Biology: Zoo Sciences and Applied Conservation (B.S.)

Admission Process

During their first four semesters, all Zoo Science students regardless of the track are required to complete 50 animal care/conservation hours and maintain a 2.5 GPA to stay in good standing. Students who do not acquire 50 contact hours and/or fall below the 2.5 cumulative GPA will be placed on probation the following semester. To be removed from probation students need to make up their hour shortfall from the previous semester and acquire 50 animal care/conservation hours during their probation semester and acquire a cumulative 2.5 or higher GPA for their probation semester. If the previous is not achieved, the student will be removed from the major.

At the end of the fourth semester of study, students will declare a track (Zoo Sciences, Applied Conservations or Marine and Aquarium Sciences). After this time, a student will be placed on probation if the science and math cumulative GPA drops below 2.5. Students on probation must earn a minimum 2.5 GPA in science and math courses during the probation semester to return to good standing. Students must have a 2.5 cumulative GPA in the major to graduate.*

 

Students will not be permitted to complete BIO 454 Zoo Internship credits until they have completed the required minimum 200 hours of animal husbandry with the WLU Zoo Sciences Animal Collection, 200 conservation hours, or have made arrangements with the Chair of the Organismal Biology, Ecology, and Zoo Sciences Department. 

 
 

Requirements

Required Courses

BIO 124Biological Principles

3

BIO 125Biological Principles Lab

1

BIO 180Principles of Zoo Science

3

BIO 181Zoo Science Husbandry Training

1

BIO 200Biology of Plants

4

BIO 202Biology of Animals (Zoology)

3

BIO 203Biology of Animals Lab

1

BIO 207Fundamentals of Ecology/Biodiversity

3

BIO 221Biological Statistics & Experimental Design

3

BIO 280Zoo Education

3

BIO 380Zoo Ornithology & Lab

4

BIO 382Zoo Herpetology & Lab

4

BIO 384Zoo Mammalogy & Lab

4

BIO 404General Ecology

3

BIO 405General Ecology Lab

1

BIO 406Field Biology & Lab

4

BIO 440Conservation Biology

4

BIO 450Zoo Animal Behavior Management

4

BIO 480Biology Capstone Course

1

BIO 480Biology Capstone Course

1

MATH 160Introduction to Statistics

3 or 5

Choose 4 credit hours of Chemistry from the following:

CHEM 100Foundations of Chemistry

3

CHEM 101Foundations of Chemistry Lab

1

CHEM 110General Chemistry I

3

CHEM 111General Chemistry I Lab

1

Students have the option of CHEM 100/101 OR CHEM 110/111. CHEM 110/111 is preferred for the Marine & Aquarium Science Track. 

Students are required to take General Electives to reach a total of 120 credit hours for graduation (approximately 13-18 credit hours dependent on track).

Requirements for Zoo Sciences Track

Zoo Sciences Track (14 credit hours)

BIO 426Comparative Animal Physiology & Lab

4

BIO 452Zoo Animal Medicine

4

BIO 454Zoo Internship

3

BIO 454Zoo Internship

3

Requirements for Applied Conservation Track

Applied Conservation Track (13 credit hours)

BIO 386Applied Conservation

4

BIO 428Evolutionary Biology

3

BIO 471Conservation Practicum

3

BIO 471Conservation Practicum

3

Requirements for Marine & Aquarium Science Track

Marine & Aquarium Science Track (16 credit hours)

BIO 288Aquarium Science

4

BIO 371Marine Biology

3

BIO 454Zoo Internship

3

BIO 454Zoo Internship

3

PHYS 400Oceanography & Climatology

3