Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, is home of the first undergraduate program in animal behavior in the nation. The focus of this program, which is a joint venture of the biology and psychology departments, is on the evolution of animal life. Core courses include research methods in animals, behavior biology, genetics, and population and community. Once students enter their junior year, they can enroll in more specialized animal behavior courses like social insects, behavioral ecology, mammalogy and topics in animal behavior. This undergraduate degree prepares students for graduate study in the field or animal-related careers like animal research, veterinary work or zoology. With only an average of 10 students entering the program each year, students can easily access the program's three core and four affiliated faculty members.
Bucknell University
Animal Behavior Program
203 O'Leary
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, Penn. 17837
570-577-1200
bucknell.edu
Atlanta's Emory University offers a master's degree in neuroscience and animal behavior that focuses on animal behavior in a biological context. The school seeks students who have a strong science foundation and took courses in neuroscience and animal behavior at the undergraduate level. Faculty work with graduate students to create a course load that complements their research interests. The program follows four core courses in psychology followed by electives. Sample courses include biological foundations of behavior, animal behavior and evolution and animal models of developmental neuropathy. Students in this program participate in a teaching associateship, where they teach a lab section for an undergraduate experimental methods class.
Department of Psychology
Suite 270
36 Eagle Row
Emory University
Atlanta, Ga. 30322
404-727-7438
psychology.emory.edu
Students seeking the terminal degree in animal behavior can pursue a doctoral degree at the University of California Davis. They can specialize in three different fields---ethology and the evolutionary bases of animal behavior, the physiological bases of animal behavior or applied animal behavior of domestic or wild animals. Core courses include scientific approaches to animal behavior, fundamentals of animal behavior and a seminar in animal behavior. Applicants need prior courses in ecology, genetics and statistics at the undergraduate or master's level. To complete their studies, students conduct research and write a dissertation with a three-member dissertation committee. They also complete a final oral examination in animal behavior before graduating.
University of California Davis
Animal Behavior Graduate Group
College of Biological Sciences Dean's Office
310 Life Sciences
One Shields Ave.
Davis, Calif. 95616
530- 752-2981