Contact
Jennifer Stiegler-Balfour, Ph.D.
Assistant Director, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
jstiegler@une.edu
Mission
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.
Program Description
A student with GPA of at least 2.25 and a major at 91Ö±²¥ÊÓƵmay minor in Animal Behavior with the approval of the Assistant Director in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Declarations must occur prior to the completion of the first semester of the junior year. Major programs of study with significant course overlap with animal behavior minor requirements may be discouraged by the Academic Director of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Students declaring a minor in animal behavior will be allowed to double-dip credits across the minor and either major or core requirements (if no other options are provided by the major, minor, or core requirements). A minimum of eighteen (18) hours of approved course credit with a minimum grade of C- in each course is required for the minor in Animal Behavior as follows:
Curricular Requirements
| Program Required Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| ANB 335 – Comparative Animal Behavior | 3 |
| ANB 384/384L – Animal Learning and Behavior w/Lab | 4 |
| PSY 105 – Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 365 – Biological Bases of Behavior | 3 |
| One (1) Organismal Topic Course (see below) | 3–4 |
| Animal Behavior Elective(s) (see below) | 3–4 |
| Minimum Total Required Credits | 19–21 |
|---|
Program-Specific Electives
| Animal Behavior Elective Options | Credits |
|---|---|
| ANB 278 – Captive Animal Management | 3 |
| ANB 371 – Conservation Behavior | 3 |
| ANB 372 – Foraging Behavior | 3 |
| BIO 232 – Microbiology | 3 |
| BIO 235 – Winter Natural History | 3 |
| BIO 333 – Evolution | 3 |
| BIO 345 – General Prin Anat/Phys/Pathophys | 5 |
| BIO 350 – Ecology | 4 |
| BIO 422/422L – Coral Biology w/Lab | 4 |
| BIO 459/459L – Conserv and Ecol Caribbean Isl w/Lab | 4 |
| ENV 208 – Climate Change | 3 |
| ENV 250 – Environ Policy Compare Perspect | 3 |
| ENV 318 – Advanced Methods in Avian Ecology | 4 |
| ENV 319 – Practicum in Field Ecology Squirrels | 1 |
| ENV 356 – Terrestrial Wildlife and Ecology | 4 |
| MAR 250 – Marine Biology | 4 |
| MAR 252 – Nat His Marine Mammals | 3 |
| MAR 376 – Bio of Sharks, Skates, Rays | 3 |
| MAR 428 – Marine Conservation | 3 |
| MAR 436/436L – Natural History of Iceland w/Lab | 4 |
| PHY 110/110L – General Physics I w/Lab | 4 |
| PHY 111/111L – General Physics II w/Lab | 4 |
| PSY 205 – Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 226 – Motivation & Emotion | 3 |
| PSY 245 – Evolutionary Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 305 – Special Topics (with program approval) | 3 |
| PSY 316 – Psychology of Consciousness | 3 |
| PSY 325 – Psychology of Aging | 3 |
| PSY 364 – Soc & Emot Dev in Childhood | 3 |
| PSY 370 – Drugs, Society, Behavior | 3 |
| PSY 383 – Memory & Cognition | 3 |
| PSY 406 – Special Topics in Animal Behavior | 3 |
| Organismal Topic Options | Credits |
|---|---|
| ANB 372 – Foraging Behavior | 3 |
| BIO 222 – Finfish/Shellfish Culture Tech | 4 |
| BIO 223 – Health Nutrition Feeding of Cultured Organisms | 4 |
| BIO 235 – Winter Natural History | 3 |
| BIO 257/257L – Costa Rica: Tropical Forest and Global Change w/Lab | 4 |
| BIO 305/305L – Mammalogy w/Lab | 4 |
| BIO 319 – Ornithology | 4 |
| BIO 330 – Comp Vert Anatomy | 4 |
| ENV 318 – Adv Research Methods Avian Ecol | 4 |
| ENV 356 – Terrestrial Wildlife Eco/Cons | 4 |
| MAR 436/436L – Natural History of Iceland w/ Lab | 4 |
| PSY 406 – Spec Topics Animal Behavior | 3 |
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.
Notice and Responsibilities Regarding this Catalog
This catalog outlines the academic programs, degree criteria, policies, and events of the 91Ö±²¥ÊÓƵ for the 2025–2026 academic year and serves as the official guide for academic and program requirements for students enrolling at the University during the Summer of 2025, Fall 2025, and Spring 2026 semesters.
The information provided is accurate as of its publication date on April 30, 2025.
The 91Ö±²¥ÊÓƵ reserves the right to modify its programs, calendar, or academic schedule as deemed necessary or beneficial. This includes alterations to course content, class rescheduling, cancellations, or any other academic adjustments. Changes will be communicated as promptly as possible.
While students may receive guidance from academic advisors or program directors, they remain responsible for fulfilling the requirements outlined in the catalog relevant to their enrollment year and for staying informed about any updates to policies, provisions, or requirements.