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 and Psychology, the Ocean Sciences Centre, the Faculty of Medicine and the Environmental Science Program at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, 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 candidate. 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 should be taken during the first year of the program. An Examination Committee will be struck in accordance with General Regulations. At least one member of the Department of Biology and of the Department of Psychology (other than the Supervisor) must be on the Examination Committee. The candidate's Supervisor will be on the Examination Committee and will be the only examiner from the candidate's Thesis Supervisory Committee. The Head of the Department of the Supervisor or his/her delegate is invited to serve on the Comprehensive Examination Committee. The Examination Committee is chaired by the Chair of the Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Committee. The examination will include a comprehensive, integrative review paper on a research topic in Animal Behaviour. 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 four months, and the oral examination will occur within six weeks of the paper's submission. This paper will form the basis of a public seminar. The Examination Committee will question the candidate about the paper, the topic and its broader relationship with Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology.