The Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program is interdisciplinary and designed to train students in research that integrates cognitive and behavioural studies at the ecological level. Molecular, developmental, and evolutionary aspects of cognition and behaviour are also studied. Supervisors include faculty from the Departments of Biology, Ocean Sciences, Psychology, the Faculty of Medicine and the Environmental Science Program at Grenfell Campus, as well as adjunct faculty from the Canadian Wildlife Service, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Newfoundland and Labrador Forestry and Wildlife Divisions and Parks Canada. The Departments of Biology and Psychology jointly offer the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology.

The Administrative Committee is responsible for the Program. Committee members are appointed by the Dean of Science, on the recommendation of the Chair of the Committee and of the Heads of Biology and Psychology. The Committee Chair is elected by the committee members and appointed by the Dean of Science. The Committee makes recommendations to the Dean of Graduate Studies concerning admissions and academic requirements. In consultation with supervisors, recommendations are made concerning course programs, financial support, thesis committees, comprehensive and thesis topics, examiners and students' annual progress. Upon program completion, the Committee certifies that all requirements for the appropriate degree have been met. The Department of the Supervisor ensures that adequate facilities are provided for each student. Students in the Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program are considered for teaching assistantships in the Psychology or Biology Departments.

Students normally take three courses (9 credit hours) in the first year. Students will be required to take Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology (CABE 6351), Field and Lab Methods in Animal Behaviour and Behavioural Ecology (CABE 7000) and one elective, normally Quantitative Methods in Biology (BIOL 7220) or Advanced Statistics in Psychology (6000), in consultation with the Supervisor.

Upon completion but before submission of the thesis, the student is required to give a formal thesis presentation.

The student will be required to comply with all other regulations governing the graduate Degree of Master of Science.