Exploration of mechanisms, functions, and evolution of animal communication and human language. Using examples from diverse taxa, students will investigate the different modalities used to communicate, the type of information that can be communicated, the production, perception, and function of most signals, and how they evolved.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students: Graduate students will lead a class discussion and/or co-lead a group work activity on a particular topic (chosen in collaboration with the instructor). Graduate students will also have additional required readings and a longer final paper/lit review.
Athena Title
Animal Communication
Prerequisite
PSYC 1101 or PSYC 1101E or [(ECOL 1000 or ECOL 1000E) and ECOL 1000L] or [(BIOL 1107 or BIOL 1107E) and BIOL 1107L] or [(BIOL 1108 and BIOL 1108L] or ANTH 1102 or ANTH 1102E or ANTH 2120H or ANTH 2045 or ANTH 2045E or ANTH 2045W
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to integrate biological, physical, ecological, physiological, and anthropological concepts to explain how and why animals communicate.
At the end of the course, students will be able to recognize the importance of the scientific method and the evolutionary framework in animal communication studies.
At the end of the course, students will be able to describe, through examples, how the ecological and social environment influence the evolution of particular signals.
At the end of the course, students will be able to describe major theories explaining origin and evolution of language and recognize main differences between animal communication and human language.
At the end of the course, students will be able to read, understand, and critically evaluate scientific primary literature.
At the end of the course, students will be able to synthesize and effectively communicate in writing and orally their research findings.
