Comparative psychologists specialize in non-human animal behavior. They frequently arrive at their research conclusions by comparing animal and human behavior. Comparative psychology can be traced back to the work of Charles Darwin. It is now a vast field, covering multiple disciplines. Geneticists, ecologists, anthropologists, psychologists, and biologists participle in comparative psychology research.
Most comparative psychologists conduct research by making cross-species comparisons. Research projects are often commissioned to learn about evolutionary similarities between humans and animals. Cross-species comparison research is often used to learn about genetic similarities between modern and extinct species.
Educational programs in comparative psychology focus on the behavior of members of particular species or groups and the relationship of the behaviors of the species or group to their evolutionary origins. Programs typically include in depth instruction in psychopharmacology, differential psychology, experimental and physiological psychology, reinforcement theory, psychology of individual differences, and neurophysiology.
Below is a list of colleges and universities offering specialized degrees and programs in comparative psychology. However, if you’re looking to launch a career in comparative psychology you can earn your bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology from many of the other schools listed on this site.
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
| Phone Number: | (800) 727-8642 |
| Website: | www.umhb.edu |
| School Type: | 4-year private not-for-profit |
| Awards Offered: | Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree Doctor’s degree – other |
| Campus setting: | Small suburb |
| Campus housing: | Yes |
| Student Population: | 2,970 (2,669 undergraduate) |
| Student-to-faculty Ratio: | 13 to 1 |
Western Washington University
| Phone Number: | (360) 650-3000 |
| Website: | www.wwu.edu |
| School Type: | 4-year public |
| Awards Offered: | Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree |
| Campus setting: | Small city |
| Campus housing: | Yes |
| Student Population: | 16,895 (15,122 undergraduate) |
| Student-to-faculty Ratio: | 21 to 1 |