91Φ±²₯ΚΣΖ΅

The Animal Behavior program prepares students to be critical, flexible thinkers who evaluate and integrate information, and who use the scientific method to better understand proximate and ultimate drivers of behavior, to improve the lives of animals and human-animal interactions, and to conserve the species.

The Animal Behavior program realizes its mission through a rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum, a focus on career readiness and internship experiences, and by challenging students with opportunities for undergraduate research both in and out of the classroom. Specifically, the interdisciplinary curriculum is designed to build concept and skill mastery in the discipline of animal behavior and includes coursework in the fields of psychology (the student of behavior and mental processes) and biology (the study of the living world; including marine and environmental sciences), among other disciplines. 

By the time students graduate, they will know how to think like scientists and be able to effectively articulate focal animal behavior concepts in writing and in speech. Our students will also practice ethical and socially responsible professionalism that will see them through unpredictable career paths. Importantly, the Animal Behavior program will push students intellectually by providing opportunities for research in the classroom as well as outside of the classroom setting, and in doing so will create graduates who are career-ready but also professionally flexible; able to enter the workforce and pursue graduate education.

Animal Behavior is an interdisciplinary major with students taking courses in a variety of departments to gain an appreciation of the discipline from multiple perspectives. 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 interested 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.  In addition to guidance from a dedicated faculty mentor, students will have access to a professional advisor to help them prepare for admission into graduate programs. 

The Animal Behavior program's core values reflect those of the larger University community. We place particular emphasis on the following values:

• Student centeredness underpins everything we do.
• We respect diversity in all its forms and actively pursue an inclusive academic environment.
• We recognize and work to conserve the diversity of life as stewards of the planet.
• We promote and practice relentless inquiry as we seek truth.

Please note: While some courses can fulfill both core and program requirements, the credits earned do not count twice towards the minimum total required credits for the degree.

*Three (3) Animal Behavior electives are required if the Animal Behavior internship is 3–4 credits. If the internship is five (5) or more credits, then only two (2) electives are required. Other courses may be applied as electives with the approval of the School of Social and Behavior Sciences director or assistant academic director.

**Organismal topics courses must be 200-level or higher and include a hands-on component.

Program-Specific Electives

Students in this major can participate in the pre-health graduate school preparation tracks.

A grade point average of 2.25 is necessary to be approved to add a major in Animal Behavior. Double majoring or majoring and minoring within the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences may be possible for a student. However, students interested in this option should do so with close consultation with their academic advisor to ensure that a substantial degree of overlap between the two (2) areas does not occur.

A minimum grade of C- must be achieved in all courses used to fulfill the requirements for the Animal Behavior major. Students must also complete the Nor’easter Core quantitative reasoning requirement by the end of the first year. The program strongly recommends that students take PSY 225 and PSY 285 in their sophomore year. The program requires that PSY 225 and PSY 285 be completed by the end of the junior year. See the Undergraduate Academic Policy also.

At the completion of their bachelor's degree with a major Animal Behavior program, students will be able to:

• Exhibit critical and integrative thinking skills.
• Demonstrate ability to communicate scientific information in both oral and written formats.
• Demonstrate knowledge of key concepts in animal behavior.
• Exhibit quantitative research skills (or demonstrate ability to perform all parts of the scientific method).
• Demonstrate ability to think flexibly and apply knowledge to new problems.

Courses completed at another accredited college can be transferred to this degree program. Transferred courses must be reasonably close in scope and content to the required courses offered at 91Φ±²₯ΚΣΖ΅in order to count as exact equivalents. Otherwise, they may transfer as general electives. All courses completed must be no older than five (5) years. Other restrictions apply.

See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.

See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.