The zoology major is intended for students who have diverse career plans in the areas of wildlife resources, wildlife conservation, wildlife research, animal training and rehabilitation. Upon satisfactory completion of a zoology major, the Kentucky Wesleyan College graduate should be well prepared for competitive employment opportunities at the state and federal level, or in the private sector. Additionally, students will also be well prepared to pursue graduate school in related disciplines. Students are required to complete an internship with an appropriate agency and/or to conduct directed research with a professor.
A Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology is offered.
Learning Outcomes #
Students will demonstrate content knowledge, including the structure and function of plants and animals, energy transfer through biological systems, information transfer between cells and generations, structure-function relationships, and hierarchical organization of biological systems.
Students will demonstrate an ability to utilize appropriate scientific instrumentation and use that instrumentation to form a hypothesis, design an experiment, and interpret the results.
Students will demonstrate the ability to critically analyze an article from the scientific literature.
Students will effectively communicate scientific knowledge in written and/or/ oral formats.
Bachelor of Science Degree 49-54 Semester Credit Hours #
Core Requirements
- BIO 113 – Introduction to Cell Biology and Genetics (3)
- BIO 114 – Introduction to Cell Biology and Genetics Laboratory (1)
- BIO 123 – Introduction to Organismal Biology and Ecology (3)
- BIO 124 – Introduction to Organismal Biology and Ecology Laboratory (1)
- BIO 303 – Genetics (4)
- BIO 404 – Senior Seminar (1)
- IDS 324 – Junior Seminar (2)
- ZOO 308 – Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (4)
- ZOO 315 – Invertebrate Zoology (4)
- ZOO 316 – Vertebrate Zoology (4)
- ZOO 406 – Evolution (3)
- ZOO 414 – Ecology (4)
Supporting Requirements
- CHEM 105 – Concepts in Chemistry (3)
- CHEM 106 – Concepts in Chemistry Laboratory (1)
- CHEM 230 – Chemistry of Life Processes (3)
- ENSC 220– EnvironmentalScience (3)
- ENSC 221 – Environmental Science Laboratory (1)
- MATH 104 or IDS 202 – Probability and Statistics (4) OR Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences (3)
- ZOO 401 or ZOO 402 – Directed Student Research OR Internship (1-3)
** Please note that General Chemistry I and II lecture and lab may be substituted for Concepts of Chemistry and Chemistry of Life Processes based on the career/academic path of the student and at the discretion of the program director.
NOTE: Zoology majors cannot double major in Biology due to lack of unique courses or receive a Biology minor.
Additional Recommended Courses for the Zoology Major: #
- BIO 313 – Microbiology (4)
- BIO 330 – Cognitive Neuroscience (3)
- CART 105 – Introduction to Media Writing (3)
- CHEM 321 – Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1)
- CHEM 322 – Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1)
- CHEM 331 – Organic Chemistry I (3)
- CHEM 332 – Organic Chemistry II (3)
- CJC 100 – Introduction to Criminal Justice (3)
- MATH 121 – Calculus I (4)
- PHYS 111 – Introduction to General Physics I (3)
- PHYS 112 – Introduction to General Physics I Laboratory (1)
- PHYS 121 – Introduction to General Physics II (3)
- PHYS 122 – Introduction to General Physics II Laboratory (1)
- PSY 101 – Introduction to Psychology (3)
- PSY 307 – Learning Theories (3)
- ZOO 302 – Ichthyology (4)
- ZOO 306 – Entomology (4)
- ZOO 311 – Animal Behavior (3)
- ZOO 312 – Parasitology (4)
Sample Four-Year Plan for B.S. in Zoology #
| First Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| BIO 113/BIO 114 | 4 | BIO 123/BIO 124 | 4 |
| ENGL 111 | 3 | CL 101 | 1 |
| General Education Course | 3 | ENGL 112 | 3 |
| General Education Course | 3 | EXSC 101 or PE200 | 3 |
| General Education Course | 3 | General Education Course | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 16 | Semester Hours | 14 |
| Second Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| CHEM 105/CHEM 106 | 4 | CHEM 230 | 3 |
| ENSC 220/ 221 | 4 | MATH 104 (or IDS 202) | 4 (3) |
| General Education Course (or BIO/ZOO elective) | 3 (4) | General Education Course | 3 |
| General Education Course | 3 | General Education Course | 3 |
| General Education Course / Minor Course | 3 | ||
| Semester Hours | 14 (15) | Semester Hours | 16 (15) |
| Third Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| BIO 303 | 4 | ZOO 315 | 4 |
| IDS 324 | 2 | ZOO 308 | 4 |
| ZOO 316 | 4 | General Education Course / Minor Course | 3 |
| General Education Course (or Zoology Elective) | 3 (4) | General Education Course / Minor Course | 3 |
| General Education Course / Minor Course | 3 | Semester Hours | 14 |
| Semester Hours | 16 (17) | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| BIO 404 | 1 | ZOO 414 | 4 |
| ZOO 406 | 3 | ZOO 401 or 402* | 1-3 |
| Zoology Upper Elective | 4 | General Education Course / Minor Course | 3 |
| Zoology Upper Elective | 4 | General Education Course / Minor Course | 3 |
| General Education Course | 3 | General Education Course / Minor Course | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 15 | Semester Hours | 16 |
| Total Program Hours (Option I) | 120 | ||
| Total Program Hours (Option II) | 123 | ||
At least one course taken above must be multi-cultural or a separate multi-cultural course is required.
*ZOO 401 / 402 is listed in year four spring semester, but it is strongly encouraged to engage in a zoology internship and/or directed research during your junior year.