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.
Core CourseworkAll classes subject to availability
PSYCH 69000 - Independent Research in Psychology
Semester: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
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. May be taken multiple times with permission of the department. May be taken in conjunction with other Independent Study courses (PSYCH 69000, PSYCH 69100, PSYCH 692000) for a total of 9 credits as long as each time the course is taken, the course content differs in topic or scope.
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. May be taken multiple times with permission of the department. May be taken in conjunction with other Independent Study courses (PSYCH 69000, PSYCH 69100, PSYCH 692000) for a total of 9 credits as long as each time the course is taken, the course content differs in topic or scope.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
PSYCH 75048 - Behavioral Ecology: Applications to Wildlife Conservation in our Changing World
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall, Spring
Department: Psychology
Behavioral Ecology: Applications to Wildlife Conservation in our Changing World
Semester: Fall, Spring
Department: Psychology
Behavioral Ecology: Applications to Wildlife Conservation in our Changing World
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.
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.
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.
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.
Elective Coursework
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.
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.
PSYCH 69000 - Independent Research in Psychology; 3 Credits
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall, Spring
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. May be taken multiple times with permission of the department. May be taken in conjunction with other Independent Study courses (PSYCH 69000, PSYCH 69100, PSYCH 692000) for a total of 9 credits as long as each time the course is taken, the course content differs in topic or scope.
Semester: Fall, Spring
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. May be taken multiple times with permission of the department. May be taken in conjunction with other Independent Study courses (PSYCH 69000, PSYCH 69100, PSYCH 692000) for a total of 9 credits as long as each time the course is taken, the course content differs in topic or scope.
PSYCH 69200 - Independent Research in Psychology; 2 Credits
Credits: 2.00
Semester: Fall, Spring
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. May be taken multiple times with permission of the department. May be taken in conjunction with other Independent Study courses (PSYCH 69000, PSYCH 69100, PSYCH 692000) for a total of 9 credits as long as each time the course is taken, the course content differs in topic or scope.
Semester: Fall, Spring
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. May be taken multiple times with permission of the department. May be taken in conjunction with other Independent Study courses (PSYCH 69000, PSYCH 69100, PSYCH 692000) for a total of 9 credits as long as each time the course is taken, the course content differs in topic or scope.
PSYCH 69100 - Independent Research in Psychology; 1 Credits
Credits: 1.00
Semester: Fall, Spring
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. May be taken multiple times with permission of the department. May be taken in conjunction with other Independent Study courses (PSYCH 69000, PSYCH 69100, PSYCH 692000) for a total of 9 credits as long as each time the course is taken, the course content differs in topic or scope.
Semester: Fall, Spring
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. May be taken multiple times with permission of the department. May be taken in conjunction with other Independent Study courses (PSYCH 69000, PSYCH 69100, PSYCH 692000) for a total of 9 credits as long as each time the course is taken, the course content differs in topic or scope.
PSYCH 68066 - Urban Animals
Credits: 3.00
Semester: All terms
Department: Psychology
Urban Animals
Semester: All terms
Department: Psychology
Urban Animals
PSYCH 70702 - Thesis Research II
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall, Sp
Department: Psychology
Prerequisite: PSYCH 707.01
Additional semester of individual research under the supervision of a department faculty member. A formally approved Thesis Proposal and written approval from the faculty sponsor is required. Limited to students working in their MA thesis.
Semester: Fall, Sp
Department: Psychology
Prerequisite: PSYCH 707.01
Additional semester of individual research under the supervision of a department faculty member. A formally approved Thesis Proposal and written approval from the faculty sponsor is required. Limited to students working in their MA thesis.
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.
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.
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.
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.
PSYCH 75096 - Cultural Conflicts in Conservation
Credits: 3.00
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours:
Department: Psychology
Semester: Fall (only)
Hours:
Department: Psychology
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 71600 – Animal Behavior I: Mechanisms of Behavior
XXXXX XXXXX – ABC | GTECH | ANTH Elective
PSYCH 71600 – Animal Behavior I: Mechanisms of Behavior
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 Application
To access an existing application, please visit the applicant login portal.
Application Deadline
April 1, 2024
Contact
Nicolina Steinhoff, Acting Graduate Advisor & Academic Program Coordinator
gr_psych@hunter.cuny.edu
212-772-5550