Animal Behavior and Ethology
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the psychological and neurological bases of animal sensation, perception, cognition, behavior, and behavioral interactions within and outside the species. Includes instruction in ethology, behavioral neuroscience, neurobiology, behavioral evolution, cognition and sensory perception, motivators, learning and instinct, hormonal controls, reproductive and developmental biology, community ecology, functional behavior, and applications to specific behaviors and patterns as well as to specific phyla and species.
- Schools offering
- 10
- Annual completions
- 227
- Typical degree level
- Bachelor's
- Median earnings (5yr)
- $47k
About this major
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the psychological and neurological bases of animal sensation, perception, cognition, behavior, and behavioral interactions within and outside the species. Includes instruction in ethology, behavioral neuroscience, neurobiology, behavioral evolution, cognition and sensory perception, motivators, learning and instinct, hormonal controls, reproductive and developmental biology, community ecology, functional behavior, and applications to specific behaviors and patterns as well as to specific phyla and species.
Where this major leads
Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.
| Occupation | Median wage | Job growth | Typical education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological technicians | $52k | +3.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Zoologists and wildlife biologists | $73k | +1.6% | Bachelor's degree |
Earnings at a glance
Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.
Median 5-year earnings
$47k
Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings
Associate's
$35k
Bachelor's
$48k
Top colleges for Animal Behavior and Ethology
Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.
| College | Location | Assoc. | Bach. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eckerd College | Saint Petersburg, FL | 0 | 63 | 63 |
| Canisius University | Buffalo, NY | 0 | 35 | 35 |
| Indiana University-Bloomington | Bloomington, IN | 0 | 34 | 34 |
| Carroll University | Waukesha, WI | 0 | 30 | 30 |
| Bucknell University | Lewisburg, PA | 0 | 19 | 19 |
| University of New England | Biddeford, ME | 0 | 18 | 18 |
| Franklin and Marshall College | Lancaster, PA | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| Utica University | Utica, NY | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| Madonna University | Livonia, MI | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| Hampshire College | Amherst, MA | 0 | 2 | 2 |
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