BCSC 183: Lecture Schedule

(Order & topic of lectures may be subject to (minor) change. Any changes will be announced ahead of time on Blackboard. Readings must be completed ahead of the class they are listed next to.)

Only students who are enrolled in the course may access the course readings online. You must be logged into Blackboard to download these materials.

Date
Topic
Reading
08/30
Introduction/Orientation
 
09/04
Labor Day – no class
 
09/06
History & Philosophy of Ethology
W&U Ch 1
09/11
Evolution & the Comparative Method
 
09/13
Sensory Systems
W&U Ch 2
09/18
Learning
W&U Ch 5
09/20
Journal Club 1: Cross-modal learning
Solvi et al., 2020
09/25
Exam 1
 
09/27
Memory
W&U Ch 10
10/02
Navigation
W&U Ch 7
10/04
Time, Number & Planning
W&U Ch 4
10/09
Categories & Concepts
W&U Ch 3
10/11
Journal Club 2: Future planning
Mulcahy & Call, 2016
10/16
Fall Break – no class
 
10/18
Exam 2
 
10/23
Physical Cognition
W&U Ch 6
10/25
Tool Use
 
10/30
Social Learning
W&U Ch 9
11/01
Culture & Cumulative Culture
 
11/06
Journal Club 3: Cultural transmission of tool use
Hobaiter et al., 2014
11/08
Exam 3
 
11/13
Communication & Language
W&U Ch 11 & 12
11/15
Film: Project Nim (Part 1)
 
11/20
Film: Project Nim (Part 2 & discussion)
 
11/22
Thanksgiving - No class
 
11/27
Social Cognition
 W&U Ch 8
11/29
Collective cognition
 
12/04
Swarm Intelligence
 
12/06
Metacognition & Consciousness
 
12/11
Journal Club 4: Theory of Mind in Animals?
Krupenye et al., 2016
12/13
Exam 4