Ethology
Dr. Bill Tietjen

Fall 2005
Phone: 8113
E-Mail: btietjen@bellarmine.edu

Texts: Alcock: Animal Behavior and internet-based readings.  Most laboratory exercises will be distributed over the network and must be printed out prior to the laboratory. It is strongly recommended that you not leave the readings or printouts until the last minute since excuses such as "the server was down" will not be accepted and some resources may be available for only a short period of time.

Office Hours: P187 Tue, Thur 11:00-13:00. Other hours by Appointment.

Exams: There will be two exams. The first will be mid-semester (we'll adjust the time so it doesn't interfere with midterms in other classes. The second will be during the last day of class. Exams will be essay in format and will cover material from my class presentations, readings, homework, and laboratories. If an exam is missed for any reason, you must take the makeup the first day you return to class (or at my convenience). All exams will have a comprehensive component.

Term Project: You will perform a short independent project on a topic related to animal behavior. Projects can be in any area of ethology, with my approval and based on equipment limitations. You should choose your project early in the semester if you plan on doing field research that could be affected by changes in the weather. You will present your project to the class as a Power Point presentation during the last week of class. A written report with a literature survey and appropriate statistical analysis will also be turned in. The project may overlap with your ecology project if you wish.

Grading: Your final grade will be computed as follows:

  • Tests - 40%
  • Term Project - 30%
  • Laboratory Reports and Homework - 30%
  • The final percentages for an A: 95%+, A- 90-94, B+ 87-89, B 84-86, B- 80-83, C+ 77-79, C 74-76, C- 70-73, D+ 65-69, D 60-64

Attendance Policy- I do not deduct points for absences, but since the majority of the test material is from my notes, it is unlikely you will do well without attending my lecture. If you miss a lecture, get the notes from one of your classmates (mine will be useless to you). Exams, quizzes, and labs can only be made up if you have an excused absence. You must make up missed material by the next class meeting. Make-up exams are usually more difficult than the original; missed labs may require a paper. I will not accept a laboratory report from you if you did not attend (or make up) the laboratory in question. Excessive absences will be reported to the Dean of the College.  

Academic Policies- Click here for campus-wide regulations.

Disability Services: Students with disabilities who require accommodations (academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids or services) for this course must contact the Disability Services Coordinator (Room 225 Horrigan Hall or 452-8150). Please do not request accommodations directly from the professor.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the student will ....

  1. demonstrate the ability to use an evolutionary perspective to explain ethological adaptations.
  2. plan and carry out a research project related to the field of ethology.
  3. demonstrate the ability to integrate sub disciplines of biology into ethology

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