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2006-07 Undergraduate Catalog

Majors

Zoology
College: Liberal Arts and Sciences
Degree: Bachelor of Science
Hours for the Degree: 120
Specializations: Zoologist, Preprofessional, Biology Education
Minor: Yes
Combined-Degree Program: No
Website: www.zoo.ufl.edu/UNDERGRADUATE/index.html

Zoology majors focus on the study of individual organisms and populations, as well as their relationships to each other and the environment, with the core foundation of evolution and ecology. Courses also emphasize the disciplines of genetics, anatomy, physiology, and behavior along with other specialized fields of interest.

Courses introduce zoology majors to a wide variety of topics while allowing individual interests to be studied. Advanced undergraduates can participate in research with faculty.

Most career opportunities require advanced studies beyond the bachelor's degree. Students may choose a zoology specialization to prepare for graduate studies or employment as zoologists; a preprofessional specialization to prepare for medical, dental, or veterinary programs; or a secondary-education specialization to prepare for secondary-school teaching.

Ultimately, the undergraduate degree in zoology will be shaped by a students' course, laboratory and field work, as well as the instructors whom they encounter. These experiences will help to shape their goals as a zoologist.

Majors should begin the general chemistry sequence in the freshman year and also begin Integrated Principles of Biology (BSC 2010-2010L, 2011-2011L). Some college-level chemistry is strongly recommended before taking BSC 2010. Calculus (MAC 2311) should be completed as early as possible.

The minimum number of credits (passed with C or better) required for the basic zoology major is 32, including the following courses:
  • Integrated Principles of Biology (BSC 2010-2010L, BSC 2011-2011L)
  • Genetics (PCB 3063), and
  • At least three courses from the Department of Zoology at 3000 or higher level (may include ZOO 2203C and ZOO 2303C).

No more than six credit hours of Individual Studies in Zoology (ZOO 4905) will count toward the credit-hour requirement; ZOO 4905 does not count toward the three-course requirement. With department approval, two biological science courses (3000-5000 level) taught in other departments may fulfill the credit-hour requirement. A list of appropriate courses is available from the department and/or its website.

Also required:
  • One year of physics (PHY 2053 or 2048 and PHY 2053L or 2048L and PHY 2049 or 2054 and PHY 2049L or 2054L);
  • One semester of analytical geometry and calculus (MAC 2311) and either a second semester of analytical geometry and calculus (MAC 2312) or statistics (STA 2023); and
  • Chemistry through organic (CHM 2210 and 2211-2211L or CHM 3217 and 2211L).

Students should begin the chemistry and math sequences as soon as possible. A full year of calculus, a course in statistics (such as STA 2023) and a course in computer and information sciences (such as CGS 2531) are highly recommended.

Transfer students must take at least three courses from the Department of Zoology (excluding ZOO 4905, ZOO 4926, and ZOO 4940) at the University of Florida as part of the requirements for the major.

Overseas Study: Consult an adviser or the UF International Center in Grinter Hall, Room 123.

Courses: The Department of Zoology recommends certain courses for each of its specializations. This program is the basic zoology major. Students following the zoologist, preprofessional or biology education specializations follow a slightly different program.

Zoologist
Preprofessional Program
Biology Education Program


Specialization: Zoologist

Zoology majors in this specialization should work closely with a department adviser to plan for graduate school or career choices. Advisers will provide guidance for admission to graduate school and will help students select appropriate graduate programs.

Students should participate in supervised research through Individual Studies in Zoology (ZOO 4905; 3 or more credit hours) by the second semester of the junior year; should take the Graduate Record Examination in the fall of the senior year; and should complete applications to graduate schools by January before an expected fall-term admission.

This specialization has the same minimum credit-hour requirement (32); the same Integrated Principles of Biology (BSC 2010-2010L, 2011-2011L) and genetics (PCB 3063) requirements; and the same physics, math and chemistry requirements as the basic zoology major.

Recommended Biological Science Curriculum

BSC 2010 and 2010L and 2011 and 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology (3+3) and Laboratories (1+1)8
PCB 3063 Genetics4
ZOO 2203C Invertebrate Zoology4
ZOO 2303C Vertebrate Zoology4
PCB 4044C General Ecology4
PCB 4723C Animal Physiology5
PCB 4674 Evolution4
ZOO 4905 Individual Studies in Zoology3-4
Additional zoology coursesvariable
Total 35+

Critical-Tracking Requirements

Semester 1:

  • 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
  • Complete CHM1025 or CHM 2045 and CHM 2045L, or MAC 1147 or MAC 2311 or BSC 2010 and BSC 2010L

Semester 2:

  • Complete CHM 2045 and CHM 2045L and either MAC 2311 or BSC 2010 and BSC 2010L

Semester 3:

  • Complete CHM 2045 and CHM 2045L and MAC 2311 or BSC 2010 and BSC 2010L

Semester 4:

  • Complete CHM 2046, CHM 2046L, MAC 2311, BSC 2010 and BSC 2010L with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking course work

Semester 5:

  • Complete BSC 2011 and BSC 2011L with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking course work.

Suggested semester-by-semester plan

Semester 1Credits
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)3
CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-P)4
Humanities (GE-H)3
MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (GE-M)4
Total 14
Semester 2Credits
CHM 2046 and 2046L General Chemistry 2 (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-P)4
MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 (GE-M) or
STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (GE-M) (3)
3-4
BSC 2010 and 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-B)4
Composition (GE-C, WR)3
Total 14-15
Semester 3Credits
BSC 2011 and 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology 2 (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-B)4
CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry 13
Humanities (GE-H)3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)3
Elective3
Total 16
Semester 4Credits
CHM 2211 and 2211L Organic Chemistry 2 (3) and Laboratory (2)5
PCB 3063 Genetics (GE-B)4
Humanities (GE-H)3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)3
Total 15
Semester 5Credits
PHY 2053 and 2053L Physics 1 (4) and Laboratory (1)5
Zoology course (3000 level or above)3-5
Foreign language4-5
Composition3
Total 15-18
Semester 6Credits
PHY 2054 and 2054L Physics 2 (4) and Laboratory (1)5
Zoology course (3000 level or above) or
ZOO 2203C Invertebrate Zoology or
ZOO 2303C Vertebrate Zoology
3-4
Foreign language3-5
Elective3-0
Total 14
Semester 7Credits
Zoology or other approved life science course (3000 level or above) 3-5
Foreign language (if 4-3-3 option) or elective3
Electives9-3
Total 15-11
Semester 8Credits
Zoology or other approved life science course (3000-level or above or ZOO 2203C or
ZOO 2303C)
3-5
Zoology course (3000 level or above or
ZOO 2203C or ZOO 2303C)
3-4
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)2-8
Elective9-0
Total 17

Specialization: Preprofessional

Zoology majors seeking admission to medical, dental, optometry or veterinary school should contact the Office of Health and Legal Professions Advising in 100 Academic Advising Center. Refer to www.advising.ufl.edu/ohlpa/prehealth/.

Courses

BSC 2010 and 2010L and 2011 and 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology (3+3) and Laboratories (1+1)8

This specialization has the same minimum credit-hour requirement (32); the same Integrated Principles of Biology (BSC 2010-2010L, 2011-2011L) and genetics (PCB 3063) requirements; and the same physics, math and chemistry requirements as the basic zoology major. The following biological science curriculum is recommended:

Recommended Biological Science Curriculum

BSC 2010 and 2010L and 2011 and 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology (3+3) and Laboratories (1+1)8
PCB 3063 Genetics4
PCB 4723C Animal Physiology5
One of the following:
ZOO 3603C Evolutionary Developmental Biology4
ZOO 3713C Functional Vertebrate Anatomy4
Two of the following:
MCB 3020 and 3020L Basic Biology of Microorganisms (3) and Laboratory (2)5
PCB 3134 Eukaryotic Cell Structure and Function3
BCH 4024 or CHM 3218 Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Biology4
Additional zoology coursesvariable
Total 32+

Pre-veterinary students should integrate ANS 3006C and ANS 3440 into the zoology major as required by the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Specialization: Biology Education

Please consult an adviser in the College of Education.