Undergrad animal behavior course from several options?

[latetothegame]

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Do vet schools like to see that applicants have taken animal behavior? And if so, are there certain types of classes that are considered the best for pre-vets? I have a number of options that sound like they might be worthwhile:

- A 100-level class offered through the biology department, which I'm guessing is taken by non-science majors looking for a not-too-heavy class to fulfill their science quota. No pre-reqs. I'm worried this one might be too light and not worth taking, though it could be a good GPA booster.

- A 200-level class offered through the psychology department, seemingly geared towards studying animals to understand humans. No pre-reqs.

- A 300-level class offered through the psychology department, on "evolutionary and mechanistic" understandings of animal behavior. Pre-req: one previous entry-level biology class.

- A 400-level class offered jointly through the biology and psychology departments, covers "physiological and perceptual mechanisms" of animal behavior. Pre-req: first biology class in the bio major sequence, or a 200-level psych class.

Thoughts?

 

[LetItSnow]

Thoughts?

This is just my gut feeling, so don't give it too much value, but my hunch is that none of those would significantly add to your application as compared to your general overall academic stats.

That said, they all sound really fascinating to me. Might be worth it purely from that point of view.

 

[jmo1012]

Do vet schools like to see that applicants have taken animal behavior? And if so, are there certain types of classes that are considered the best for pre-vets? I have a number of options that sound like they might be worthwhile:

- A 100-level class offered through the biology department, which I'm guessing is taken by non-science majors looking for a not-too-heavy class to fulfill their science quota. No pre-reqs. I'm worried this one might be too light and not worth taking, though it could be a good GPA booster.

- A 200-level class offered through the psychology department, seemingly geared towards studying animals to understand humans. No pre-reqs.

- A 300-level class offered through the psychology department, on "evolutionary and mechanistic" understandings of animal behavior. Pre-req: one previous entry-level biology class.

- A 400-level class offered jointly through the biology and psychology departments, covers "physiological and perceptual mechanisms" of animal behavior. Pre-req: first biology class in the bio major sequence, or a 200-level psych class.

Thoughts?

as a heads up, these classes do not usually have anything to do with "pet" behavior. i know most people at my undergrad used to sign up for our 3000 level psych dept animal behavior class only to be disappointed that they were learning about things like mating, social, and learning behaviors of wild animals and not the "why does my dog/cat do that?" type stuff

 

[twelvetigers]

In mine, we learned about bees dancing and bird calls. Which would have been cool if the prof wasn't hella boring.

But not much help for vet school as a whole, yanno.

 

[Trilt]

as a heads up, these classes do not usually have anything to do with "pet" behavior. i know most people at my undergrad used to sign up for our 3000 level psych dept animal behavior class only to be disappointed that they were learning about things like mating, social, and learning behaviors of wild animals and not the "why does my dog/cat do that?" type stuff

I think people make this mistake with animal behavior classes everywhere. It's all fun and games until you're out for hours trying to find a mockingbird to ethogram. ;p

 

[SocialStigma]

I don't think they really care. I took an upper level psych animal behaviour course. All we did was watch David Attenborough clips in class. Only reason I took it was because I minored in psych, because it's not particularly (at all) relevant to vet med really.

 

[Trematode]

For the vet school I applied to, you need two "Animal Science" courses. It specifically says that a course in animal behaviour does not count. Only courses dealing with vertebrate anatomy and physiology count. I took Animal Behaviour anyway (and found it easy and interesting), but all we did was make ethograms, write lab reports and learn why finches sing, bees dance, praying mantis cut off their partner's head during mating and why touching the red spot on a gull's beak makes them feed their chicks. It was COOL. But we only went into the bare minimum with physiology when we had to. If you're taking it to help you with vet school, I don't know how much help it would be.

Those mantis videos scarred me for life.

 

[Dsmoody23]

In mine, we learned about bees dancing and bird calls. Which would have been cool if the prof wasn't hella boring.

But not much help for vet school as a whole, yanno.

Same. I just took a 300 level AB.

Fish schooling, bee dancing, ant vision, zzzzz.

The entire class was there under the assumption that we'd at least mention the higher vertebrates, but no luck.

Barely interesting, barely veterinary.

 

[tigerkissedqt]

I think people make this mistake with animal behavior classes everywhere. It's all fun and games until you're out for hours trying to find a mockingbird to ethogram. ;p

Or standing out in a near-blizzard for hours waiting for a squirrel to come to a plate of peanuts...

 

[Dsmoody23]

Or standing out in a near-blizzard for hours waiting for a squirrel to come to a plate of peanuts...

Ugh. We spent a four hour lab out in the 100 degree sun, painting dots on bees.

There were heat casualties.

 

[Bacci]

I had a really positive experience with my animal behavior classes (of course, I majored in Psychology, so I could be biased). It was a little primate-heavy, but we definitely got a lot of dog behavior and I went out of my way to do my papers/projects on cat behavior or human-animal relationships, so I personally think I got a lot out of the courses. I would look into the description more and see what's actually taught, though.

And how can you not think that bee communication is hella awesome??! Or that freaking crows can solve complex problems, make tools?! Animal behavior is awesome. 😍

 

[latetothegame]

Thanks for all the replies!

I'm going to put animal behavior fairly low on the list of things I could take if I don't get into vet school on my first application cycle. (I don't really care about obtaining an undergrad degree, and will only have time to complete biology degree requirements if I don't get into vet school on my first try.) The animal behavior material could be interesting (I love insects!), but it's also something where I'm guessing I could do almost as well with the topic by reading a couple of pop science books over a weekend. I'm assuming that electives in virology or parasitology are going to look much more beneficial on my transcript than bird watching.

 

[lostbunny]

Hey just going to hijack the thread for a sec, if thats hokay.

With all this talk about animal behaviour courses (which I am well versed on... did lorenz and the ducks, dancing bees, parasitic birds, etc), it got me thinking about my actual lack in "Animal Science" courses....

I'm looking at a grad program (not a full on MSc, just a thing for undergrad graduates to take as higher/extra education, but can lead to a MSc. blah blah blah) thats focused on Animal Science, and I think this will really help with pre-studies to vet school and I'll also be more interested in it... however...

Looking back on my education, I don't really have much 'animal science' in there. I've got animal physiology 1&2 (2000 & 3000), human anatomy (1000 level), and a handful of psych courses that are geared more towards neuroscience. And then of course the regular pre recs (biochem, cell bio, etc).

So... my question is- what exactly do you do in Animal Science/Animal Studies? Is it more like learning reproduction, production, etc?

I had a peak at the schedule but they were only as helpful as a 5 sentence blurb can be in describing a full semester course... so what *is* animal science?

 

[Emiloo4]

Thanks for all the replies!

I'm going to put animal behavior fairly low on the list of things I could take if I don't get into vet school on my first application cycle. (I don't really care about obtaining an undergrad degree, and will only have time to complete biology degree requirements if I don't get into vet school on my first try.) The animal behavior material could be interesting (I love insects!), but it's also something where I'm guessing I could do almost as well with the topic by reading a couple of pop science books over a weekend. I'm assuming that electives in virology or parasitology are going to look much more beneficial on my transcript than bird watching.

I would just like to add that even thought it isn't as relevant to animal science as you would like to think, it DOES look more focused on your application than something like a general psychology class. And if you are interested in the research aspect of veterinary medicine it is a little more relevant I guess. I enjoyed the class, and it is on my transcript. Can't say it is probably gonna help much, but it is still more relevant than some electives I could have taken. I also took Animal Development, maybe look into that... best of luck!

 

[PetPony]

Hey just going to hijack the thread for a sec, if thats hokay.

With all this talk about animal behaviour courses (which I am well versed on... did lorenz and the ducks, dancing bees, parasitic birds, etc), it got me thinking about my actual lack in "Animal Science" courses....

I'm looking at a grad program (not a full on MSc, just a thing for undergrad graduates to take as higher/extra education, but can lead to a MSc. blah blah blah) thats focused on Animal Science, and I think this will really help with pre-studies to vet school and I'll also be more interested in it... however...

Looking back on my education, I don't really have much 'animal science' in there. I've got animal physiology 1&2 (2000 & 3000), human anatomy (1000 level), and a handful of psych courses that are geared more towards neuroscience. And then of course the regular pre recs (biochem, cell bio, etc).

So... my question is- what exactly do you do in Animal Science/Animal Studies? Is it more like learning reproduction, production, etc?

I had a peak at the schedule but they were only as helpful as a 5 sentence blurb can be in describing a full semester course... so what *is* animal science?

We learn about general handling of large animals, reproduction (natural and AI - which we also get to do ourselves later on if we choose to take that class), we learn about meat production (in some classes we actually have to do it ourselves), we learn about some medical things (we do castrations, vaccines, hoof trims... in our first ever animal science class already). We also have the option to learn how to train young horses, or to show and judge large animal. Livestock evaluation and how to choose the right ones for your herd. Evaluating their carcass. Nutrition, genetics, physiology of different parts (reproduction, lactation,...) and so on.

Lots of stuff offered for us to do. I don't know what other schools do though. There are different 'paths' to go in your major, depending on what you're interested to do with it. Equine Management, Meat Production, and I don't really remember what the other one is..

 

[lostbunny]

cool PetPony!! thanks!! Would be nice/cool to learn about the 'sciencey' side of that kind of stuff.
👍

 

[PetPony]

I think the third path you can take if you want to go into research. So I guess that would be more sciency?

I don't know. I'm going with the equine management side, but if I get the chance/have time, I'm also doing some production classes.

 

[TehSwizz]

In mine, we learned about bees dancing and bird calls. Which would have been cool if the prof wasn't hella boring.

But not much help for vet school as a whole, yanno.

Lol, that sounds exactly like my Animal Behavior class. I see that we both took it at the same school, so I'm guessing I know who it was that tought your class.

 

[LetItSnow]

We learn about general handling of large animals, reproduction (natural and AI - which we also get to do ourselves later on if we choose to take that class), we learn about meat production (in some classes we actually have to do it ourselves), we learn about some medical things (we do castrations, vaccines, hoof trims... in our first ever animal science class already). We also have the option to learn how to train young horses, or to show and judge large animal. Livestock evaluation and how to choose the right ones for your herd. Evaluating their carcass. Nutrition, genetics, physiology of different parts (reproduction, lactation,...) and so on.

Sounds awesome - I wish I had done something like that in my UG days.

What animals are you doing AI on?

 

[twelvetigers]

Lol, that sounds exactly like my Animal Behavior class. I see that we both took it at the same school, so I'm guessing I know who it was that tought your class.

It was SUPPOSED to be Dr. O'Connell, who is AWESOME, but it was the first year that MM taught it. I got hosed. And I got a B to boot. Harumph.

 

[PetPony]

Sounds awesome - I wish I had done something like that in my UG days.

What animals are you doing AI on?

I haven't taken the class yet and didn't read the syllabus either, but I think it's on cows only.

 

[foxtrotvet]

Hey just going to hijack the thread for a sec, if thats hokay.

With all this talk about animal behaviour courses (which I am well versed on... did lorenz and the ducks, dancing bees, parasitic birds, etc), it got me thinking about my actual lack in "Animal Science" courses....

I'm looking at a grad program (not a full on MSc, just a thing for undergrad graduates to take as higher/extra education, but can lead to a MSc. blah blah blah) thats focused on Animal Science, and I think this will really help with pre-studies to vet school and I'll also be more interested in it... however...

Looking back on my education, I don't really have much 'animal science' in there. I've got animal physiology 1&2 (2000 & 3000), human anatomy (1000 level), and a handful of psych courses that are geared more towards neuroscience. And then of course the regular pre recs (biochem, cell bio, etc).

So... my question is- what exactly do you do in Animal Science/Animal Studies? Is it more like learning reproduction, production, etc?

I had a peak at the schedule but they were only as helpful as a 5 sentence blurb can be in describing a full semester course... so what *is* animal science?

I just wanted to chime in and add my 2 cents...I'll be graduating with a degree in Equine Sciences, which at my school is closely tied to the Animal Sciences program. I have to say that a lot of the classes I took will help me out tremendously in vet school next year. Along with your basic sciences classes such as genetics, equine-focused nutrition, and disease (plus pre-vet requirements), my major offered several options to gain hands-on experience in my field. I took an equine reproduction lab in which I learned how to AI mares, observed embryo flushes, collected stallions etc. as well as a myriad of other classes including foaling management and a horse judging/evaluation class that led to a position on the judging team. From my experiences, animal science classes gave me the option to gain a lot of hands-on experience in some areas I was less familiar with (such as reproduction), as well as provide real-world application to some of the basic sciences classes we had to take.

I also have to say I REALLY enjoyed my Equine Behavior class - we had quite a few guest speakers including one PhD student doing a study on western mustang populations and behavior, as well as Temple Grandin (who is very interesting to listen to) and a host of well-known equine clinicians, who offered their take on how they use behavior to influence training methods. Very hands on, which I liked - I had a few friends in the psychology areas who were less pleased with their behavior classes as it was hard to relate to. If you can find classes like this, go for it!!!

 

[nyanko]

My rather intensive graduate level Animal Behavior class was pretty much all birds and mice all the time with a very small dash of primates.

HOWEVER I found at that level the species didn't really matter. It was a really good examination of some really important principles that have helped me with trying to understand how animals perceive the world and I do feel a lot more keyed in to the principles of behavior and perception for having taken it.

 

[lostbunny]

Cool thanks for the replies about Animal Sci courses!!

And Nyanko... totally agree with you. I took 3rd and 4th year animal behavior classes and totally gained a new respect for anything with some sort of neural network!

👍