What does it mean to think, feel, or know something? These questions have long been considered uniquely human, but the science of animal cognition challenges us to reconsider. In this advanced program, we dive deep into the minds of non-human animals, exploring how they perceive their worlds, solve problems, communicate, form social bonds, and perhaps even experience emotion and consciousness. Whether you are drawn to the intelligence of octopuses, the culture of chimpanzees, the grief of elephants, or the moral questions that arise when we study minds unlike our own, this course offers a rigorous and thought-provoking space to explore it all.
Drawing on current research across psychology, biology, philosophy, and anthropology, we will critically examine what science can, and cannot, tell us about non-human minds. We will also grapple with the ethical dimensions of this work.
By the end of the term, students will be able to: (1) Critically evaluate primary scientific literature on animal cognition and behavior, (2) Analyze the philosophical and ethical implications of research on non-human minds, (3) Synthesize evidence across disciplines to construct well-supported arguments, (4) Communicate complex scientific ideas clearly to a range of audiences.
Students enrolled at 8 credits should expect approximately 20 hours of work per week across two integrated components. The first is an independent research project, in the form of a literature review or a ethics paper on a student-chosen topic in animal cognition. The second is a Science Communication Practicum, in which students translate their research into a public-facing product such as an op-ed, science essay, podcast, or teaching module. Students enrolled at 12 credits additionally participate in a weekly student-led seminar, engaging in advanced discussion of self-selected readings and further developing critical thinking, presentation, and scholarly conversation skills.
Anticipated Credit Equivalencies:
4 - Animal Cognition: Research and Ethics
4 - Science Communication Practicum
(for students enrolled at 12 credits)4 - Animal Cognition Seminar: Advanced Reading and Discussion
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Academic Details
Psychology, social science research, applied behavioral analysis, zoology