Psychology 4290F 001 FW25
Special Topics in Animal Behaviour and Animal Cognition: Animal Communication
WESTERN UNIVERSITY
LONDON CANADA
Department of Psychology
2025 - 2026
Psychology 4290 F Section 001
Special Topics in Animal Behaviour and Animal Cognition:
Animal Communication
- CALENDAR DESCRIPTION
The special topic for this course will focus on Animal Communication. All animals communicate with each other, both within and across species, but the ways that they do so are diverse. In this course we will examine the processes and forces guiding the evolution of communication in animals, including both the underlying mechanisms responsible for producing and receiving signals as well as the evolutionary forces shaping those signals.
Antirequisite: Not Applicable
Antirequisites are courses that overlap sufficiently in content that only one can be taken for credit. If you take a course that is an antirequisite to a course previously taken, you will lose credit for the earlier course, regardless of the grade achieved in the most recent course.
Prerequisites: One of Psychology 2220A/B, Psychology 2221A/B, or Neuroscience 2000, PLUS registration in fourth year Main Campus Honours Specialization in Psychology, fourth year Honours Specialization in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, fourth year Honours Specialization in Neuroscience, or fourth year Honours Specialization in Animal Behavior. Fourth year Main Campus Psychology students and Main Campus Psychology Special Students who receive 70% in the prerequisite course may enroll in this course.
3 lecture hours; Course Weight: 0.5
Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enrol in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.
2.0 COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Carrie Branch
Office and Phone Number: see Brightspace
Office Hours: By Appointment
Email: cbranch6@uwo.ca
Teaching Assistant:TBD
Office: TBD
Office Hours: TBD
Email: TBD
Time and Location of Classes: see Timetable on Student Centre
Delivery Method: In-Person
Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Health and Wellness @Western https://www.uwo.ca/health/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.
Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you. You may also contact Accessible Education at aew@uwo.ca or 519-661-2147.
2.1 Online Learning Notice:
Please note: For courses delivered in an online format, include an online component, or are required to pivot online, students must have a reliable internet connection and computer that are compatible with online learning system requirements. Some courses may also require the use of a remote proctoring platform to ensure assessments are taken fairly in accordance with Western’s policy on Scholastic Discipline for Undergraduate Students and Scholastic Discipline for Graduate Students. Please refer to the course syllabus for further information.
3.0 TEXTBOOK
Principles of Animal Communication (2nd edition) by Bradbury and Vehrencamp $278 on Amazon
4.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES & LEARNING OUTCOMES
This course will follow a seminar style format, where we will read and discuss primary scientific
literature to obtain a better understanding of the diversity and causes of animal communication.
We will examine the processes and forces guiding the evolution of communication in animals,
including both the underlying mechanisms responsible for producing and receiving signals as
well as the evolutionary forces shaping those signals. As part of this course, you will
demonstrate mastery of the core principles of animal communication, discuss and explain
methodological approaches to studying communication, describe the mechanistic bases of
communication systems, and the function and evolution of animal signals, and formulate
hypotheses, predictions and tests in order to investigate active research questions in the field of
animal communication.
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Learning Outcome |
Learning Activity |
Assessment |
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Depth and Breadth of Knowledge.
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Reading Participating in class discussion Preparing for class presentation Writing essay
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Pre-class quizzes Discussion leading Class presentation Written proposal
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Knowledge of Methodologies.
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Reading Participating in class discussion Preparing for class presentation Writing proposal |
Pre-class quizzes Discussion leading Class presentation Written proposal
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Application of Knowledge.
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Reading Participating in class discussion Preparing for class presentation Writing proposal |
Pre-class quizzes Class presentation Written proposal
|
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Communication Skills.
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Participating in class discussion Delivering class presentation Writing proposal |
Discussion leader Class presentation Written proposal
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5.0 EVALUATION
The evaluation and testing formats for this course were created to assess the learning objectives as listed in section 4.0 and are considered necessary for meeting these learning objectives. Attendance and active participation during course time is essential and will be 25% of your final grade, this includes in-class exercises demonstrating how animal communication is studied by scientists (these exercises cannot be made up). Pre-course quizzes based on weekly readings of primary literature will be 15% of your final grade. Each week, 2 students will be assigned to lead the in-class paper discussion, including an active learning activity for the rest of the class (25% of final grade). For the final project (35% of final grade), pairs of students will work together to develop a research proposal based on a topic in animal communication. Students may choose their topic; however, it needs to be approved by the professor. Students will work together on the ideas and structure for this proposal and will present to the class together (15% of course grade); however, the written proposal will be an individual effort (20% of course grade). The written proposal will be due the last day of class and should be typed, double-spaced and ~8 pages in length. Style should follow the American Psychological Association (APA) Publication Manual.
5.1 POLICY ON MISSING COURSEWORK
For all missing assignments, students will receive a zero. Late assignments will be accepted within 14 days of the due date, but will be penalized 3% for each day the assignment is late. In-class exercises and participation points may not be made up.
PLEASE NOTE: Because this is an essay course, as per Senate Regulations, you must pass the essay component to pass the course. That is, the average mark for your written assignments must be at least 50%.
This course is exempt from the Senate requirement that students receive assessment of their work accounting for at least 15% of their final grade at least three full days before the date of the deadline for withdrawal from a course without academic penalty.
The expectation for course grades within the Psychology Department is that they will be distributed around the following averages:
70% 1000-level to 2099-level courses
72% 2100-2999-level courses
75% 3000-level courses
80% 4000-level courses
The Psychology Department follows Western’s grading guidelines, which are as follows (see: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf
A+ 90-100 One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
A 80-89 Superior work that is clearly above average
B 70-79 Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory
C 60-69 Competent work, meeting requirements
D 50-59 Fair work, minimally acceptable
F below 50 Fail
Note that in the event that course grades are significantly higher or lower than these averages, instructors may be required to make adjustments to course grades. Such adjustment might include the normalization of one or more course components and/or the re-weighting of various course components.
Policy on Grade Rounding: Please note that although course grades within the Psychology Department are rounded to the nearest whole number, no further grade rounding will be done. No additional assignments will be offered to enhance a final grade; nor will requests to change a grade because it is needed for a future program be considered. To maximize your grade, do your best on each and every assessment within the course.
6.0 ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION SCHEDULE
In-class Participation and Exercises 25%
September – November
Pre-class Reading Quizzes 15%
September – November
Paired Discussion Leading 25%
September – November
Proposal Presentation 15%
Dec 1st and 8th
Written Proposal 20%
December 9th
7.0 CLASS SCHEDULE
|
Week |
Topic |
Primary Readings |
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September 8 |
What is communication? |
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15 |
Acoustic communication |
TBA |
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22 |
Visual communication |
TBA |
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29 |
Chemical, tactile, electrical communication |
TBA |
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October 6 |
Origin and evolution of signals |
TBA |
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13 |
Thanksgiving Holiday |
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20 |
Honest signaling |
TBA |
|
27 |
Mating signals
In class sound analysis exercise |
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November 3 |
Reading Week
|
TBA |
|
10 |
Agonistic signals |
TBA |
|
17 |
Food and alarm signals |
TBA |
|
24 |
Individual recognition |
TBA |
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December 1 |
Research Proposal Presentations |
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8 |
Research Proposal Presentations |
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8 Academic Integrity
Scholastic offences are taken seriously, and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the following Web site: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf.
Possible penalties for a scholastic offence include failure of the assignment/exam, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
Statement on Use of Electronic Devices
You may use laptops or tablets in this class to consult online readings or to take notes. Please keep in mind, however, that use of technology can be distracting – not only for you, but to others in the class. Please avoid the temptation to text, check social media, etc. in class.
Use of electronic devices is strictly prohibited during exams, with the exception of devices that have been approved for accessibility/accommodation purposes.
Plagiarism Detection Software
All required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the detection of plagiarism. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com.
Use of AI
The use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT to produce written work is not permitted unless permission is granted by the instructor for specific circumstances. Any work submitted must be the work of the student in its entirety unless otherwise disclosed. When used, AI tools should be used ethically and responsibly, and students must cite or credit the tools used in line with the expectation to use AI as a tool to learn, not to produce content.
AI Policy for Psychology:
Responsible use of AI is allowed in Psychology. This includes using AI for brainstorming, improving grammar, or doing preliminary/background research on a topic.
AI is not to be used in place of critical thinking.
The misuse of AI undermines the academic values of this course. Relying on AI to create full drafts or fabricate sources is prohibited. You are ultimately responsible for any work submitted, so it is highly advised that you critically review your Generative AI output before incorporating this information into your assignments.
If you use AI, you must clearly explain its role in your work. All written assignments will require an AI Usage Statement, in which you will indicate what tools you have used, what you have used them for, and (broadly) how you have modified this information. Assignments without an AI Usage Statement will not be accepted.
Violations of this policy will be handled according to Western’s scholastic offense policies.
Multiple Choice Exams
Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams will be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.
9 Academic Accommodations and Accessible Education
View Western’s policy on academic accommodations for student with disabilities at this link.
Accessible Education provides supports and services to students with disabilities at Western. If you think you may qualify for ongoing accommodation that will be recognized in all your courses, visit Accessible Education for more information. Email: aew@uwo.ca Phone: 519 661-2147
10 Absence & Academic Consideration
Please see this link for detailed information on Western’s Academic Considerations protocols: https://registrar.uwo.ca/academics/academic_considerations/index.html
11 Other Information
- Office of the Registrar: https://registrar.uwo.ca
- Student Development Services: www.sdc.uwo.ca
- Psychology Undergraduate Program: https://www.psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/index.html
Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Health and Wellness@Western https://www.uwo.ca/health/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.
Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you.
If you wish to appeal a grade, please read the policy documentation at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/appealsundergrad.pdf. Please first contact the course instructor. If your issue is not resolved, you may make your appeal in writing to the Undergraduate Chair in Psychology (psyugrd@uwo.ca).
Copyright Statement
Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, videos and similar materials, are protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own educational use. You may not record lectures, reproduce (or allow others to reproduce), post or distribute any course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.
