Academic Programs Catalog

College of Natural Science

Department of Integrative Biology

Undergraduate Programs
Zoology - Bachelor of Science

The Bachelor of Science degree program with a major in zoology is for students who seek professional employment in animal biology, or who seek admission to graduate programs in animal biology or to health–related professional schools. The degree contains core courses in biology, chemistry, physics, calculus and statistics. Students will complete a concentration encompassing several branches of modern zoology while allowing focused study in any one of those fields. Concentration options include: animal behavior and neurobiology; cell and developmental biology; ecology, evolution and organismal biology; general zoology; genetics; marine biology; or zoo and aquarium science.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Zoology

  1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology.

    The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Zoology major is met by completing both of the following courses:  Integrative Biology 355L and 445.  Those courses are referenced in item 3. below. These courses also fulfill requirements in concentrations below.

    Students who are enrolled in the College of Natural Science may complete the alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that is described in item 1. under the heading Graduation Requirements in the College statement.  Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be used to satisfy the alternative track.
  2. The requirements of the College of Natural Science for the Bachelor of Science degree.

    The credits earned in certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.
  3. The following requirements for the major:
    a.   One of the following groups of courses (9 or 10 credits):
    (1) BS 161 Cell and Molecular Biology 3
    BS 162 Organismal and Population Biology 3
    BS 171 Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory 2
    BS 172 Organismal and Population Biology Laboratory 2
    (2) BS 181H Honors Cell and Molecular Biology 3
    BS 182H Honors Organismal and Population Biology 3
    BS 191H Honors Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory 2
    BS 192H Honors Organismal and Population Biology Laboratory 2
    (3) LB 144 Biology I:  Organismal Biology 4
    LB 145 Biology II:  Cellular and Molecular  Biology 5
    b. One of the following groups of courses (5 or 6 credits):
    (1) CEM   141 General Chemistry 4
    CEM  161 Chemistry Laboratory I 1
    (2) CEM 181H Honors Chemistry I 4
    CEM 185H Honors Chemistry Laboratory I 2
    (3) LB 171 Principles of Chemistry I 4
    LB 171L Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I 1
    c. One course from each of the following groups (8 credits):
    (1) CEM   251 Organic Chemistry I 3
    CEM 351 Organic Chemistry I 3
    (2) CEM  252 Organic Chemistry II 3
    CEM 352 Organic Chemistry II 3
    (3) CEM 255 Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2
    CEM  355 Organic Laboratory I 2
    d. One of the following groups of courses (8 or 10 credits):
    (1) PHY 221 Studio Physics for Life Scientists I 4
    PHY 222 Studio Physics for Life Scientists II 4
    (2) PHY 231 Introductory Physics I 3
    PHY 232 Introductory Physics II 3
    PHY 251 Introductory Physics Laboratory I 1
    PHY 252 Introductory Physics Laboratory II 1
    (3) PHY 183 Physics for Scientists and Engineers I 4
    PHY 184 Physics for Scientists and Engineers II 4
    (4) LB 273 Physics I 4
    LB 274 Physics II 4
    (5) PHY 193H Honors Physics I-Mechanics 4
    PHY 294H Honors Physics II-Electromagnetism 4
    PHY 191 Physics Laboratory for Scientists, I 1
    PHY 192 Physics Laboratory for Scientists, II 1
    e. One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
    LB 118 Calculus I 4
    MTH 124 Survey of Calculus I 3
    MTH 132 Calculus I 3
    MTH 152H Honors Calculus I 3
    f. One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
    LB 119 Calculus II 4
    MTH 126 Survey of Calculus II 3
    MTH 133 Calculus II 4
    MTH 153H Honors Calculus II 4
    STT 201 Statistical Methods 4
    STT 224 Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Ecologists 3
    STT 231 Statistics for Scientists 3
    STT 421 Statistics I 3
    g. One of the following concentrations:
    Animal Behavior and Neurobiology
    (1) All of the following courses (17 credits):
    IBIO 313 Animal Behavior 3
    IBIO 341 Fundamental Genetics 4
    IBIO 355 Ecology 3
    IBIO 355L Ecology Laboratory (W) 1
    IBIO 415 Ecological Aspects of Animal Behavior (W) 3
    IBIO 445 Evolution (W) 3
    (2) One of the following courses (3 credits):
    IBIO 300 Neurobiology 3
    IBIO 405 Neural Basis of Animal Behavior 3
    (3) One of the following, either (a) or (b) (4 or 8 credits):
    (a) One of the following courses (4 credits):
    IBIO 306 Invertebrate Biology 4
    IBIO 328 Comparative Anatomy and Biology of Vertebrates 4
    (b) Two of the following courses (8 credits):
    FW 471 Ichthyology 4
    IBIO 360 Biology of Birds 4
    IBIO 365 Biology of Mammals 4
    IBIO 384 Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles (W) 4
    (4) One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
    ANS 305 Applied Animal Behavior 3
    ANS 455 Avian Physiology 4
    FW 364 Ecological Problem Solving 3
    FOR 419 Applications of Geographic Information Systems to Natural Resource Management 4
    GEO 221 Introduction to Geographic Information 3
    and
    GEO 221L Introduction to Geographic Information Laboratory 1
    IBIO 320 Developmental Biology 4
    IBIO 483 Environmental Physiology (W) 3
    LIN 463 Introduction to Cognitive Science 3
    NEU 310 Psychology and Biology of Human Sexuality 3
    NEU 416 Development of the Nervous System Through the Lifespan 3
    PSY 301 Cognitive Neuroscience 3
    PSY 409 Psychobiology of Behavioral Development (W) 3
    PSY 411 Hormones and Behavior (W) 3
    PSY 413 Laboratory in Behavioral Neuroscience (W) 4
    SOC 412 Animals, People and Nature 3
    Both GEO 221 and 221L must be completed to satisfy this requirement.
    (5) Additional credits in 300-400 level Integrative Biology courses as needed to meet the requirement of at least 33 credits. Students may complete more than one course, or pair of courses, from items (2), (3) or (4). Additional courses completed from items (2), (3) or (4) may be counted as Zoology electives toward the 33 credits. Courses beyond those taken to satisfy items (1), (2), (3) or (4) may come from other departments with the approval of the student’s academic advisor.
    Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
    (1) All of the following courses (11 credits):
    IBIO 341 Fundamental Genetics 4
    IBIO 355 Ecology 3
    IBIO 355L Ecology Laboratory (W) 1
    IBIO 445 Evolution (W) 3
    (2) Two of the following courses (8 credits):
    FW 471 Ichthyology 4
    IBIO 306 Invertebrate Biology 4
    IBIO 328 Comparative Anatomy and Biology of Vertebrates 4
    IBIO 360 Biology of Birds 4
    IBIO 365 Biology of Mammals 4
    IBIO 384 Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles (W) 4
    (3) One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
    IBIO 313 Animal Behavior 3
    IBIO 357 Global Change Biology (W) 3
    IBIO 483 Environmental Physiology 3
    IBIO 485 Tropical Biology 3
    (4) One of the following courses, or pair of courses (3 or 4 credits):
    FW 419 Applications of Geographic Information Systems to Natural Resource Management 4
    GEO 221 Introduction to Geographic Information 3
    and
    GEO 221L Introduction Geographic Information Laboratory 1
    GLG 434 Evolutionary Paleobiology 4
    IBIO 446 Environmental Issues and Public Policy 3
    PLB 418 Plant Systematics 3
    Both GEO 221 and 221L must be completed to satisfy this requirement.
    (5) Additional credits in 300-400 level Integrative Biology courses as needed to meet the requirement of at least 33 credits. Students may complete more than one course, or pair of courses, from items (2), (3), or (4). Additional courses completed from items (2), (3), or (4) may be counted as Integrative Biology electives toward the 33 credits. Courses beyond those taken to satisfy items (1), (2), (3), or (4) may come from other departments with the approval of the student’s academic advisor.
    Marine Biology 
    (1) All of the following courses (21 credits):
    GLG 303 Oceanography 3
    IBIO 341 Fundamental Genetics 4
    IBIO 353 Marine Biology (W) 4
    IBIO 355 Ecology 3
    IBIO 355L Ecology Laboratory (W) 1
    IBIO 445 Evolution (W) 3
    IBIO 483 Environmental Physiology 3
    (2) One  course from each of the following groups of courses (7 or 8 credits):
    (a) FW 471 Ichthyology 4
    IBIO 306 Invertebrate Biology 4
    IBIO 360 Biology of Birds 4
    IBIO 365 Biology of Mammals 4
    IBIO 384 Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles (W) 4
    (b) BMB 401 Comprehensive Biochemistry 4
    CEM 383 Introductory Physical Chemistry I 3
    FW 416 Marine Ecology and Management 3
    FW 424 Wildlife Population Analysis and Management 3
    GEO 221 Introduction to Geographic Information 3
    and
    GEO 221L Introduction Geographic Information Laboratory 1
    IBIO 357 Global Change Biology (W) 3
    MMG 425 Microbial Ecology 3
    Both GEO 221 and 221L must be completed to satisfy this requirement.
    (3) A minimum of at least 1 credit must be completed in an aquatic biology field experience. Through consultation with their academic advisor,  students may determine an appropriate aquatic biology field experience or choose one of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
    FW 474 Field and Laboratory Techniques for Aquatic Studies 3
    PLB 424 Algal Biology 3
    Courses not listed above must have the approval of the student’s academic advisor. 
    (4) Additional credits in 300-400 level Integrative Biology courses as needed to meet the requirement of at least 33 credits. Students may complete more than one course, or pair of courses, from item (2). Additional courses completed from item (2) may be counted as Zoology electives toward the 33 credits. Courses beyond those taken to satisfy items (1), (2), or (3) may come from other departments with the approval of the student’s academic advisor.
    Zoo and Aquarium Science 
    (1) All of the following courses (25 credits):
    IBIO 313 Animal Behavior 3
    IBIO 341 Fundamental Genetics 4
    IBIO 355 Ecology 3
    IBIO 355L Ecology Laboratory (W) 1
    IBIO 368 Zoo Animal Biology and Conservation 3
    IBIO 369 Introduction to Zoo and Aquarium Science 3
    IBIO 445 Evolution (W) 3
    IBIO 489 Seminar in Zoo and Aquarium Science 1
    IBIO 498 Internship in Zoo and Aquarium Science 4
    (2) Two of the following courses (8 credits):
    FW 471 Ichthyology 4
    IBIO 306 Invertebrate Biology 4
    IBIO 328 Comparative Anatomy and Biology of Vertebrates 4
    IBIO 360 Biology of Birds 4
    IBIO 365 Biology of Mammals 4
    IBIO 384 Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles (W) 4
    (3) Three additional courses of at least 3 credits selected from a list of approved courses that is available from the Department of Integrative Biology.
    (4) Integrative Biology courses that are not listed above must be approved in advance by the student’s academic advisor. Courses offered by other departments may be substituted if approved in advance by the student’s academic advisor.