Fundamentals of Animal Behavior

This course is foundational for students enrolling in the Animal Welfare and Behavior Certificate Program and provides students with the fundamental tools to interpret the behavior of small (companion) and large (farm) animals, poultry, and laboratory animals. Specifically, the course will cover: The anatomy and physiology that regulate behavior, its modification through learning, and animal cognition. The evolution and individual development of a behavior, including the analysis of its mechanism, adaptive value, ontogeny, and phylogeny. The ecology of domestic and laboratory animals: environmental needs, body care, locomotion and exploration. The social behavior of domestic and laboratory animals: affiliative and aggressive behavior, body language. The ingestive (feeding and drinking) behavior of domestic and laboratory animals. The reproductive and maternal behavior of domestic and laboratory animals. 6 Credit Hours