MA Program
Animal Behavior & ConservationAbout the
MA Program
The Animal Behavior & Conservation MA program enables students interested in animal behavior and conservation to develop and enhance their research skills and understanding of the behavior of animals, and to acquire credentials for employment in fields related to animal behavior & conservation.
This free-standing MA program replaces the previous concentration in Animal Behavior & Conservation within the Psychology MA program with no changes in requirements.
Animal Behavior & ConservationMA Program
Degree Requirements
Thesis Requirement
The MA thesis is a report of individual research supervised by a faculty member in the Hunter College Department of Psychology.
An oral presentation and comprehensive examination in the area of the MA thesis, conducted by the thesis committee, is required.
The thesis must be approved by the student’s thesis committee: consisting of the supervisor plus at least another reader, and by the Animal Behavior & Conservation director.
Animal Behavior & ConservationMA Program Curriculum
36 credits, 12 courses
- The ABC MA program consists of seven required courses and five elective courses.
- Each course carries three credits (except one and two credit independent research courses).
- All required, and most other courses, are offered after 5:30 pm, enabling students to complete the requirements while working.
- Courses relevant to the program from disciplines other than psychology may be taken if approved by the ABC program director.
- Not all courses listed are scheduled every year and may vary by semester.
Required Coursework21 credits, 7 courses
PSYCH 69000 - Independent Research in Psychology
Semester: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summerhttps://psychologyabc.hunter.cuny.edu/wp-admin/post-new.php
Hours: 3
Department: Psychology
Designed to meet the research needs and interests of individual students under the direction of a faculty sponsor. This may involve independent reading, tutorials, independent research projects, or participation in ongoing faculty research. Projects culminate in an APA-style research report or literature review.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate advisor.
Hours: 3
Department: Psychology
Designed to meet the research needs and interests of individual students under the direction of a faculty sponsor. This may involve independent reading, tutorials, independent research projects, or participation in ongoing faculty research. Projects culminate in an APA-style research report or literature review.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate advisor.
PSYCH 70500 - Statistical Methods in Psychology I
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 2 lecture hours, 2 conference or lab hours
Department: Psychology
Covers descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including t-tests, analyses of variance, correlation, simple regression, and an introduction to multiple regression. Some assignments require the use of a statistical computer package.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate advisor.
Hours: 2 lecture hours, 2 conference or lab hours
Department: Psychology
Covers descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including t-tests, analyses of variance, correlation, simple regression, and an introduction to multiple regression. Some assignments require the use of a statistical computer package.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate advisor.
PSYCH 73900 - Research Methods in Animal Behavior
Semester: Spring (only)
Hours: 2 lecture hours, 2 conference or lab hours
Department: Psychology
Designed to develop skills required for the study of animal behavior, such as procedures for obtaining data in laboratories or in captive and natural environments; includes observational techniques, single-subject designs, issues of reliability and external validity, non-parametric statistics.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate advisor.
Hours: 2 lecture hours, 2 conference or lab hours
Department: Psychology
Designed to develop skills required for the study of animal behavior, such as procedures for obtaining data in laboratories or in captive and natural environments; includes observational techniques, single-subject designs, issues of reliability and external validity, non-parametric statistics.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate advisor.
PSYCH 70701 - Thesis Research
Semester: Fall, Spring
Hours: 3 hours including conference
Department: Psychology
Prerequisites: Psych 70500, Psych 70100 or 74700
Individual research conducted under the supervision of a department faculty member, whose written permission must be obtained. Limited to students working on their MA thesis.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate advisor.
Hours: 3 hours including conference
Department: Psychology
Prerequisites: Psych 70500, Psych 70100 or 74700
Individual research conducted under the supervision of a department faculty member, whose written permission must be obtained. Limited to students working on their MA thesis.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate advisor.
PSYCH 71700 - Animal Behavior and Conservation in Captivity and the Wild
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 3 hours including conference
Department: Psychology
Prerequisites:Psych 70500, Psych 70100 or 74700
Introduces concepts and techniques of wildlife biology and comparative psychology, with contributions from researchers in social behavior, reproductive biology, wildlife conservation, captive breeding, and animal cognition and communication.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate advisor.
Hours: 3 hours including conference
Department: Psychology
Prerequisites:Psych 70500, Psych 70100 or 74700
Introduces concepts and techniques of wildlife biology and comparative psychology, with contributions from researchers in social behavior, reproductive biology, wildlife conservation, captive breeding, and animal cognition and communication.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate advisor.
PSYCH 71600 - Animal Behavior I: Mechanisms of Behavior
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 45 including conference
Department: Psychology
History of approaches to animal behavior; behavior development; proximate causation of behavior (motivation, neuroethology, and biorhythms); animal orientation and communication; cognitive ethology and culture.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate advisor.
Hours: 45 including conference
Department: Psychology
History of approaches to animal behavior; behavior development; proximate causation of behavior (motivation, neuroethology, and biorhythms); animal orientation and communication; cognitive ethology and culture.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate advisor.
PSYCH 71800 - Ethology (Animal Behavior II – Behavioral Ecology)
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 45 including conference
Department: Psychology
Examines behavioral genetics, which covers the importance of single-gene effects, polygenic behavioral traits, and the utility of the concept of heritability; behavioral evolution, which covers the methods of elucidating the phylogeny of behavior when fossil evidence is not available; behavioral ecology, which focuses on mating systems, territorial behavior, feeding strategies, antipredatory behavior, and sociobiology.
Hours: 45 including conference
Department: Psychology
Examines behavioral genetics, which covers the importance of single-gene effects, polygenic behavioral traits, and the utility of the concept of heritability; behavioral evolution, which covers the methods of elucidating the phylogeny of behavior when fossil evidence is not available; behavioral ecology, which focuses on mating systems, territorial behavior, feeding strategies, antipredatory behavior, and sociobiology.
One of the following applied courses:
PSYCH 75400 - Applied Animal Welfare & Behavior
Semester: Spring (only)
Hours: 3
Department: Psychology
Fundamental principles of animal behavior discussed in context of their applications to captive animal management (in laboratories, farms, zoos, aquariums, and shelters), animal welfare, and conservation. Programmatic approaches to animal care (e.g. enrichment and training) and animal welfare assessment tools will be described and evaluated.
Hours: 3
Department: Psychology
Fundamental principles of animal behavior discussed in context of their applications to captive animal management (in laboratories, farms, zoos, aquariums, and shelters), animal welfare, and conservation. Programmatic approaches to animal care (e.g. enrichment and training) and animal welfare assessment tools will be described and evaluated.
PSYCH 75800 - Conservation Biology Psychology
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 3
Department: Psychology
This course provides an understanding of biodiversity, human impacts on biodiversity, the theory and practice of maintaining biodiversity in a developing world, and the social psychology of motivating action to protect nature.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate advisor.
Hours: 3
Department: Psychology
This course provides an understanding of biodiversity, human impacts on biodiversity, the theory and practice of maintaining biodiversity in a developing world, and the social psychology of motivating action to protect nature.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate advisor.
PSYCH 75096 - Cultural Conflicts in Conservation: Can Human & Wild Animals Get Along?
Semester: Spring (only)
Hours:
Department: Psychology
All over the world, humans and wild non-human animals are in conflict.
Endangered species’ population numbers continue to decrease due largely to human-driven concerns, such as human population growth, habitat fragmentation and destruction, and land encroachment. One of the biggest concerns for conservationists is how to reconcile human cultural concerns and traditions with strategies aimed at protecting endangered species from extinction. In this class, we will discuss a number of topics related to the conflict between human culture and conservation by taking a close look each week at specific cases where human culture, population growth, animal behavior and conservation needs have created a conflict between humanity and wildlife. Students will have an opportunity to present a topic and
lead discussions and debates each week, while actively thinking about novel approaches to solving human/wildlife conflict around the world. Students will be responsible for giving presentations, leading
course discussion and debate, developing a grant proposal and writing a final term paper.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate advisor.
Hours:
Department: Psychology
All over the world, humans and wild non-human animals are in conflict.
Endangered species’ population numbers continue to decrease due largely to human-driven concerns, such as human population growth, habitat fragmentation and destruction, and land encroachment. One of the biggest concerns for conservationists is how to reconcile human cultural concerns and traditions with strategies aimed at protecting endangered species from extinction. In this class, we will discuss a number of topics related to the conflict between human culture and conservation by taking a close look each week at specific cases where human culture, population growth, animal behavior and conservation needs have created a conflict between humanity and wildlife. Students will have an opportunity to present a topic and
lead discussions and debates each week, while actively thinking about novel approaches to solving human/wildlife conflict around the world. Students will be responsible for giving presentations, leading
course discussion and debate, developing a grant proposal and writing a final term paper.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate advisor.
PSYCH 71751 - Field Study in Animal Behavior and Conservation
Semester: Summer, Winter
Hours: 3 hours including conference
Department: Psychology
Fundamental principles of animal behavior discussed in context of their applications to captive animal management (in laboratories, farms, zoos, aquariums, and shelters), animal welfare, and conservation. Programmatic approaches to animal care (e.g. enrichment and training) and animal welfare assessment tools will be described and evaluated.
Hours: 3 hours including conference
Department: Psychology
Fundamental principles of animal behavior discussed in context of their applications to captive animal management (in laboratories, farms, zoos, aquariums, and shelters), animal welfare, and conservation. Programmatic approaches to animal care (e.g. enrichment and training) and animal welfare assessment tools will be described and evaluated.
Elective Coursework15 credits, 5 courses
Elective coursework is made up of a minimum of two courses from the Animal Behavior category, plus three additional electives from any category.
PSYCH 64100 - Comparative Psychology
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
Hours: 45 hrs including conference
Department: Psychology
Development and evolution of the behavior of various species, major theoretical issues, classic experiments, and contemporary research and theory.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
Semester: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
Hours: 45 hrs including conference
Department: Psychology
Development and evolution of the behavior of various species, major theoretical issues, classic experiments, and contemporary research and theory.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
PSYCH 68058 - Companion Animals ►Special Topics◄
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 2 lecture hours, 2 conference or lab hours
Department: Psychology
Covers descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including t-tests, analyses of variance, correlation, simple regression, and an introduction to multiple regression. Some assignments require the use of a statistical computer package.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 2 lecture hours, 2 conference or lab hours
Department: Psychology
Covers descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including t-tests, analyses of variance, correlation, simple regression, and an introduction to multiple regression. Some assignments require the use of a statistical computer package.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
PSYCH 68066 - Companion Animals ►Special Topics◄
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 2 lecture hours, 2 conference or lab hours
Department: Psychology
Covers descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including t-tests, analyses of variance, correlation, simple regression, and an introduction to multiple regression. Some assignments require the use of a statistical computer package.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 2 lecture hours, 2 conference or lab hours
Department: Psychology
Covers descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including t-tests, analyses of variance, correlation, simple regression, and an introduction to multiple regression. Some assignments require the use of a statistical computer package.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
PSYCH 69000 - Companion Animals ►Special Topics◄
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 2 lecture hours, 2 conference or lab hours
Department: Psychology
Covers descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including t-tests, analyses of variance, correlation, simple regression, and an introduction to multiple regression. Some assignments require the use of a statistical computer package.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 2 lecture hours, 2 conference or lab hours
Department: Psychology
Covers descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including t-tests, analyses of variance, correlation, simple regression, and an introduction to multiple regression. Some assignments require the use of a statistical computer package.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
PSYCH 71000 - Advanced Physiological Psychology I (Neuroscience I)
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 45 including conference
Department: Psychology
An introduction to fundamental methodology in neuroscience research and a focus on the functioning of individual neurons and communication between neurons. This team-taught course is part of a two-term sequence covering fundamental concepts in neuroscience.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser. Neuroscience I is not a prerequisite for Neuroscience II.
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 45 including conference
Department: Psychology
An introduction to fundamental methodology in neuroscience research and a focus on the functioning of individual neurons and communication between neurons. This team-taught course is part of a two-term sequence covering fundamental concepts in neuroscience.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser. Neuroscience I is not a prerequisite for Neuroscience II.
PSYCH 71100 - Advanced Physiological Psychology II (Neuroscience II)
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 45 including conference
Department: Psychology
Topics in neuroscience, including development of neural patterns, cellular differentiation, pathways and synaptic connections, the genetics of neural development, neural sexual differentiation, neural plasticity and endocrine factors, somatosensation, motor systems, and vision.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 45 including conference
Department: Psychology
Topics in neuroscience, including development of neural patterns, cellular differentiation, pathways and synaptic connections, the genetics of neural development, neural sexual differentiation, neural plasticity and endocrine factors, somatosensation, motor systems, and vision.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
PSYCH 71700 - Animal Behavior and Conservation in Captivity and the Wild
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 45 including conference
Department: Psychology
Introduces concepts and techniques of wildlife biology and comparative psychology, with contributions from researchers in social behavior, reproductive biology, wildlife conservation, captive breeding, and animal cognition and communication.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 45 including conference
Department: Psychology
Introduces concepts and techniques of wildlife biology and comparative psychology, with contributions from researchers in social behavior, reproductive biology, wildlife conservation, captive breeding, and animal cognition and communication.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
PSYCH 71751 - Field Study in Animal Behavior and Conservation
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 45 including conference
Department: Psychology
Observation and study of the behavior of animals in their natural environment and application of techniques of observation and data analysis.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 45 including conference
Department: Psychology
Observation and study of the behavior of animals in their natural environment and application of techniques of observation and data analysis.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
PSYCH 73900 - Research Methods in Animal Behavior
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 30 hrs lecture, 30 hrs lab
Department: Psychology
Designed to develop skills required for the study of animal behavior, such as procedures for obtaining data in laboratories or in captive and natural environments; includes observational techniques, single-subject designs, issues of reliability and external validity, non-parametric statistics.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 30 hrs lecture, 30 hrs lab
Department: Psychology
Designed to develop skills required for the study of animal behavior, such as procedures for obtaining data in laboratories or in captive and natural environments; includes observational techniques, single-subject designs, issues of reliability and external validity, non-parametric statistics.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
PSYCH 75084 - Evolution of Animal Play
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours:
Department: Psychology
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours:
Department: Psychology
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
PSYCH 75096 - Cultural Conflicts in Conservation
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours:
Department: Psychology
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours:
Department: Psychology
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
PSYCH 75103 - Basic Psychological Processes 1: Perception, Learning and Comparative Cognition
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 45 hrs including conference
Department: Psychology
Covers the basic concepts in perception, learning and comparative psychology. Each topic is taught by a faculty member whose expertise and research is in the area to be covered.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 45 hrs including conference
Department: Psychology
Covers the basic concepts in perception, learning and comparative psychology. Each topic is taught by a faculty member whose expertise and research is in the area to be covered.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
PSYCH 75400 - Applied Animal Welfare & Behavior
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours:
Department: Psychology
Fundamental principles of animal behavior discussed in context of their applications to captive animal management (in laboratories, farms, zoos, aquariums, and shelters), animal welfare, and conservation. Programmatic approaches to animal care (e.g. enrichment and training) and animal welfare assessment tools will be described and evaluated.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours:
Department: Psychology
Fundamental principles of animal behavior discussed in context of their applications to captive animal management (in laboratories, farms, zoos, aquariums, and shelters), animal welfare, and conservation. Programmatic approaches to animal care (e.g. enrichment and training) and animal welfare assessment tools will be described and evaluated.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
PSYCH 75700 - Animal Thinking and Communication
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours:
Department: Psychology
Prerequisite: PSYCH 71700 or permission of instructor or of Animal Behavior and Conservation Coordinator
This course focuses on animal cognition and communication from the perspectives of communication theory, animal behavior, cognitive ethology and comparative cognition. Research on chimpanzees, dolphins, elephants, parrots and other animals will be covered.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours:
Department: Psychology
Prerequisite: PSYCH 71700 or permission of instructor or of Animal Behavior and Conservation Coordinator
This course focuses on animal cognition and communication from the perspectives of communication theory, animal behavior, cognitive ethology and comparative cognition. Research on chimpanzees, dolphins, elephants, parrots and other animals will be covered.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
PSYCH 75800 - Conservation Biology Psychology
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 30 hrs lecture, 30 hrs lab
Department: Psychology
This course provides an understanding of biodiversity, human impacts on biodiversity, the theory and practice of maintaining biodiversity in a developing world, and the social psychology of motivating action to protect nature.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours: 30 hrs lecture, 30 hrs lab
Department: Psychology
This course provides an understanding of biodiversity, human impacts on biodiversity, the theory and practice of maintaining biodiversity in a developing world, and the social psychology of motivating action to protect nature.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
Anthropology Electives
ANTH 79164 - Primates Evolution, Genetics & Behavior
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
Hours: 2 lecture hours, 2 conference or lab hours
Department: Psychology
Covers descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including t-tests, analyses of variance, correlation, simple regression, and an introduction to multiple regression. Some assignments require the use of a statistical computer package.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
Semester: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
Hours: 2 lecture hours, 2 conference or lab hours
Department: Psychology
Covers descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including t-tests, analyses of variance, correlation, simple regression, and an introduction to multiple regression. Some assignments require the use of a statistical computer package.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
ANTH 79153 - Primate Conservation
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
Hours: 2 lecture hours, 2 conference or lab hours
Department: Psychology
Covers descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including t-tests, analyses of variance, correlation, simple regression, and an introduction to multiple regression. Some assignments require the use of a statistical computer package.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
Semester: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
Hours: 2 lecture hours, 2 conference or lab hours
Department: Psychology
Covers descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including t-tests, analyses of variance, correlation, simple regression, and an introduction to multiple regression. Some assignments require the use of a statistical computer package.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
ANTH 79400 - Primate Ecology and Behavior
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
Hours: 2 lecture hours, 2 conference or lab hours
Department: Psychology
Covers descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including t-tests, analyses of variance, correlation, simple regression, and an introduction to multiple regression. Some assignments require the use of a statistical computer package.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
Semester: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
Hours: 2 lecture hours, 2 conference or lab hours
Department: Psychology
Covers descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including t-tests, analyses of variance, correlation, simple regression, and an introduction to multiple regression. Some assignments require the use of a statistical computer package.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
Geographical Technology Electives
GTECH 70900 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
Hours: 2 lecture hours, 2 conference or lab hours
Department: Psychology
Covers descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including t-tests, analyses of variance, correlation, simple regression, and an introduction to multiple regression. Some assignments require the use of a statistical computer package.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
Semester: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
Hours: 2 lecture hours, 2 conference or lab hours
Department: Psychology
Covers descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including t-tests, analyses of variance, correlation, simple regression, and an introduction to multiple regression. Some assignments require the use of a statistical computer package.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
GTECH 71000 - Concepts & Theories in GeoInformatics
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
Hours: 2 lecture hours, 2 conference or lab hours
Department: Psychology
Covers descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including t-tests, analyses of variance, correlation, simple regression, and an introduction to multiple regression. Some assignments require the use of a statistical computer package.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
Semester: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
Hours: 2 lecture hours, 2 conference or lab hours
Department: Psychology
Covers descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including t-tests, analyses of variance, correlation, simple regression, and an introduction to multiple regression. Some assignments require the use of a statistical computer package.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
GTECH 70900 - Advanced Geoinformatics
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
Hours: 2 lecture hours, 2 conference or lab hours
Department: Psychology
Covers descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including t-tests, analyses of variance, correlation, simple regression, and an introduction to multiple regression. Some assignments require the use of a statistical computer package.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
Semester: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
Hours: 2 lecture hours, 2 conference or lab hours
Department: Psychology
Covers descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including t-tests, analyses of variance, correlation, simple regression, and an introduction to multiple regression. Some assignments require the use of a statistical computer package.
Permission for all courses must be obtained from the graduate adviser.
Possible Timeline for Degree Completion
The sequence of course offerings enables students taking nine credits per semester to graduate in two years.
PSYCH 70500 – Statistical Methods in Psychology
PSYCH 71700 – ABC in Captivity and the Wild
PSYCH XXXXX – ABC Elective
PSYCH 71700 – ABC in Captivity and the Wild
PSYCH XXXXX – ABC Elective
PSYCH 73900 – Research Methods in ABC
PSYCH 69000 – Independent Research
PSYCH XXXXX – ABC Elective
PSYCH 69000 – Independent Research
PSYCH XXXXX – ABC Elective
PSYCH 71751- Field Study (Dolphin Course)
*If you do not plan to take the field course in the Summer, make sure to substitute it with another applied ABC course (e.g. PSYCH 75400 in the Spring, PSYCH 75800 in the Fall or PSYCH 75096 in the Spring).
PSYCH 70701 – Thesis Seminar I
PSYCH 75103 – Basic Psych Processes
XXXXX XXXXX – ABC | GTECH | ANTH Elective
PSYCH 75103 – Basic Psych Processes
XXXXX XXXXX – ABC | GTECH | ANTH Elective
XXXXX XXXXX – ABC | GTECH | ANTH Elective
XXXXX XXXXX – ABC | GTECH | ANTH Elective
XXXXX XXXXX – ABC | GTECH | ANTH Elective
Animal Behavior & ConservationMA Program
Admissions Criteria
Applicants are ranked according to their undergraduate grade point average, letters of recommendation, and personal statement, as well as prior course work and experience relevant to animal behavior and conservation.
There is no foreign-language requirement for the MA in psychology.
Application Checklist
You must meet the following minimum requirements in order to be considered for admission. Meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance to the program.
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution comparable in standard and content to a bachelor’s degree from Hunter College.
- Twelve undergraduate credits in psychology, including courses in statistics and experimental psychology, are generally required; however, students lacking this but with a high undergraduate GPA and general GRE scores may be admitted without a strong background in psychology. Such students may be required to take preparatory statistics and experimental courses.
- Minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0.
- A statement of purpose of approximately 500 words describing your objectives in undertaking graduate study. In reviewing applications, considerable importance is placed on the applicant’s interest in and commitment to advanced study and professional development.
- Two letters of recommendation from appropriate academic or professional sources.
- GREs are not required for this program.
- Applicants whose native language is not English and who have taken all or part of their undergraduate education in a country where English is not the native language are required to submit scores on the TOEFL/IELTS. The following minimum scores must be obtained:
- TOEFL iBT: 80/ Paper Based Test: 550/ Computer Administered Test: 213
- IELTS; 6.5 Overall Band Score
Apply Now
Hunter College Online ApplicationTo access an existing application, please visit the applicant login portal.
Application Deadline
May 1, 2023
Contact
Nicolina Steinhoff, Acting Graduate Advisor & Academic Program Coordinator
ns2715@hunter.cuny.edu
gradpsych@hunter.cuny.edu