development, plus special year-long topical seminars. The program invites eminent visiting scientists to participate in these seminars, give workshops, and interact with students and faculty.
Students must be admitted to a Ph.D. program in the Department of Biology, the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, or the program in Neuroscience or other related departments or programs (e.g., program in Medical Sciences, Anthropology, History and Philosophy of Science). After being accepted by IU, students should apply for membership into the Program in Animal Behavior by filling out our online form or by contacting CISAB directly. Once enrolled, students may obtain a PhD Minor in Animal Behavior and/or a PhD Area Certificate in Animal Behavior by completing the requirements below.
PhD Minor in Animal Behavior
At least FOUR courses taken from at least two different departments/graduate programs, as specified below:
(1) ONE ABEH A501 Seminar in the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior
(2) ONE course from the following list, emphasizing mechanisms of behavior:
- NEUS N500 Neural Science I
- NEUS N501 Neural Science II
- NEUS N550 Seminar in Sensorimotor Neuroplasticity
- BIOL L560 Physiological Ecology
- BIOL Z563 Comparative Neurobiology of Animal Behavior
- PSY P526 Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
- PSY P667 Neuropsychopharmacology
(3) ONE course from the following list, emphasizing evolutionary perspectives:
- ANTH B568 Evolution of Primate Social Behavior
- ANTH B600 Evolutionary Theory of Anthropology
- BIOL L567 Evolution
- BIOL L573 Quantitative Genetics and Microevolution
- BIOL L581 Behavioral Ecology
- BIOL Z540 Population Genetics
(4) ONE additional course from above or from the list below:
- BIOL L505 Evolution and Development
- BIOL Z460 Ethology
- BIOL Z466 Endocrinology
- COGS Q551 Brain and Cognition
- COGS Q700 Theoretical Issues in Animal Cognition
- MED P561 Comparative Animal Physiology
- PSY P417 Animal Behavior
- PSY P504 Learning and Motivation
- PSY P527 Developmental Psychobiology
- PSY P717 Evolutionary Bases of Learning
Area Certificate
The requirements for the Area Certificate in Animal Behavior include all of the requirements of the minor, plus the following:
- One additional ABEH A501 Seminar in the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior
- ABEH A502 Professional Ethics for the Bio-Behavioral Sciences or PSY P595 First-Year Research Seminar
- One additional course from 1-4 above.
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