Animal Behavior

Degree: Bachelor of Science with a major in Animal Behavior

College: Arts and Sciences

Department: Psychology

Contact: Dr. Linda Morrison (Chair) lmorrison@une.edu

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Mission Statement

Animal behavior involves the investigation of how an organism relates to its environment - comprised of both physical and social factors - and includes a wide variety of topics, from finding food to achieving dominance, that all influence an organism's ability to survive and reproduce.  It is by its very nature interdisciplinary, drawing on techniques and concepts from multiple diverse fields such as psychology and neuroscience.  Through the use of expertise in psychology (the study of behavior and mental processes) and biology (the study of the living world), we can understand how animals behave, how these behaviors develop and the mechanisms, explanations and consequences of these behaviors.  Answers to the mechanisms of behavior include not only how external stimuli in the environment affect behavior but also how the internal hormonal and neural mechanisms mediate behavior.  The study of the development of behavior focuses on the way behavior changes over an individual's lifetime as a result of both genes and experience.  Investigations of the explanations of behavior examine immediate effects of a particular behavior on an animal, and ultimate effects such as a behavior's value in helping a species survive and reproduce successfully and that behavior's evolution over time.

The mission of animal behavior, as an interdisciplinary science that combines both psychology and biology, is to examine the complicated question of how and why animals behave the way they do by using techniques and concepts from multiple fields.  By the time they graduate, animal behavior majors will know how to think like scientists.  This will include a mastery of the basic skills that underlie the fields of psychology and biology - from critically obseerving the world around them to formulating basic hypotheses - as well as an understanding of concepts central to the disciplines and how these concepts interact and interrelate.  In order to enable students to attain these goals, they will be actively involved in the scientific process.  Through active involvement, students will gain an appreciation of not just animal behavior but psychology and biology as a whole.

One of the things that makes the University of New England a unique institution is its focus on learning by doing.  The psychology faculty is wholly supportive of this approach as indicated not only by strong student-faculty relationships but also by requiring an internship experience.  The animal behavior major further embraces this philosophy by providing research experiences within and outside the classroom learning environment.  Research experience is as critical a component of a well-rounded degree as content mastery and provides students with skills that are beneficial throughout their careers after graduation.  Through these hands on experiences, students will discover their talents, hone their skills, achieve their goals and become independent, critical thinkers that understand their role in not just the work force but the community in general.

Major Program Description

Animal Behavior is an interdisciplinary major offered jointly by faculty from the Department of Psychology and the Department of Biological Sciences.  Animal behavior is the scientific study of not only everything an animal does but why it does it.  This major is designed for students who are intersted in understanding why animals act the way they do on a proximate and ultimate level.  An animal behavior major can lead to employment in national parks, research laboratories, veterinary clinics, animal shelters, aquariums or zoos, or academia.  students who are planning on attending a graduate program in this field should be prepared not only to maintain an appropriately high GPA but also to conduct research in a laboratory on campus or at another institution.

Courses previously completed at another accredited college can be transferred to this degree program.  Transferred biology and psychology courses must be reasonably close in scope and content to the biology and psychology courses offered at UNE in order to count as exact equivalents.  Otherwise, they will transfer as general electives.  All Biology courses previously completed must be no older than five years (eight years for BIO 100 level courses).  Other restrictions apply.  See Undergraduate Admissions also.

Program Standards
A minimum grade of "C-"  must be achieved in all courses used to fulfill the requirements for the Animal Behavior major. See Undergraduate Academic Policy also. Curricular Requirements

					Credits
University Core Requirements					42-43
Program Required Courses					33-43
PSY 105 - Introduction to Psychology					3
BIO 105 - Biology I: Ecology/Evolution					4
BIO 106 - Biology II: Cellular/Molecular					4
CHE 130 - Principles of Chemistry					3
PSY 225 - Psychology Statistics					3
PSY 285 - Research Methods					3
BIO 322 - Comparative Animal Physiology or BIO 245 General Principles of Anatomy, Physiology & Pathophysiology					4
PSY 335 - Comp Animal Behavior or BIO 335 - Animal Behavior/Behavioral Ecology					3
BIO XXX - Organismal Topic*					3
PSY 362 - Animal Cognition					3
PSY 365 - Biological Bases of Behavior					3
PSY 380 - Learning and Memory					3
PSY 425 - Advanced Methods in Animal Behavior					3
PSY 495 - Animal Behavior Internship/Research or BIO 495 - Advanced Bilogical Internship					3 - 12
Animal Behavior Electives (see below)

*Organismal Topics Include: BIO 250 Marine Biology; BIO 252 Natural History of Marine Mammals; BIO 319 Ornithology; BIO 330 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy; BIO 331 Biology of Fishes, BIO 355 Biology of Marine Mammals; PSY 406 Spec Topics Psychobiology. See Biology: General Information for details.
Minimum Required Total Credits		120
Note: Curricular Elective Detail

	Three electives are required for the animal behavior major if the internship is 3-4 credits.  If the internship is 5 or more credits, then only 2 electives are required.  Other courses may be applied as electives with the approval of the animal behavior program advisor.
	Animal Behavior Electives
	BIO 200 - Genetics		5
	BIO 295 - Biological Internship		3-4
	BIO 345 - General Prin Anat/Phys/Pathophys		5
	PSY 440 - Sensation and Perception		3
	PHY 110/PHY 111 - Physics		4-8
	ANT 101 - Anthropology		3
	PSY 406 - Spec Topics in Animal Behavior		3
	BIO 333 - Evolution		3
	PSY 245 - Evolutionary Psychology		3
	PSY 275 - Introduction to Techniques in Animal Behavior		3
	PSY 205 - Abnormal Psychology		3
	PSY 235 - Health Psychology		3
	PSY 330 - Psychology of Stress		3

 

Minor in Animal Behavior
A student with a major in another area may minor in Animal Behavior with the permission of their academic advisor and the Chair of the Psychology Department.  A minimum of eighteen hours of approved course credit with a minimum grade of "C-" is required for the minor in Animal Behavior as follows:

Minimum Credits		18
PSY 105 - Introduction to Psychology		3
PSY 335 - Comparative Animal Behavior		3
PSY 365 - Biological Bases of Behavior		3
BIO XXX - One Organismal Topic (see above)		3-4
Animal Behavior Elective (see above)		3-4
PSY 380 - Learning and Memory		3

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Notice and Responsibilities Regarding this Catalog

This Catalog documents the academic programs, policies, and activities of the University of New England for the 2009-2010 academic year. The information contained herein is accurate as of date of publication August 1, 2009.

The University of New England reserves the right in its sole judgment to make changes of any nature in its programs, calendar, or academic schedule whenever it is deemed necessary or desirable, including changes in course content, the rescheduling of classes with or without extending the academic term, canceling of scheduled classes or other academic activities, in any such case giving such notice thereof as is reasonably practicable under the circumstances.

While each student may work closely with an academic advisor, he or she must retain individual responsibility for meeting requirements in this catalog and for being aware of any changes in provisions or requirements.