Course Requirements

Department of Zoology
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

A major in zoology is an appropriate beginning for those planning a career that includes teaching and research in zoology, conservation, fisheries management and wildlife management, environmental sciences, or the practice of medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science.

Students majoring in zoology are required to develop an individualized curriculum (see below) by consulting with the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Zoology and an appropriate faculty member of the Department of Zoology.

In the field of zoology, a student may work toward either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in zoology permits a student to take 21-24 semester hours of courses in other areas of interest. Having obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree, students may continue their education toward a graduate degree in zoology or related field, although it may be necessary to absolve deficiencies in physics, organic chemistry and mathematics.

The Bachelor of Science degree with a major in zoology permits a student to take 8-13 semester hours of courses in other areas of interest. This degree requires additional courses in chemistry and/or physics and quantitative science (mathematics, statistics, or computer programming) and will normally be pursued by students desiring to do graduate work in zoology or other specialized training such as medicine, dentistry, or veterinary science.

The individualized curriculum for the Bachelor of Arts degree in zoology must include:

1. A year of chemistry with laboratory or a year of physics with laboratory (this requirement may be satisfied with Chemistry 200, 201, 210, 211, or Chemistry 200, 201, 340, 341, or Chemistry 140a,b, or Physics 203a,b, 253a,b);
2. One course in mathematics beyond Mathematics 108 and 109 or 111 (this requirement may be satisfied with Mathematics 141, 150, 282, 283, Plant Biology 360, or Computer Science 202);
3. Biology 200a,b, 305, and 307;
4. Zoology 220a, 220b, 300 (or Biology 309), Zoology 482, and at least 18 (19 if Biology 309 is used) additional semester hours of electives in zoology.

A minimum of 41 semester hours of biology and zoology must be completed for the major, and no more than 11 semester hours of courses (biology or zoology) which are used to satisfy degree requirements of another major may be used to meet the zoology requirements.

Bachelor of Science degree requirements include all requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree in zoology, plus two additional courses selected from chemistry with laboratory and/or physics with laboratory, and one additional course in mathematics selected from either calculus, computer programming or statistics.

Degree Programs

Bachelor of Arts Degree, College of Science

Bachelor of Science Degree, College of Science

Bachelor of Science Degree, College of Education

Minor

A minor in zoology consists of 16 hours, including 220a,b, and 482. Zoology courses acceptable for majors as well as Biology 305, 306, 307, 308, and 309 may be used to complete the 16-hour minimum requirement; no University Core Curriculum courses can be included. Courses used to satisfy degree requirements for a major or another minor cannot be used for the minor in zoology.

Honors Programs

An honors program is available to those juniors and seniors in zoology who maintain a grade point average of 3.25 or better, overall and in the major. To enroll in Zoology 493, the student must complete a departmental form that requires the project title; a description of the proposed project; and the signatures of the student, the faculty adviser, and the chair of the department. The student must complete six hours of 493 with a grade of B of better, file with the department a final report on the research, and present the results at a public seminar in order to graduate with departmental honors in zoology. At the time of graduation, an indication of participation in the program is made on the diploma and transcript for students who complete the requirements. Concurrent participation in the University Honors Program is encouraged. Students receiving credit for Zoology 493 may not apply Zoology 393 hours toward the major.

SIUC Department of Zoology

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Last updated: 25-Nov-05 /ghw