2007-08 Undergraduate Catalog
Majors
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 student's courses, laboratory and field work, and 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). 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:
Also required:
Students should begin the chemistry and math sequences as soon as possible. A full year of calculus and a course in statistics (such as STA 2023) 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 170 Hub.
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 Preparation
Biology Education
Zoology majors in this specialization should work closely with a department adviser to plan for graduate school or other 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; three or more credit hours) by the second semester of the junior year; they should take the Graduate Record Examination in the fall of the senior year; and they 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.
| 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 |
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 student's courses, laboratory and field work, and 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). 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.
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 and a course in statistics (such as STA 2023) 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 170 Hub.
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 Preparation
Biology Education
Zoology majors in this specialization should work closely with a department adviser to plan for graduate school or other 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; three or more credit hours) by the second semester of the junior year; they should take the Graduate Record Examination in the fall of the senior year; and they 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 Genetics | 4 |
| ZOO 2203C Invertebrate Zoology | 4 |
| ZOO 2303C Vertebrate Zoology | 4 |
| PCB 4044C General Ecology | 4 |
| PCB 4723C Physiology and Molecular Biology of Animals | 5 |
| PCB 4674 Evolution | 4 |
| ZOO 4905 Individual Studies in Zoology | 3-4 |
| Additional zoology courses | variable |
| Total | 35+ |
Critical Tracking and Semester Plan
Semester 1:
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
- Complete MAC 1147 or MAC 2311 and BSC 2010/2010L
Semester 2:
- Complete MAC 2311 and one of the following lecture/laboratory combinations: CHM 2045/2045L or BSC 2010/2010L
Semester 3:
- Complete all of the following courses: CHM 2045/2045L, MAC 2311, BSC 2010/2010L with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking course work
Semester 4:
- Complete CHM 2046/2046L, MAC 2311, BSC 2011/2011L with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking course work
Semester 5:
- Complete CHM 2210 or CHM 3217
Suggested semester-by-semester plan
| Semester 1 | Credits |
| BSC 2010 Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (3) and BSC 2010L Laboratory (1) (GE-B) | 4 |
| MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (GE-M) | 4 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 14 |
| Semester 2 | Credits |
| BSC 2011 and 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology 2 (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-B) | 4 |
| CHM 2045 General Chemistry 1 (3) and 2045L 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 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Total | 14-15 |
| Semester 3 | Credits |
| CHM 2046 General Chemistry 2 (3) and 2046L Laboratory (1) (GE-P) | 4 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Foreign language | 4-5 |
| Total | 14-15 |
| Semester 4 | Credits |
| CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry 1 (3) or CHM 3217 Organic Chemistry/Biochemistry 1 (4) | 3-4 |
| PCB 3063 Genetics (GE-B) | 4 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Foreign language | 3-5 |
| Total | 13-16 |
| Semester 5 | Credits |
| CHM 2211 Organic Chemistry 2 (if CHM 2210 was taken or elective) | 3 |
| CHM 2211L Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| PHY 2053 and 2053L Physics 1 (4) and Laboratory (1) | 5 |
| Zoology course or other approved life sciences course | 3-5 |
| Zoology course or other approved life sciences course | 3-5 |
| Total | 16-18 |
| Semester 6 | Credits |
| PHY 2054 and 2054L Physics 2 (4) and Laboratory (1) | 5 |
| Zoology course or other approved life sciences course | 3-5 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3-5 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Elective | 0-3 |
| Total | 15-17 |
| Semester 7 | Credits |
| Zoology course or other approved life sciences course | 3-5 |
| Electives | 6-12 |
| Total | 11-15 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| Zoology course or other approved life sciences course | 3-5 |
| Zoology course or other approved life sciences course | 3-4 |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) | 2-8 |
| Electives | 9-0 |
| Total | 15-18 |
Zoology majors seeking admission to medical, dental, optometry or veterinary school should contact the Office of Health and Legal Professions Advising in the Academic Advising Center, 100 Farrior Hall.
Courses
| BSC 2010/2010L and 2011/2011L 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 Genetics | 4 |
| PCB 4723C Physiology and Molecular Biology of Animals | 5 |
| One of the following: | |
| ZOO 3603C Evolutionary Developmental Biology | 4 |
| ZOO 3713C Functional Vertebrate Anatomy | 4 |
| Two of the following: | |
| MCB 3020 and 3020L Basic Biology of Microorganisms (3) and Laboratory (2) | 5 |
| PCB 3134 Eukaryotic Cell Structure and Function | 3 |
| BCH 4024 or CHM 3218 Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| Additional zoology courses | variable |
| Total | 32+ |
Pre-veterinary students should integrate ANS 3006C and ANS 3440 into the zoology major as required by the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Please consult an adviser in the College of Education.