Animal Behavior Program
Minor in Animal Behavior
Students on Summer 2023, Fall 2023, or Spring 2024 requirements ANBEHMIN
Requirements
The minor requires at least 17 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
- Introductory Courses. One (1) course:
- ANTH-B 111 Introduction to Chimpanzee Behavior and Cognition
- ANTH-B 200 Bioanthropology
- ANTH-E 200 Social and Cultural Anthropology
- ANTH-L 200 Language and Culture
- ANTH-P 200 Introduction to Archaeology
- BIOL-E 111 Basic Biology by Examination I
- BIOL-E 112 Basic Biology by Examination II
- BIOL-H 111 Integrated Freshman Learning Experience I
- BIOL-L 111 Foundations of Biology: Diversity, Evolution, and Ecology
- BIOL-L 112 Foundations of Biology: Biological Mechanisms
- PSY-P 101 Introductory Psychology I
- PSY-P 102 Introductory Psychology II
- PSY-P 155 Introduction to Psychological and Brain Sciences
ANTH-B 111 Introduction to Chimpanzee Behavior and Cognition
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Surveys research on the behavior and cognition of our closest relative, the chimpanzee. Areas covered include the discovery of the chimpanzee, diet, foraging behavior, parenting, hunting, intelligence, psychology, language/communication, sleep science, tool-making and using activity, aggression, sex, social system and what chimpanzees tell us about human evolution.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
ANTH-B 200 Bioanthropology
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Introduction to the natural history of humans (Homo sapiens). Includes coverage of evolutionary theory and its relevance for understanding contemporary human biology, genetics and inheritance, description and analysis of human biological variation and adaptation, human-environment biocultural interactions, similarities and differences between humans and non-human primates, and the fossil record for primate and human evolution.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
ANTH-E 200 Social and Cultural Anthropology
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- An introduction to social-cultural anthropology\'s history, theories, and analytical approaches to cross-cultural analysis. Covers foundational concepts and ethnographic methods used to understand current issues such as race and racism, ethnicity and nationalism, class and inequality, gender, family and kinship, religion, and people\'s relationship to the environment.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
- Spring 2025CASE SLcourseFall 2024CASE SLcourse
ANTH-L 200 Language and Culture
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- An introduction to the field of linguistic anthropology, the social scientific study of language. Examines how languages reflect cultures, how language use reproduces culture(s), how linguistic categories relate to categories of thought, and how linguistic variation both reflects and shapes social categories such as gender, class, race, and ethnicity.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
ANTH-P 200 Introduction to Archaeology
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Introduction to the goals, methods, and theories that archaeologists use to learn about the past. The pursuit and interpretation of archaeological evidence are explored by reviewing case studies from across the globe and diverse time periods. Topics include food and subsistence, culture change, social life, political economies, and archaeological ethics.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
BIOL-E 111 Basic Biology by Examination I
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Credit by examination for demonstrating an understanding of basic facts and concepts of the lecture content of BIOL-L 111.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of BIOL-E 111 or BIOL-L 111.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
BIOL-E 112 Basic Biology by Examination II
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Credit by examination for demonstrating an understanding of basic facts and concepts of the lecture content of BIOL-L 112.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of the following: BIOL-E 112, BIOL-L 100, BIOL-L 104, BIOL-L 112, or BIOL-Q 201.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
BIOL-H 111 Integrated Freshman Learning Experience I
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- Permission of IFLE Director/Biology Department
- Description
- Intensive seminar/laboratory experience exploring the interdisciplinary nature of the modern life sciences. The course will revolve around a central question chosen by the students and will analyze how life scientists from biochemistry, cellular/molecular biology, and neuroscience might contribute to the common understanding of a fundamental problem.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of BIOL-E 112, BIOL-H 111, BIOL-L 100, BIOL-L 104, BIOL-L 112, or BIOL-Q 201.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
BIOL-L 111 Foundations of Biology: Diversity, Evolution, and Ecology
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- None
- Notes
- For biology and other science majors. Preference will be given to freshmen and sophomores
- Description
- Focus is on the processes of evolution leading to organismal diversity and adaptation, as well as basic ecological concepts.
- Repeatability
- Credit not given for both BIOL-E 111 and BIOL-L 111.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
BIOL-L 112 Foundations of Biology: Biological Mechanisms
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- None
- Notes
- R: Previous or concurrent enrollment in CHEM-C 117, CHEM-J 117, CHEM-H 117, or CHEM-S 117
- Description
- Integrated picture of manner in which organisms at diverse levels of organization meet problems in maintaining and propagating life.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of BIOL-E 112, BIOL-H 111, BIOL-L 100, BIOL-L 104, BIOL-L 112, BIOL-Q 201.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
PSY-P 101 Introductory Psychology I
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Introduction to psychology; its methods, data, and theoretical interpretations in areas of learning, sensory psychology, and psychophysiology.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of PSY-P 101, PSY-B 105, PSY-P 106, PSY-P 151, or PSY-P 155.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
PSY-P 102 Introductory Psychology II
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- PSY-P 101
- Description
- Continuation of PSY-P 101. Developmental, social, personality, and abnormal psychology.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of PSY-P 102, PSY-B 104, PSY-P 106, or PSY-P 152.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
PSY-P 155 Introduction to Psychological and Brain Sciences
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- An introduction to psychological and brain sciences for psychology majors. Introduces students to the history of psychology and its place in science, to the experimental method, and to the broad range of topics studied by psychological scientists.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of PSY-P 101, PSY-P 106, PSY-P 151, or PSY-P 155.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
- Introduction to Animal Behavior. One (1) course:
- ABEH-A 101 Introduction to Animal Behavior
ABEH-A 101 Introduction to Animal Behavior
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Provides students with a general introduction to the scientific study of animal behavior, including a broad overview of how developmental, physiological, and ecological factors determine behaviors and the evolutionary forces that shape those behaviors.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
- Animal Behavior. One (1) course:
- BIOL-Z 460 Animal Behavior
BIOL-Z 460 Animal Behavior
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- Junior or senior standing
- Description
- Introduction to the zoological study of animal behavior. Emphasizes both internal and external factors involved in the causation of species-typical behavior of animals (protozoa-primates) in their natural environment.
- Perspectives in Animal Behavior.
- Evolutionary/Ecological Perspective. One (1) course:
- ABEH-A 301 Animal Conservation Science
- ABEH-A 401 Topical Issues in Animal Behavior
- ANTH-B 301 Laboratory in Bioanthropology
- ANTH-B 368 The Evolution of Primate Social Behavior
- ANTH-B 400 Undergraduate Seminar
- ANTH-B 466 The Primates
- ANTH-P 425 Faunal Osteology
- ANTH-P 426 Problems in Zooarchaeology
- BIOL-L 307
- BIOL-L 318 Evolution
- BIOL-L 369 Heredity, Evolution, and Society
- BIOL-L 376 Biology of Birds
- BIOL-L 377 Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles
- BIOL-L 423 Brain, Behavior and Evolution
- BIOL-L 433 Tropical Biology
- BIOL-L 465 Advanced Field Biology
- BIOL-L 473 Ecology
- BIOL-L 474 Field and Laboratory Ecology
- BIOL-S 318 Evolution, Honors
- BIOL-X 150 ASURE Biology Research Lab 1
- BIOL-X 325 ASURE Biology Research Lab 2
- BIOL-Z 373 Entomology
- BIOL-Z 374
- BIOL-Z 375 Invertebrate Zoology Laboratory
- BIOL-Z 406 Vertebrate Zoology
- BIOL-Z 476 Biology of Fishes
- EAS-E 341 Natural History of Coral Reefs
- EAS-X 377 Field Geology and Paleoanthropology at Olduvai Gorge
- GEOG-G 307 Biogeography: The Distribution of Life
- SPEA-E 457 Introduction to Conservation Biology
- SPEA-E 460 Wildlife Management
ABEH-A 301 Animal Conservation Science
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- BIOL-L 111; or consent of the instructor
- Description
- Following an introduction to the broad field of conservation biology, students learn how research in ecology, evolution, behavior, physiology, genetics, genomics, and development are applied to animal conservation.
ABEH-A 401 Topical Issues in Animal Behavior
- Credits
- 1–3 credit hours
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Topics related to the scientific study of animal behavior not studied extensively in other courses. Topics vary.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated up to 3 times with a different topic for a maximum of 9 credit hours.
ANTH-B 301 Laboratory in Bioanthropology
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- ANTH-B 200; or consent of instructor
- Description
- Covers the methods and techniques of bioanthropology. Emphasis is on developing and testing evolutionary hypotheses using contemporary methods. Includes laboratory investigations of human skeletal biology including age and sex determinations and forensic identification; human paleontological and primate observations; variability in living populations including anthropometry, genetics, bloodtyping, demography; among others.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
ANTH-B 368 The Evolution of Primate Social Behavior
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Major patterns of social organization in the order Primates, with focus on several important primate species. Examination of Darwinian theories of behavioral evolution. Particular attention paid to the influence of food-getting and diet on social behavior.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
ANTH-B 400 Undergraduate Seminar
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Selected topics in bioanthropology. Analysis of research. Development of skills in analysis and criticism. Topic varies.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 9 credit hours.
ANTH-B 466 The Primates
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- ANTH-A 107, ANTH-B 200, or ANTH-B 301; or consent of instructor
- Description
- Paleontology, functional morphology, behavior, and natural history of the infrahuman primates. Emphasis on behavioral and ecological correlates of morphology.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
ANTH-P 425 Faunal Osteology
- Credits
- 5
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Lecture and laboratory introduction to the preparation, collection, identification, and interpretation of faunal specimens from archaeological sites. Also includes an introduction to forensic identifications and to zooarchaeological literature.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
ANTH-P 426 Problems in Zooarchaeology
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Students learn how to choose appropriate research designs for the interpretation of animal remains from archaeological sites, through readings, discussions, and laboratory analyses. Coursework will focus on literature review, field identification, lab methodology, quantification, preparing collections, curation, and report preparation.
BIOL-L 318 Evolution
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- BIOL-L 111; and BIOL-L 211 or BIOL-S 211
- Description
- Provides a rigorous exploration of the theory of evolution--the conceptual core of biology. Topics include origins and history of life; the interplay of heredity and environment in shaping adaptations; molecular, behavioral, and social evolution; patterns of speciation, extinction, and their consequences; methods for inferring evolutionary relationships among organisms.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of the following: BIOL-L 318, BIOL-L 479, or BIOL-S 318.
BIOL-L 369 Heredity, Evolution, and Society
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- Junior or senior standing
- Notes
- Not open to biology majors
- Description
- Basic concepts and principles of evolution, heredity, and individual development. Problems of the individual and society raised by present and future genetic knowledge and technology.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
BIOL-L 376 Biology of Birds
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- BIOL-L 111; and BIOL-H 111 or BIOL-L 112
- Notes
- Intended for biology majors
- Description
- Avian systematics, distribution, evolution, ecology, and behavior, emphasis on migration and orientation, territoriality, communication, and reproductive behavior. Field trips will concentrate on identification, interpretation of behavior, and research methods.
BIOL-L 377 Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- BIOL-L 111, BIOL-L 112, and BIOL-L 113
- Description
- An extensive study of amphibians and reptiles, including behavior, physiology, ecology, and evolution. Course will include a survey of world diversity, comparative dissections, field exercises, behavioral experiments, and review of the primary literature.
BIOL-L 423 Brain, Behavior and Evolution
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- BIOL-L 111; and BIOL-H 111 or BIOL-L 112
- Description
- Explores a variety of topics related to the evolution of nervous systems, with a focus on vertebrate brains. Topics include comparative neuroanatomy, methods, approaches to homology, the meaning of changes in size, ecological and behavioral specializations, developmental constraints, and a consideration of how special (or not) human brains are. A basic background in neuroscience is recommended but not required.
BIOL-L 433 Tropical Biology
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Field course taught in a tropical area overseas. Topics center on ecology and evolution and may include plants and animals, their interactions in rain forests, seasonally dry forests and mangroves, cloud forests, marine biology, marine/land interface, coral physiology, and reef development. Requires detailed field journal and other projects on areas visited.
BIOL-L 465 Advanced Field Biology
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- BIOL-L 473 or equivalent; and consent of instructor
- Description
- Lectures and two to three weeks of fieldwork on various problems of ecosystem structure and dynamics. Quantitative comparisons will be made of ecosystems in several different environments.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated once for credit.
BIOL-L 473 Ecology
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- BIOL-L 111
- Notes
- R: BIOL-L 318
- Description
- Major concepts of ecology for science majors; relation of individual organisms to their environment, population ecology, structure and function of ecosystems.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of BIOL-L 473 and BIOL-L 479.
BIOL-L 474 Field and Laboratory Ecology
- Credits
- 2–3 credit hours
- Prerequisites
- BIOL-L 111
- Notes
- R: Previous or concurrent enrollment in BIOL-L 473
- Description
- Introduction to research problems and techniques in the ecology of individuals, populations, and ecosystems.
BIOL-S 318 Evolution, Honors
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- BIOL-L 111 or equivalent; BIOL-L 211 or BIOL-S 211
- Description
- Provides a rigorous exploration of the theory of evolution--the conceptual core of biology. Topics include origins and history of life; the interplay of heredity and environment in shaping adaptations; molecular, behavioral, and social evolution; patterns of speciation, extinction, and their consequences; methods for inferring evolutionary relationships among organisms.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of BIOL-L 318, BIOL-L 479, or BIOL-S 318.
BIOL-X 150 ASURE Biology Research Lab 1
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- First in a two-lab sequence for students in the Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Experience (ASURE) program. Students engage in guided research in an area related to the ongoing research of a faculty member. The specific topic of the class will vary by section and be determined by the faculty member associated with the section.
BIOL-X 325 ASURE Biology Research Lab 2
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- BIOL-X 150
- Description
- Second in a two-lab sequence for students in the Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Experience (ASURE) program. Students continue guided research in an area related to the ongoing research of a faculty member. The specific topic of the class will vary by section and be determined by the faculty member associated with the section.
BIOL-Z 373 Entomology
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- One introductory biology course
- Description
- Insects, with emphasis on evolution, distribution, behavior, and structure.
BIOL-Z 375 Invertebrate Zoology Laboratory
- Credits
- 2
- Prerequisites
- One introductory biology course
- Description
- Laboratory and field studies of invertebrates, with an emphasis on experiments with living specimens.
BIOL-Z 406 Vertebrate Zoology
- Credits
- 5
- Prerequisites
- BIOL-L 111 and junior or senior standing
- Description
- Morphology, evolution, adaptations, and general biology of vertebrates.
BIOL-Z 476 Biology of Fishes
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- BIOL-L 111; and junior or senior standing
- Description
- Introduces diversity of extant fishes with respect to evolutionary relationships, classification, structure, function, behavior, ecology and biogeography.
EAS-E 341 Natural History of Coral Reefs
- Description
- Evolutionary history of reef ecosystems through geologic time inclusive of reef composition and global distribution, modern reef development, conservation and management practices, and the persistence of the reef ecosystem through climate change scenarios. Covers biologic, ecologic, and geologic principles as they pertain to coral reef ecosystems.
- Additional information
- Credit hour, prerequisite, and other information cannot be displayed for this course. If this is a course outside of the College of Arts and Sciences, please see the appropriate school's bulletin for additional information.
EAS-X 377 Field Geology and Paleoanthropology at Olduvai Gorge
- Credits
- 6
- Prerequisites
- Minimum 3.000 GPA and at least one course in geology, anthropology, physical geography, or related field of study; and department consent
- Description
- Interdisciplinary field course in geo-paleoanthropology in the Olduvai Gorge. Develops skills in the application of innovative theory and techniques in human evolutionary research. Promotes understanding of evolutionary processes, such as tectonics and climate episodes, and how these processes influence the development of savanna environments in the East African Rift Valley.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of EAS-X 377, GEOL-G 349, or GEOL-X 377.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
GEOG-G 307 Biogeography: The Distribution of Life
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- A survey of the present and past distributions of the world's plants and animals, emphasizing ecological explanation of species distributions. Topics include evolution and distribution of major plant and animal groups, world vegetation, plant and animal domestication, introduction of plant and animal pests, destruction of natural communities, and extinction.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
SPEA-E 457 Introduction to Conservation Biology
- Description
- Ecological principles associated with rare species and with biodiversity, laws and statutes used to conserve biodiversity, and land and species management practices. The aim is to understand scientific and political complexities of conservation biology, and to study different methods used to conserve living resources and resolve conflicts associated with conservation.
- Additional information
- Credit hour, prerequisite, and other information cannot be displayed for this course. If this is a course outside of the College of Arts and Sciences, please see the appropriate school's bulletin for additional information.
SPEA-E 460 Wildlife Management
- Description
- Application of ecological and sociological principles of management of wild animals; wildlife agencies and their function in wildlife management; economic, social, biological, and other values of wildlife; and the interaction between people and wild species and places.
- Additional information
- Credit hour, prerequisite, and other information cannot be displayed for this course. If this is a course outside of the College of Arts and Sciences, please see the appropriate school's bulletin for additional information.
- Mechanisms of Behavior Perspective Courses. One (1) course:
- ABEH-A 401 Topical Issues in Animal Behavior
- ANTH-B 333 Chimpanzee Biology: Anatomy, Evolution, Ecology, and Physiology
- ANTH-B 340 Hormones and Human Behavior
- BIOL-L 311 Genetics
- BIOL-L 340 Biology of Sexual Diversity
- BIOL-L 410 Topical Issues in Biology
- BIOL-L 423 Brain, Behavior and Evolution
- BIOL-L 453 Sensory Ecology
- BIOL-X 150 ASURE Biology Research Lab 1
- BIOL-X 325 ASURE Biology Research Lab 2
- BIOL-Z 463 Comparative Neurobiology of Animal Behavior
- BIOL-Z 466 Endocrinology
- One of the following:
- PSY-P 326 Behavioral Neuroscience
- PSY-P 346 Neuroscience
- PSY-P 407 Drugs and the Nervous System
- PSY-P 409 Neural Bases of Sensory Function
- PSY-P 410 Development of the Brain and Behavior
- PSY-P 411 Neural Bases of Learning and Memory
- PSY-P 426 Laboratory in Behavioral Neuroscience
- PSY-P 456
- PSY-P 457 Topics in Psychology
- PSY-P 469 Stress Effects on Brain and Behavior
- PHSL-P 416 Comparative Animal Physiology
ABEH-A 401 Topical Issues in Animal Behavior
- Credits
- 1–3 credit hours
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Topics related to the scientific study of animal behavior not studied extensively in other courses. Topics vary.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated up to 3 times with a different topic for a maximum of 9 credit hours.
ANTH-B 333 Chimpanzee Biology: Anatomy, Evolution, Ecology, and Physiology
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Notes
- R: ANTH-B 111
- Description
- Surveys biological research on the chimpanzee. Examines chimpanzee taxonomy, habitat, digestive physiology, anatomy, embryology, evolutionary history, genetics, hormones, neuroanatomy and reproduction. Demonstrates how chimpanzee biology is part of a unified whole and how research on chimpanzees helps us better understand nature, including the place of humans in the natural world.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
ANTH-B 340 Hormones and Human Behavior
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- At least junior standing; or consent of instructor
- Notes
- R: College-level introductory biology course or ANTH-B 200
- Description
- Reviews the roles of hormones in the evolution and expression of human and nonhuman animal behaviors. Emphasis placed on behaviors associated with aggression, stress, mating, and parenting. Particularly relevant for students interested in human health and the environment.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
BIOL-L 311 Genetics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- BIOL-L 211 or BIOL-S 211
- Description
- Analysis of the mechanisms of inheritance, including developmental processes that lead to the construction of whole organisms and to the transmission to their offspring of specific genetic traits. Includes the principles of genetics and the analysis of mutations affecting development.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of BIOL-L 311 or BIOL-S 311.
BIOL-L 340 Biology of Sexual Diversity
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Introduces biological processes underlying sex-related variation in anatomy, physiology, and behavior. Includes discussions of sexual differentiation in organisms ranging from yeast to human. Addresses functional (evolutionary/ecological) and mechanistic (developmental/physiological) explanations for sexual variation.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
BIOL-L 410 Topical Issues in Biology
- Credits
- 2–3 credit hours
- Prerequisites
- BIOL-L 111; BIOL-L 113; and BIOL-L 211 or BIOL-S 211
- Description
- Topics not related extensively in other courses. The topic will vary depending on the instructor and on student needs.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
BIOL-L 423 Brain, Behavior and Evolution
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- BIOL-L 111; and BIOL-H 111 or BIOL-L 112
- Description
- Explores a variety of topics related to the evolution of nervous systems, with a focus on vertebrate brains. Topics include comparative neuroanatomy, methods, approaches to homology, the meaning of changes in size, ecological and behavioral specializations, developmental constraints, and a consideration of how special (or not) human brains are. A basic background in neuroscience is recommended but not required.
BIOL-L 453 Sensory Ecology
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- At least junior standing; or consent of instructor
- Notes
- P or C: BIOL-Z 460
- Description
- Sensory systems are the gateways to all information that animals have about their environment. They are under intense natural and sexual selection and can drive evolutionary divergence. This course focuses on these issues and how sensory systems transduce and extract environmental information. Includes visits from guest speakers in the field.
BIOL-X 150 ASURE Biology Research Lab 1
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- First in a two-lab sequence for students in the Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Experience (ASURE) program. Students engage in guided research in an area related to the ongoing research of a faculty member. The specific topic of the class will vary by section and be determined by the faculty member associated with the section.
BIOL-X 325 ASURE Biology Research Lab 2
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- BIOL-X 150
- Description
- Second in a two-lab sequence for students in the Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Experience (ASURE) program. Students continue guided research in an area related to the ongoing research of a faculty member. The specific topic of the class will vary by section and be determined by the faculty member associated with the section.
BIOL-Z 463 Comparative Neurobiology of Animal Behavior
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- BIOL-H 111 or BIOL-L 112; and junior or senior standing
- Notes
- R: PSY-P 326 or PSY-P 346
- Description
- Addresses the intersection of two disciplines: animal behavior and neurobiology. Uses integrative and comparative approaches to understand how the nervous system controls animal behavior in natural contexts and how neural circuits evolve to generate diversity in behavior.
BIOL-Z 466 Endocrinology
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- BIOL-L 112
- Description
- Mechanisms of hormone action from the molecular to the organismal level in vertebrates.
PSY-P 326 Behavioral Neuroscience
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- PSY-P 101 or PSY-P 155; and one of BIOL-L 100, BIOL-L 111, BIOL-L 112, or equivalent
- Description
- An examination of the cellular bases of behavior, emphasizing contemporary views and approaches to the study of the nervous system. Neural structure, function, and organization are considered in relation to sensory and motor function, motivation, learning, and other basic behaviors.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of PSY-P 326 or PSY-P 346.
PSY-P 346 Neuroscience
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- PSY-P 101 or PSY-P 155
- Notes
- R: 3 credits of Biology such as BIOL-L 100, BIOL-L 104, BIOL-L 111, BIOL-L 112, BIOL-A 215, or BIOL-P 215
- Description
- A survey of contemporary neuroscience, examining the neural basis of behavior with approaches including molecular, cellular, developmental, cognitive, and behavioral neuroscience. Sensory and motor function, learning and memory, and other behaviors are considered using anatomical, physiological, behavioral, biochemical, and genetic approaches, providing a balanced view of neuroscience.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of PSY-P 326 or PSY-P 346.
PSY-P 407 Drugs and the Nervous System
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- PSY-P 326 or PSY-P 346
- Description
- Introduction to the major psychoactive drugs and how they act upon the brain to influence behavior. Discussion of the role of drugs as therapeutic agents for various clinical disorders and as probes to provide insight into brain function.
PSY-P 409 Neural Bases of Sensory Function
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- PSY-P 326 or PSY-P 346
- Description
- Detailed description of the neural systems responsible for vision, touch, hearing, taste, smell, and balance. Similarities and differences in the strategies employed by these systems will be stressed.
PSY-P 410 Development of the Brain and Behavior
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- PSY-P 326 or PSY-P 346
- Description
- Examination of the interaction of the developing brain with the behavior it mediates. Cellular systems and organismal levels of analysis will all be considered in the organization of structure function relationships in the neural basis of behavior.
PSY-P 411 Neural Bases of Learning and Memory
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- PSY-P 326 or PSY-P 346
- Description
- Comprehensive survey of theories and data concerned with neural correlates of associative and non-associative forms of learning and memory. Vertebrate and invertebrate model systems and preparations as well as data obtained from the human neuropsychology literature will be studied.
PSY-P 426 Laboratory in Behavioral Neuroscience
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- PSY-P 326 or PSY-P 346; and PSY-K 300 or equivalent
- Description
- Experiments with and demonstrations of contemporary approaches in behavioral neuroscience.
PSY-P 457 Topics in Psychology
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Notes
- Prerequisites vary according to the topics offered and are specified in the Schedule of Classes each term
- Description
- Studies in special topics not ordinarily covered in other departmental courses. Topics vary with instructor and semester.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 12 credit hours.
PSY-P 469 Stress Effects on Brain and Behavior
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- PSY-P 326 or PSY-P 346
- Description
- This seminar examines the neurobiology of stress effects on cognition, psychopathology, and health, from the cellular to the systems level. Through readings from primary literature, discussions, and lectures, students will develop a base of knowledge and think critically about the neural and behavioral effects of stress.
PHSL-P 416 Comparative Animal Physiology
- Description
- How animals work. Principles of physiology via the comparative method: functioning of the respiratory, circulatory, excretory and related functions examined through examples of vertebrate and invertebrate animals that have unusual abilities or best exemplify these physiological principles.
- Additional information
- Credit hour, prerequisite, and other information cannot be displayed for this course. If this is a course outside of the College of Arts and Sciences, please see the appropriate school's bulletin for additional information.
- Environmental/Developmental/Cognitive Perspective Courses. One (1) course:
- ABEH-A 401 (approved topics: "Animal Communication”; “Animal Cognition”)
- ANTH-B 200 Bioanthropology
- ANTH-B 400 Undergraduate Seminar
- ANTH-E 200 Social and Cultural Anthropology
- ANTH-L 200 Language and Culture
- BIOL-L 417
- COGS-Q 240 Philosophical Foundations of the Cognitive and Information Sciences
- COGS-Q 301 Brain and Cognition
- COGS-Q 345 Animal Cognition
- LING-L 214 Animal Communication
- PHIL-P 360 Philosophy of Mind
- PSY-P 315 Developmental Psychology
- PSY-P 325 Psychology of Learning
- PSY-P 327 Psychology of Motivation
- PSY-P 329 Sensation and Perception
- PSY-P 330 Perception/Action
- PSY-P 335 Cognitive Psychology
- PSY-P 416 Evolution and Ecology of Learning
- PSY-P 444
- INFO-I 216 Human, Animal, and Ai
- INFO-I 414 Seminar on Tech for Animals
ANTH-B 200 Bioanthropology
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Introduction to the natural history of humans (Homo sapiens). Includes coverage of evolutionary theory and its relevance for understanding contemporary human biology, genetics and inheritance, description and analysis of human biological variation and adaptation, human-environment biocultural interactions, similarities and differences between humans and non-human primates, and the fossil record for primate and human evolution.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
ANTH-B 400 Undergraduate Seminar
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Selected topics in bioanthropology. Analysis of research. Development of skills in analysis and criticism. Topic varies.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 9 credit hours.
ANTH-E 200 Social and Cultural Anthropology
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- An introduction to social-cultural anthropology\'s history, theories, and analytical approaches to cross-cultural analysis. Covers foundational concepts and ethnographic methods used to understand current issues such as race and racism, ethnicity and nationalism, class and inequality, gender, family and kinship, religion, and people\'s relationship to the environment.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
- Spring 2025CASE SLcourseFall 2024CASE SLcourse
ANTH-L 200 Language and Culture
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- An introduction to the field of linguistic anthropology, the social scientific study of language. Examines how languages reflect cultures, how language use reproduces culture(s), how linguistic categories relate to categories of thought, and how linguistic variation both reflects and shapes social categories such as gender, class, race, and ethnicity.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
COGS-Q 240 Philosophical Foundations of the Cognitive and Information Sciences
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Foundational introduction to the cognitive and information sciences. The primary themes are: (1) causal issues such as functional and computational architecture (e.g., modularity, effectiveness, and implementation, analog/digital), neuroscience, and embodied dynamics; and (2) semantic issues such as meaning, representation, content, and information flow. The role of both themes in logic, perception, computation, cognition, and consciousness. Throughout, an emphasis on writing, analysis, and exposition.
- Spring 2025CASE AHcourseFall 2024CASE AHcourse
COGS-Q 301 Brain and Cognition
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Notes
- R: PSY-P 101
- Description
- An introduction to the neural mechanisms underlying complex cognition, and a survey of topics in neuroscience related to cognition. The course provides a solid background in human biopsychology.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
COGS-Q 345 Animal Cognition
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Introduction to the study of animal cognition. Reviews historical, theoretical, and philosophical perspectives on how animals think. Explores debates about specific aspects of cognition, including whether and how animals reason, whether they have memory and concepts, whether they can use tools, whether they communicate or have "language," whether they have consciousness, behave altruistically, and have morals.
LING-L 214 Animal Communication
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- A comparative overview surveying basic aspects of animal communication, including human communication, and covering such issues as the nature of communicative signals, the relative unity versus diversity within communicating groups, and the role of learning versus innateness in communication systems.
PHIL-P 360 Philosophy of Mind
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Notes
- R: 3 credit hours of philosophy or coursework in cognitive science or brain and psychological science
- Description
- Selected topics from among the following: the nature of mental phenomena (e.g., thinking, volition, perception, emotion); the mind-body problem (e.g., dualism, behaviorism, functionalism); connections to cognitive science issues in psychology, linguistics, and artificial intelligence; computational theories of mind.
- Spring 2025CASE AHcourseFall 2024CASE AHcourse
PSY-P 315 Developmental Psychology
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- PSY-P 101 and PSY-P 102; or PSY-P 155
- Description
- An introduction to how and why behavior changes over time. The theories and methods used to study behavioral change in both human and nonhuman models. Topics include development in perception, movement, language, cognition, and social/emotional behavior.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
PSY-P 325 Psychology of Learning
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- PSY-P 101 and PSY-P 102; or PSY-P 155
- Description
- Facts and principles of animal and human learning, especially as treated in theories attempting to provide frameworks for understanding what learning is and how it takes place.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
PSY-P 327 Psychology of Motivation
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- PSY-P 101 and PSY-P 102; or PSY-P 155
- Notes
- R: PSY-P 211
- Description
- How needs, desires, and incentives influence behavior; research on motivational processes in human and animal behavior, including ways in which motives change and develop.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
PSY-P 329 Sensation and Perception
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- PSY-P 101 or PSY-P 155
- Notes
- R: MATH-M 026, MATH-M 119, or introductory physics
- Description
- Basic data, theories, psychophysics, illusions, and other topics fundamental to understanding sensory and perceptual processes.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
PSY-P 330 Perception/Action
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- PSY-P 101 or PSY-P 155
- Description
- Roboticists know that actions like catching a fly ball are exceedingly complex, yet people perform them effortlessly. How perceptual information is generated by and used in guiding such actions is covered, as are issues of motor coordination and control. Classes include laboratories on analysis of optic flow and limb movements.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of COGS-Q 330 or PSY-P 330.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
PSY-P 335 Cognitive Psychology
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- PSY-P 101 or PSY-P 155
- Description
- Introduction to human cognitive processes, including attention and perception, memory, psycholinguistics, problem solving, and thinking.
- Spring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
PSY-P 416 Evolution and Ecology of Learning
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- PSY-P 325 or PSY-P 417
- Description
- Advanced treatment of history, basic concepts, theories, and experimental literature examining the relation of learning and evolution. Compares ethological, comparative, and general process approaches.
INFO-I 216 Human, Animal, and Ai
- Description
- What are the origins and computational foundations of intelligence? How close are we to building machines that think like humans and animals? We will explore how cognitive abilities are distributed across the animal kingdom, investigate which abilities are uniquely human, and discuss progress building artificial intelligence that mimics biological intelligence.
- Additional information
- Credit hour, prerequisite, and other information cannot be displayed for this course. If this is a course outside of the College of Arts and Sciences, please see the appropriate school's bulletin for additional information.
INFO-I 414 Seminar on Tech for Animals
- Description
- This exploratory seminar is an introduction to ACI. We will draw on faculty and student selected readings, multimedia materials, and guest lectures from current ACI practitioners to see what we think about the ethics, history, state-of-the art, and possible futures for this broad field of practice.
- Additional information
- Credit hour, prerequisite, and other information cannot be displayed for this course. If this is a course outside of the College of Arts and Sciences, please see the appropriate school's bulletin for additional information.
- Evolutionary/Ecological Perspective. One (1) course:
- Minor GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
- Minor GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the minor—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
- Minor Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the minor.
- Minor Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed at the 300–499 level.
- Minor Residency. At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
Minor Area Courses
-
Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:
- Any course at the 100–499 level with the
ABEH
subject area prefix—as well as any other subject areas that are deemed functionally equivalent - Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
- Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception
- Any course at the 100–499 level with the
This program of study cannot be combined with the following:
- Certificate in Animal Behavior (ANBEHACRT)
- [Name unavailable] (PREVETTRK)
- [Name unavailable] (ABEHTRK)
Exceptions to and substitutions for minor requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.