Animal Studies Minor
Animal Studies is an interdisciplinary field that aims not only to investigate animals themselves, but also the relationship between human and non-human animals. Animal Studies brings together scholarship from the social and natural sciences, as well as the humanities. The Animal Studies minor exposes students to courses focusing on human and animal relations and interactions, animal biology/physiology, animal behavior and cognition, and the role played by non-human animals in the larger world around them. The selection of courses is designed to yield a greater knowledge of and appreciation for animals and our relationship with them.
Director
- Skolnick (Psychology)
Advisory Board
- Hanganu-Bresch (English)
- Goldthwaite (English)
- Nelson (Biology)
- Tudor (Biology)
Goal 1. Students will develop greater understanding of the nature of animals and the role played by animals in the larger world.
Outcome 1.1: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the role of animals in the broader natural world or in human society.
Outcome 1.2: Students will demonstrate knowledge of human-animal interactions and relationships.
Outcome 1.3: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the major concepts, historical trends and theoretical perspectives in the discipline of Animal Studies.
Outcome 1.4: Students will demonstrate knowledge of animal biology.
Outcome 1.5: Students will demonstrate knowledge of animal behavior and cognition.
Goal 2. Students will develop a greater understanding of the ethical issues that surround human-animal interactions.
Outcome 2.1: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical perspectives concerning the moral status of animals.
Outcome 2.2: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the ethical issues surrounding the use of animals.
All students seeking to minor in Animal Studies will take the following courses:
At least half (three) of the courses counting toward the minor must come from outside the student’s major department.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1: | ||
| PSY 208 | Human/Animal Relations | 3 |
| Category 2: | 3-4 | |
| An understanding of how human and non-human animals relate and interact requires understanding form and function of the organisms. Complete one of the following courses: | ||
Non-Biology Majors | ||
| Bio I: Cells | ||
or BIO 165 | Exploring the Living World | |
Biology Majors: | ||
| Bio III: Organismic Biology | ||
| Category 3: | 3-4 | |
| A background in animal behavior and its underpinnings is helpful when considering the interactions and relationships between human and non-human animals. Take one of the following courses: (These courses all have prerequisites) | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Biological Bases of Behavior | ||
| Comparative Animal Behavior | ||
| Category 4: | 9-12 | |
| Three additional elective courses; at least one of these courses must be from a department other than Psychology or Biology. Students may choose from among the following, which are included in order to provide additional knowledge of human and non-human animal relations and interactions, animal biology/physiology, animal behavior and cognition, and the role of non-human animals in the larger world around them: (Many of these have pre-requisites and/or co-requisites) | ||
| Anat&Physiol for Al Hlth I | ||
| Comparative Anatomy | ||
| Ecology | ||
| Neurobiology | ||
| Systemic Physiology | ||
| Invertebrate Zoology | ||
| Evolution | ||
| First Year Seminar 2 | ||
| Special Topics in English 4 | ||
| Nature & Environmental Writing | ||
| Writing and Reading Animals | ||
| Food Writing | ||
| The Environment | ||
| Exploring the Earth | ||
| American Environmental History | ||
| Philosophy of the Environment | ||
| Animal Ethics | ||
| Biological Bases of Behavior 3 | ||
| Animal Learning and Memory | ||
| Primate Psychology | ||
Independent Study 1 | ||
Independent Research 1 | ||
Internship 1 | ||
| Total Hours | 18-23 | |
- 1
With permission of the Animal Studies Director, students can count one semester of an appropriate independent study, research, or internship toward the minor (in Category 4).
- 2
This course is a freshman seminar and to count it must be approved by the Director.
- 3
PSY 201 may be used as an elective or to satisfy Category 3 above, but it may not be used in both categories.
- 4
Only the ENG 270 Special Topics in English course titled, "Intro to Animal Studies" counts as an elective in the minor.