Cognitive Science 0279 - Seminar: Domesticated Animals

Spring
2013
1
4.00
Mark Feinstein

10:30AM-11:50AM T,TH

Hampshire College
310741
Adele Simmons Hall 112
mhfCCS@hampshire.edu
Domesticated animals - agricultural livestock such as sheep, cattle, pigs, and chickens as well as companion animals like dogs and cats - are of deep importance to human life. The primary focus of this course is on how domestication shapes the mental and behavioral characteristics of these animals. We also explore related issues in human-animal interaction, animal welfare, and agricultural practice. Learning, socialization, biological development, and evolution are central themes. In addition we undertake some comparative discussion of the wild counterparts of domesticated animals, explore the nature of feralization, and look at cases (like the elephant) which raise questions about how domestication is defined. Primarily a reading and discussion seminar, we engage with several dozen papers from the professional scientific literature; for their final project students are expected to grapple with a question of their own choosing in the form of a literature review, a critique of published work, or a study or proposal for a study of their own. Prerequisite: A course in animal behavior

Independent Work Quantitative Skills

Multiple required components--lab and/or discussion section. To register, submit requests for all components simultaneously.

This course has unspecified prerequisite(s) - please see the instructor.

Permission is required for interchange registration during the add/drop period only.