Course Description:
An introduction to basic theories, concepts, and
research in the modern study of animal behavior.
Course Objectives:
Presentation of basic knowledge, terminology, and
methodology of comparative psychology and ethology.
Demonstration of the integration of the biological and
psychological approaches to the study of animal behavior.
Improve understanding of animal behavior and its relation
to human behavior.
Required Textbook: Goodenough, J., McGuire, B., & Wallace, R. (1993). Perspectives on animal behavior. New York: Wiley.
Course Outline:
Date Topic Reading
4/3 Introduction & History
Chaps
1, 2
4/10 Genetic Analysis of Behavior Chap
3
4/17 Natural Selection & Ecological Analysis
Chap 4
4/24 Learning and the Nervous System Chaps
5, 6
5/1 Nervous System & the
Endocrine System Chaps 6, 7
5/8 Midterm
5/8 Development of Behavior Chap
8
5/15 Sexual Reproduction & Sexual Selection
Chap 14
5/22 Parental Care & Mating Systems Chap
15
5/29 Evolution of Communication Chap
17
6/5 Functions of Communication
Chap
18
6/12 at 5:00 Final Exam and Collection of
Journals
Method of Evaluation:
Midterm Exam = 25%, Final Exam =
35%, Class Participation = 10%, Journal
= 30%
Journal Assignment:
After each class, please enter information that addresses
the following questions:
1. Describe at least one
bit of information from the discussion in class that was new to you;
2. Describe at least one
bit of information in the reading assignment that was new to you;
3. Relate this new information
to something that you had learned about in another course;
4. Relate this new information
to something that you had learned from the media (newspapers, radio, TV,
movies).
The journals will be collected periodically, so please
bring them to class each time.
(Failure to have your journal collected in class will
result in the deduction of points from your journal mark).