2010-11 Catalog

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Offering Description

Animal Behavior and Zoology

Fall, Winter and Spring quarters

Faculty: Bret Weinstein biology, Heather Heying biology, anthropology

Fields of Study: biology, ecology, field studies, philosophy of science and zoology

Fall: CRN (Credit) Level 10009 (16) Jr - Sr; 10386 (12)  Signature Required Students must submit an application to be considered for this program. Assessment will be based primarily on relevant background in the sciences, and writing and critical thinking skills. Application forms are available on the program web site at academic.evergreen.edu/curricular/abz10/, and completed applications should be sent to Heather Heying via email. Students are encouraged to come to the Academic Fair, May 12, 2010, to discuss the program before submitting an application. Applications received by May 14, 2010 will be given priority.  

Winter: Enrollment Closed  CRN (Credit) Level 20009 (16) Jr - Sr  

Spring: Enrollment Closed  CRN (Credit) Level 30009 (16) Jr - Sr; 30425 (8) Jr - Sr  

Credits: 16(F); 16(W); 16(S)

Class Standing: Junior - Senior

Offered During: Day

Academic Website: http://academic.evergreen.edu/curricular/abz10/

Description

What do animals do, how do they do it, and why? In this year-long investigation of animal behavior, students will answer these questions through extensive use of the scientific literature, in-depth discussions of the evolutionary and ecological theories that are fundamental to the study of behavior, independent research projects, and several weeks in the field, including two weeks in the Pacific Northwest during fall quarter.

Animals hibernate, forage, mate, form social groups, compete, communicate, care for their young, and so much more. They do so with the tools of their physiology, anatomy, and, in some cases, culture, for reasons having to do with their particular ecology and evolutionary history. In this program, we will begin with a review of animal diversity, and continue our studies of behavior from both a theoretical and an empirical perspective. Students will be expected to engage some of the complex and often contradictory scientific predictions and results that have been generated in this field, through lectures, workshops and take-home exams, as well as to undertake their own, intensive field research.

In fall quarter, students will conduct short-term field projects, and become skilled in library research. In winter quarter, we will continue to learn theory and statistics, and will continue field work as well. In spring quarter, having studied the methods, statistics and literature frequently used in behavioral research, students will generate their own hypotheses and go into the field to test them through extensive, independent field research or internships. Field work might be in a variety of locales from the Pacific Northwest to Central America. Any field work outside the United States will be organized as independent learning contracts. Students will return to campus for the last two weeks of spring quarter to complete their data analysis and present their research.

Some topics covered in this program will include mating systems, territoriality, female mate choice, competition, communication, parental care, game theory, plant/animal interactions and convergent evolution. Several readings will focus on one group of animals in particular: the primates, including Homo sapiens.

Maximum Enrollment: 50

Required Fees: Fall $230 for Pacific Northwest fieldtrips; Winter/Spring $320 per quarter for field trips; Spring as required by independent research project.

Internship Possibilities: Spring: with faculty approval.

Upper Division Science Credit: Upper division science credit may be awarded in animal behavior, evolution, zoology, population ecology, tropical ecology, field research and statistics.

May be offered again in: 2012-13

Preparatory for studies or careers in: field biology, evolution, ecology and other life sciences.

Campus Location: Olympia

Online Learning: Enhanced Online Learning

Books: www.tescbookstore.com

Program Revisions

Date Revision
February 10th, 2011 Spring fees updated.
February 3rd, 2011 Bret Weinstein will continue in the program through spring quarter; enrollment adjusted.
November 29th, 2010 Winter fees updated.
May 10th, 2010 Description updated.