2009-10 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 are encouraged to 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 in disciplines such as zoology, ecology, conservation and biology research; 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 Integrated Principles of Biology (BSC 2010-2010L, 2011-2011L) and the general chemistry sequence in the freshman year. 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 Biology (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.
Courses: The Department of Biology recommends certain courses for each of its specializations. This program is the basic zoology major. Students following the basic zoology, preprofessional or biology education specializations follow a slightly different program.
Specialization: Zoology
Specialization: Preprofessional
Specialization: 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 in this specialization are strongly encouraged to participate in supervised research through Individual Studies in Zoology (ZOO 4905, three or more credit hours) beginning in the junior year or earlier. They 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.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.
Zoology majors seeking admission to medical, veterinary, dental, optometry school should contact the Office of Health and Legal Professions Advising in the Academic Advising Center, 100 Farrior Hall.
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:
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.
| 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.biology.ufl.edu/majors/zoology.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 are encouraged to 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 in disciplines such as zoology, ecology, conservation and biology research; 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 Integrated Principles of Biology (BSC 2010-2010L, 2011-2011L) and the general chemistry sequence in the freshman year. 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 in zoology from the Department of Biology. 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 Biology (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.
Courses: The Department of Biology recommends certain courses for each of its specializations. This program is the basic zoology major. Students following the basic zoology, preprofessional or biology education specializations follow a slightly different program.
Specialization: Zoology
Specialization: Preprofessional
Specialization: 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 in this specialization are strongly encouraged to participate in supervised research through Individual Studies in Zoology (ZOO 4905, three or more credit hours) beginning in the junior year or earlier. They 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.
Recommended Zoology Curriculum
| BSC 2010 and 2010L and 2011 and 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology (3+3) and Laboratories (1+1) | 8 |
| BSC 3402 Theory and Practice in the Biological Sciences | 2 |
| PCB 3063 Genetics | 4 |
| PCB 4044C General Ecology | 4 |
| PCB 4674 Evolution | 4 |
| PCB 4723C Physiology and Molecular Biology of Animals | 5 |
| ZOO 2203C Invertebrate Zoology or ZOO 2303C Vertebrate Zoology | 4 |
| ZOO 4905 Individual Studies in Zoology | 3-4 |
| Additional zoology courses or other life sciences courses | variable |
| Total | 34+ |
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.
Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan
Semester 1:
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
- Complete MAC 1147 or MAC 2311 and either CHM 2045/2045L or BSC 2010/2010L
Semester 2:
- Complete MAC 2311, CHM 2045/2045L and BSC 2010/2010L
Semester 3:
- Complete CHM 2046/2046L or BSC 2011/2011L
- 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
Semester 4:
- Complete CHM 2046/2046L and BSC 2011/2011L
- 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
Semester 5:
- Complete CHM 2210 or CHM 3217
For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements —
Structure of a CLAS Degree.
Recommended 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 |
| Foreign language | 4-5 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| 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 |
| Foreign language | 3-5 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| 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 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3-5 |
| Total | 17-15 |
| Semester 7 | Credits |
| Electives | 12-6 |
| Zoology course or other approved life sciences course | 3-5 |
| Total | 15-11 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| Elective | 8-0 |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) | 2-8 |
| Zoology course or other approved life sciences course | 3-5 |
| Zoology course or other approved life sciences course | 3-4 |
| Total | 16-17 |
Zoology majors seeking admission to medical, veterinary, dental, optometry school should contact the Office of Health and Legal Professions Advising in the Academic Advising Center, 100 Farrior Hall.
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 Zoology 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: | |
| BCH 4024 or CHM 3218 Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| MCB 3020 and 3020L Basic Biology of Microorganisms (3) and Laboratory (2) | 5 |
| PCB 3134 Eukaryotic Cell Structure and Function | 3 |
| 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.