Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Primate Behavior and Ecology Program


College of the Sciences
Ellensburg
Dean Hall, room 357A

509-963-3201
Fax: 509-963-3215
www.cwu.edu/primate
    See website for how this program may be used for educational and career purposes.

Program Director
Lori K. Sheeran, PhD, anthropology, Dean Hall, room 335

Professors
Dan Beck, PhD, biology, ecology and behavior
Kara I. Gabriel, PhD, psychology, experimental psychology, biopsychology
Lori K. Sheeran, PhD, anthropology, primate behavior, primate conservation, biological anthropology
Lixing Sun, PhD, biology, ecology and evolution of animal behavior (especially communication systems), chemical ecology
R. Steven Wagner, PhD, biology, conservation population genetics, molecular evolution

Associate Professors
Matthew Altman, PhD, philosophy, applied ethics (including environmental ethics and ethics and animals), 19th century philosophy, ethics, social and political philosophy, philosophy of art, philosophy of law
Ralf Greenwald, PhD, psychology, general cognition, human neurophysiology, working memory, attention, language

Assistant Professor
Jessica A. Mayhew, PhD, anthropology, primate social behavior and socio-cognition, great apes, play behavior
Mary Radeke, PhD, psychology, child-language development, neuropsychology, experimental psychology
Rodrigo Renteria-Valencia, PhD, anthropology, environmental anthropology

Lecturers
Sofia Blue, PhD, anthropology, primatology, signal systems in nonhuman primates, research methodology
Mary Lee Jensvold, PhD, primatology, primate cognition, chimpanzee behavior
JB Mulcahy, MS, primatology, primate captive care, chimpanzee behavior

Staff
Penelope Anderson, secretary senior

Program Information
This program provides majors with interdisciplinary perspectives on the behavior and ecology of nonhuman primates in both captive and free-living settings. It serves as background for graduate study in the behavior, ecology, or phylogeny of primates, as well as for care-giving careers with primates living in laboratories, zoos, or other captive facilities. Lab fees required for PRIM 220, PRIM 320, and ANTH 416.

A double major is REQUIRED with the PBE degree. Students must complete the requirements for the PBE major as well as the requirements for a 45-plus-credit major in anthropology, biology, or psychology. Students interested in the major should contact the program office as soon as possible for further information, application forms, and assignment of an advisor. PBE majors are expected to meet with their advisor at least once a quarter.
 

Special Programs
The program sponsors and is affiliated with a wide range of on- and off-campus activities that provide students with opportunities to conduct faculty-mentored scientific projects or internships.

The PBE library in room 204 Dean Hall houses several hundred books, articles, and DVDs/videotapes related to primatology. The room includes a TV, DVD player, and four computer work stations.

The PBE program has available for student use one video camera, two digital cameras, two DVD players, one television, observational software (The Observer), and two PDAs for using this software at remote locations. The Observer software can also be used on two desktop computers.

Students and faculty who have been approved to conduct research at CHCI may have access to resources housed there. These include an extensive library of articles, books, videos, and DVDs, and more than 20 years of archived video footage collected from the chimpanzees living there. CHCI also houses several VCRs, TVs, DVD players, video cameras, and computers that students can use in research projects conducted at CHCI. Access is considered on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the director and associate director of CHCI.

The Anthropological Genetics Laboratory in room 232A Dean Hall is equipped for performing DNA extractions, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) amplification, genotyping, and DNA sequencing. Software for analyzing genetic data and performing phylogenetic analysis is also available.

The anthropology department owns casts of fossil and living nonhuman primates. These span a variety of taxa including prosimians, monkeys, and apes. Access is considered on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the anthropology faculty.

The PBE program is affiliated with the Conservation and Biodiversity Field School in China, which is coordinated through the CWU Office of International Study and Programs.

Students can develop faculty-mentored internship experiences based at CHCI, the Woodland Park Zoo, and other sites.

Programs

    Bachelor of Science (B.S.)Certificate B

    Courses

      Primate Studies (PRIM)