Graduate Program (Animal Behavior) - OU Department of Psychology

Animal Behavior

An interdisciplinary core faculty offers training in the behavior of birds, mammals, and invertebrates from an ecological perspective. Students primarily interested in cognitive adaptations, foraging behavior, hoarding or human evolutionary psychology should apply for admission through the Department of Psychology. Students primarily interested in other areas of animal behavior should apply through the Department of Zoology. Those admitted through the Department of Psychology are broadly trained in evolution, behavioral ecology, and methodology, with more focused coursework and research experience based on individual interests and goals.

Requirements

M.S. Coursework: A minimum of 30 hours of coursework is required for the M.S. degree. Core courses include Behavioral Ecology, Comparative Cognition, Behavioral Neuroscience or Neuroethology, Psychological Statistics I, Psychological Statistics II, and seminars in the student's area of interest. The Animal Behavior Program emphasizes research, so enrollment in Pre-Master's Research in Psychology and Research for Master's Thesis are required.

Ph.D. Coursework: A minimum of 90 semester hours is required for the doctorate. Ph.D. students are expected to complete M.S. requirements and additional hours, which include: Foundations of Psychological Science I and II, Experimental Design, Seminar in Biopsychology, Modern Learning Theory, Field Research Methods, Behavioral Ecology Journal Club and specialty courses. As with the Master's program, the emphasis in the Ph.D. Program in Animal Behavior is on research. So, while students may wish to enroll in advanced classes such as, e.g., Mammology, Ornithology, Evolutionary Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, or Evolution of Social Behavior, they should plan on taking several hours of Post-Master's Research and Research for Doctor's Dissertation. Coursework and research are tailored to student interests, based on close consultation with a major professor and the assistance of an interdisciplinary advisory committee.

Core Animal Behavior Faculty

Lynn Devenport (Ph.D. University of Chicago)
Professor of Psychology and Senior Scientist, Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Crested Butte, CO.

Ola Fincke (Ph.D. University of Iowa)
Professor of Zoology