The Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Graduate Program focuses on interdisciplinary animal behaviour research. Research integrates mechanistic, developmental, evolutionary, and ecological perspectives on behaviour through molecular, individual, and population levels of analysis. 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 Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology are considered for teaching assistantships in the Psychology or Biology Departments.

There are no required courses for the doctoral program. However, the Doctoral Seminar (CABE 6992) and/or other courses tailored for individual students may be included in the student's program by the Dean of Graduate Studies on the recommendation of the Chair of the Committee.

The comprehensive examination shall normally be taken within the first 5 semesters of the program. An Examination Committee will be struck in accordance with General Regulations. At least one member of either the Department of Biology or of the Department of Psychology (other than the Supervisor) must be on the Examination Committee, along with one other representative from among the faculty members currently associated with Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology and an additional representative from either within or outside of Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology. The student’s Supervisor will be on the Examination Committee with a maximum of one other member from the student's supervisory committee permitted to serve when appropriate. The Examination Committee is chaired by the Chair of the Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Committee. The examination will include a comprehensive, integrative review and critical evaluation of novel ideas with regard to a topic in Animal Behaviour or Behavioural Ecology. The review topic is assigned by the Examination Committee, which also determines the submission date for the paper, and the date of the examination. Normally, the student will write the paper in 10 weeks, and the oral examination will occur within two to three weeks of the paper’s submission. This paper will form the basis of a public seminar. The Examination Committee will question the student about the paper, the topic and its broader relationship with Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology.