William J. Matthews, Chair
Rosemary Knapp, Director of Graduate Studies
James N. Thompson, Jr., Director of Undergraduate Studies
314 Richards Hall
Norman, OK 73019-6121
Phone: (405) 325-4821
FAX: (405) 325-7560
Internet: http://www.ou.edu/cas/zoology/
Professors Bell, Caldwell, Censky, Cifelli, Durica, Fincke, Hopkins, Mares, Matthews, Mock, Ray, Schnell, Schwagmeyer, Shelton, Sullivan, Thompson, Vitt, Weider, Wilson; Associate Professors Bergey, Berkowitz, Gaffin, Gibson, Hambright, Kaspari, Knapp, Marsh-Matthews, Vaughn, Wellborn; Assistant Professors Broughton, Gordon, Hewes, Hobson, Hoefnagels, Kelly, Ketchum, McCauley, Safiejko-Mroczka, Schlupp, Wang.
Information on both undergraduate and graduate programs is included. However, the general information contained in this section mainly covers undergraduate study. For additional information on graduate programs, individual documents detailing each graduate program are available from the Graduate College and their Web site at http://gradweb.ou.edu/. This information is updated yearly and should be referred to for graduate program requirements.
The program in Zoology began soon after the University of Oklahoma was founded, and the first Ph.D. degree awarded by OU was in Zoology. Faculty research and the graduate program have internationally-recognized strengths in selected areas of animal behavior, aquatic biology, biodiversity and conservation biology, cell signaling, development and regeneration, ecology, evolutionary biology, genetics and genomics, life history and breeding systems, neural bases of behavior, and organismal biology. These foci are within two overarching intellectual themes: (1) Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and (2) Neurobiology, Cell Signaling and Development. Research and training facilities at the OU Biological Station, the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, the Oklahoma Biological Survey, and the Stephenson Research and Technology Center enhance the research opportunities for faculty and graduate students.
The Department of Zoology takes special pride in its teaching at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Courses at the undergraduate level provide a broad foundation in biology and allow students to pursue selected areas of interest in depth through research participation and advanced studies courses.
Zoology is a popular major for students interested in a health professions career, and the curriculum provides an excellent base of preparation for a wide variety of careers or for postgraduate study. The department encourages participation in the Honors College, the Zoological Society, and other opportunities for individualized educational enhancement.
The Zoology Department is actively involved in the Honors Program, and many undergraduate students carry out independent research projects under the guidance of faculty members with national and international reputations in their fields. The Zoological Society, the Premed Club, the PreVet Club, and the American Medical Student Association are sponsored by Zoology faculty members and allow students with common interests to take field trips and hear talks about career planning and other important topics. The Zoology Aid Program (ZAP) is composed of undergraduate students who volunteer to tutor other students in Introductory Zoology. It is a rewarding experience for both the ZAP volunteers and those with whom they work.
The Zoology Association of Graduate Students works closely with the faculty to organize the weekly seminar program of visiting scholars and other educational enrichment opportunities.
Internationally-known research groups in aquatic ecology, animal behavior, vertebrate biology, neurophysiology, and other specialties strengthen the general areas of emphasis in the graduate program.
Students can participate in research with Zoology faculty in a number of ways, such as Independent Study courses and Honors Research courses both at the undergraduate and graduate level.
The Zoology Department is housed in Richards and Sutton Halls, which contain faculty and graduate student offices, research and teaching laboratories, maintenance shops, the departmental stockroom, photography workrooms, and computer rooms. Support staff including academic advisers, an audiovisual technician, a computer specialist and a shop supervisor are available to assist students. Teaching and research opportunities are provided for students at the following locations.
This facility contains breeding colonies of rodents and provides housing for a variety of other small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles.
This lab provides facilities for in vitro culture of vertebrate cells and tissues and for the production of monoclonal antibodies.
The University of Oklahoma Biological Station, located on Lake Texoma, an impoundment of the Red River on the Oklahoma-Texas border, is a permanent year-round field station with a resident staff of research scientists that provides year-round facilities for faculty and students. A summer session with approximately ten courses is attended by undergraduate and graduate students from throughout the country.
Students also use research collections and laboratories at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, and participate in field research through the Oklahoma Biological Survey.
This facility, located on the University South Campus, includes three greenhouses, 32 experimental ponds and a large array of artificial streams for faculty and student research and teaching.
This wilderness area of 80 acres, situated just two miles south of the main campus, provides a natural laboratory for studies in ecology, natural history, and behavior.
The department awards scholarships of up to $3,000 to undergraduate or graduate students majoring in Zoology, based on nominations, merit, and financial need.
Scholarships in the amount of $500 to $2,000 or more are awarded to undergraduate and graduate students in the field of Ornithology. Selection is based on merit and financial need.
For more information on these scholarships, contact the Department of Zoology or the Office of Financial Aid Services.
Teaching and research assistantships which provide a stipend and waive the out-of-state tuition, are also available. Contact the Department of Zoology at 314 Richards Hall, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019-6121.
The zoology major program is designed to meet the needs of students who plan to enter graduate school in the biological sciences, to enter medical, dental, or veterinary college, or to work in specialized paramedical fields, environmental programs, or other careers in which zoology would serve as an academic background. The department strongly recommends that each student work closely with his or her adviser on a regular basis since all courses are not offered every semester. Each major or prospective major should work closely with the zoology advisory office on a regular basis to plan a program which will meet career goals. The advisory office can furnish information on courses, curricula and careers available to majors and will facilitate the assignment of a faculty adviser.
Zoology majors may work also for the standard secondary teaching certificate in science. For information consult an academic adviser in the Office of Student Academic Services.
The Department of Zoology has an honors program which involves original research and the writing of an honors thesis. Qualified students should consult the zoology advisory office for details.
The department offers undergraduate majors an opportunity to participate in undergraduate teaching or faculty research programs. The zoology advisory office will provide information and arrange for such participation.
The zoology major must complete 30 hours of major coursework (exclusive of Zoology 1114 and 1121), with at least 15 of these hours at the upper-division level. A grade of C or better must be earned in each course.
The following courses may not be counted as major work in zoology: Zoology 1005, 1114, 1121, 1203, 2124, 2255, 2343 and 3823.
The standard Bachelor of Science degree is intended for students who want the flexibility afforded by a broad set of requirements.
Majors in zoology must take the following courses in zoology: 1114, 1121, 2094 or 2204, 3013, 3333, and 4983. At least one course must be taken from each of the following groups:
In addition, at least one 4000- or 5000-level course not in the core must be completed; ZOO 4843/5843, 4961, 4983, or 4990/5990 cannot be taken to fulfill this requirement. Two upper-division courses with laboratories must be included in the major work. At least one field course and participation in the summer program of the Biological Station, Lake Texoma, are strongly recommended.
Geology 3513 may be counted as major work in zoology.
The following courses in related sciences are also required for all zoology majors: Chemistry 1315 and 1415; Chemistry 3012 and 3013 or Chemistry 3053, 3153, and 3152; History of Science 3013 or 3023; Mathematics 1743 or 1823; Physics 2414 and 2424 (or 2514 and 2524); Botany 1114 or Microbiology 2815 or 3813; Psychology 2003 or 2113 or Zoology 2913 or 4913.
The Biomedical Sciences major leading to the B.S. in Zoology is intended for students who plan to enter postgraduate programs in medicine, dentistry, or one of the specialties (e.g. optometry, podiatry), veterinary medicine, the Physician Associate program, public health, medical research, or one of the biomedical industry support areas such as laboratory assistant or pharmaceutical sales.
Majors in Biomedical Sciences must take the following courses in zoology: 1114, 1121, 2011, 2012, 2094 or 2204, 3333, and 4983. At least one course must be taken from each of the following groups:
In addition, at least one 4000- or 5000-level course not in the core must be completed. Two upper-division courses with laboratories must be included in the major work.
The following courses in related sciences are also required: Chemistry 1315, 1415, 3053, 3152, 3153, and 3653; Mathematics 1743 or 1823; Physics 1311, 1321, 2414, and 2424; Botany 1114 or Microbiology 2815 or 3813; and one approved course in the history of ethics of science or medicine (e.g., HSCI 3013 or 3023 or appropriate HON 3993). A computer science course and a statistics course are strongly recommended.
A minor requires a minimum grade of C in 20 hours of courses, including Zoology 1114, 1121, nine upper-division hours, and at least two laboratory courses beyond 1121.
Minors may substitute Human Anatomy (2255) for Comparative Anatomy (2204) or Human Physiology (2124) for Principles of Physiology (3103). ZOO 2124, however, will not count toward upper-division credit.
The fundamental areas of zoology and biology are available for advanced degree programs. Such areas include animal behavior, aquatic biology, biodiversity and conservation biology, cell signaling, development and regeneration, ecology, evolutionary biology, genetics and genomics, life history and breeding systems, neural bases of behavior, vertebrate paleontology, vertebrate and invertebrate biology. Detailed information may be obtained from the Chair of the Graduate Selections Committee, Department of Zoology, 314 Richards Hall, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019-6121.
Applicants for admission must submit a Report of Scores on the Graduate Record Examination Aptitude Test in addition to the other credentials required by the Graduate College. The advanced subject test is strongly recommended. Prospective students may obtain information about times and places for the examination from the University Counseling and Testing Services, University of Oklahoma, or from the Educational Testing Service, Box 955, Princeton, NJ 08540. Deadline for completed applications is January 15, but later applicants can be considered if openings are available. Students whose native language is not English must submit scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language and the Test of Spoken English.
The student must meet the general requirements stated in the graduate section of this catalog, and must present at least 24 semester hours of credit in biological science. The student must have completed: one course in calculus (equivalent of Mathematics 1823 or 1743); one year of college physics (equivalent of Physics 2414, 2424 or 2514, 2524); and organic chemistry (equivalent of Chemistry 3012 and 3013 or 3053, 3152, and 3153). Courses needed to fulfill requirements of full graduate standing cannot be taken on a pass-no pass system of grading and should be completed within two semesters. During the week prior to enrollment in the first semester of graduate work each student takes an Advisory Examination which will cover the major fields of zoology (anatomy/physiology, genetics/evolution, ecology/behavior, and cell biology/development). Results of the advisory examination are used to evaluate the student’s background in zoology.
During the first academic year of graduate work, the student must have completed all requirements for full graduate standing and must have made an agreement with a faculty member to serve as major professor.
A student working toward an advanced degree must do so upon a background of knowledge which covers the basic principles of zoology. A student in a graduate degree program must complete a course in professional aspects of biology (Zoology 6012), and a course in biostatistics (Zoology 4913 or equivalent). An introduction to biochemistry is strongly recommended (Chemistry 3653, or Chemistry 5753 or equivalent), as is a course in evolution (Zoology 3013 or equivalent). Graduate programs are arranged in conference with an advisory committee.
Summer study at acceptable biological stations or research laboratories or as a member of an approved field research party is strongly recommended. Graduate credit may be given for this work. The University of Oklahoma maintains a biological station at Lake Texoma, and graduate courses are offered there each summer.
A student must meet the general requirements for the master’s degree as stated in the Graduate Bulletin. A student may complete a minor in a relevant field or achieve an advanced level in at least one field in support of the special field of interest.
The Department of Zoology requires the completion of a thesis. The degree program consists of at least 30 hours, of which six may be credited toward research. The comprehensive examination over all of the work offered for the degree, including the thesis, is oral.
Students interested in teaching science in the secondary schools are referred to the degree of Master of Natural Science. Zoology is one of the fields which may be used to meet requirements of this degree.
Work leading to the Ph.D. degree is offered in certain fields. Detailed information may be obtained from the Chair of the Graduate Selections Committee of the department. Doctoral programs are individually planned by the student’s advisory conference. Minimal requirements that apply to all doctoral programs are the attainment of an advanced level of achievement in a special field of interest and at least two supporting fields.
Research skills are approved by the student’s advisory conference.
September 2006