The PhD program in animal behavior is a transdisciplinary graduate degree program that provides doctoral-level training in mechanistic and functional approaches to understanding behavior in a variety of animal taxa.

The study of behavior is at the interface of several scientific disciplines, including physiology, anatomy, neuroscience, ecology and evolution. This program offers the diverse but specialized array of skills and knowledge needed to produce excellent research in animal behavior.

Students gain knowledge and skills with applied scientific value in areas such as veterinary science and mental and behavioral health in humans. The ecological focus of the program feeds into local, state and global priorities in biological conservation and ecosystem sustainability.

The current degree requirements are below. Remember you are required to fulfill the requirements from the academic year you were admitted. Please refer to the handbook from your year of admission as needed.

84 credit hours, an oral and written exam, a prospectus and a dissertation

Required Core (8 credit hours)

• ANB 601 Research Strategies in Animal Behavior (4) - taken in the 1st or 2nd semester

• ANB 602 Current Issues in Animal Behavior (1) - must be taken 4 times during program of study

Electives and Research (64 credit hours)

Research

• ANB 792 Research (12 minimum credit hours required)

The department and the student's advisor determine additional elective courses in conjunction with the student. Some examples include the following (not an exhaustive list):

• ANB 792 Research (additional)

• BIO 514 Statistical Models for Biology

• BIO 507 Advanced Evolutionary Medicine

• BIO 510 Evolutionary Medicine and Global Health

• BIO 521 Landscape Ecology

• BIO 530 Scientific Teaching

• BIO 533 K-12 STEM Education & Outreach

• BIO 539 Computing for Research

• BIO 552 Developmental Genetics

• BIO 591 Society and Natural Resource Management

• BIO 591 Social-Ecological Systems & Adaptation

• BIO 591 Drylands in a Changing Earth

• BIO 591 Population Genetic Reading Group

• BIO 591 Genetics and Genomics of Behavior

• BIO 598 Advanced Evolutionary Biology

• BIO 598 Biology of Social Insects

• BIO 598 Mammalogy

• BIO 620 Research Prospectus Writing

• EVO 501 Current Topics in Evolutionary Biology

• EVO 601 Principles of Evolution

• EVO 610 Research Areas of Evolution

• MCB/MIC 598 Immunology: Molecular and Cellular Foundations

Culminating Experience (12 credit hours)

• ANB 799 Dissertation (*12 credits)

*Taken after advancing to candidacy

*Note: It is very important you do exactly 12 dissertation credit hours. You may begin completing dissertation credits after advancing to candidacy. These 12 can be divided and taken over multiple semesters, but they must sum 12 credits exactly (no more, no less) to avoid issues when graduating. If you need to enroll in dissertation or equivalent hours after meeting your 12 total, please take ANB 792 Research hours instead, which has no maximum limit.

Please communicate with your faculty advisor and refer to your academic year's SOLS handbook for specific details about what is required for your comprehensive exams and prospectus defense. The Animal Behavior PhD program requires you complete this by the end of your 5th semester. You must pass your oral and written exams as well as your prospectus defense in order to advance to candidacy.

To schedule your exams:

• • Confirm your iPOS is approved and your faculty committee section is up to date.

  • Please fill out this form to both schedule and initiate your electronic pass/fail form. This will be sent to your committee members and Program Director. 

After your exams:

• Once your pass/fail form has been completed, the SOLS Graduate Office will input your results in your iPOS. If you passed each component, you will advance to candidacy and receive a formal candidacy letter from ASU.

• If you advance to candidacy by the deadlines detailed here, you will receive a post-candidacy pay increase the following semester (and each subsequent semester).