University of St Andrews

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 15

ECTS credits : 7

Level : SCQF level 10

Semester: 1

Availability restrictions: Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable: To be arranged.

Learning to produce sounds is a particularly interesting subject as far as humans are concerned because it is such a notable feature of our own species. Why do we show it, and how did it evolve? As there is little evidence of it in any other primates we need to look further afield for clues. It is found in several other mammalian orders and in three orders of birds, and the evidence for it and nature of it will be examined in these examples. We will discuss why selection may have favoured it in each case. We will also consider vocal learning in a broader sense, including its use in animals that do not themselves produce sounds.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisite(s): Permission of Biology Honours Adviser required

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 1 x 2-hour seminar (x 10 weeks).

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: 2-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%


Re-assessment: 2-hour Written Examination = 50%, Existing Coursework = 50%

Personnel

Module coordinator: Professor V Janik
Module teaching staff: Prof V Janik, Dr T Gotz, Dr J Oswald
Module coordinator email vj@st-andrews.ac.uk