Undergraduate Program :: Frequently Asked Questions

Click on a question below to go its answer:

The course I need is full/closed. What should I do?

What is the Zoology Major?

What other life science majors are available at UF?

Why can't I just be a premed major at UF?

I'm a pre-veterinary student. What classes should I take?

I want to be a zookeeper. Does that mean I should major in Zoology?

Can I double major in zoology and another major?

Can I take a minor with a zoology major?

How can I minor in zoology?

How do I transfer from another university or junior college?

I already have a B.S. or B.A. in another field. Can I get a Bachelor's degree in Zoology at UF?

Can I get course credit for a summer internship?

Can I test out of a course with an AP or IB exam?

Services Offered by the University of Florida

How do I know when I need academic help and how do I get it?

Majoring and Minoring in Zoology

What is the Zoology Major?

The major in Zoology offers students a modern, high-quality foundation education in the life sciences, with a particular emphasis on animal systems. Students gain knowledge about the diversity of life (its evolution and significance) and about the structure of organisms and ecosystems and how they function (i.e., the acquisition, flow, organization, and uses of information, energy, and nutrients in living systems). This knowledge is gained through direct laboratory experimentation, fieldwork, and independent research projects that are integrated with more formal coursework. In the process, students learn about the scientific method and how it facilitates the discovery of new knowledge in zoology and biology. This includes how to critically evaluate hypotheses and conclusions in science using verifiable data and how to clearly and effectively communicate the major concepts and hypotheses in zoology and biology in an appropriate style of presentation.

What other life science majors are available at UF?

There are many life science majors at the University of Florida. Check these out.

Preparing yourself for most medical schools requires general biology, chemistry through organic, and a year of physics. Other courses such as college English, biochemistry, some calculus and statistics are recommended but not always required. That's not much of a major. Just about any major will be acceptable to medical schools, so their admissions committees look for students with strong academic credentials combined with attributes that promise to make an outstanding physician: curiosity, compassion, competence. But ask yourself, "What if I don't get into medical school?" or "What if I change my mind about medicine as my chosen profession?" What then? You should choose a major that interests you and offers you both pleasure and the prospects for an interesting career. For more information about preparing for medical school, go to the Office of Health and Legal Professions (OHLPA) Pre-Health web site.

I'm a pre-veterinary student. What classes should I take?

Pre-veterinary students who intend to apply to the UF Veterinary School can major in zoology. To meet the UF Veterinary School admissions criteria, your Zoology major curriculum should include the following minimum courses: PCB 3063, BCH 4024 or CHM 3218; MCB 3020/3020L; ANS 3006C and ANS 3440. You should also consider ZOO3713C (Functional Vertebrate Anatomy) and/or PCB4723C (Physiology and Molecular Biology of Animals). Complete admissions requirements for UF and other veterinary schools can be found here.

I want to be a zookeeper. Does that mean I should major in Zoology?

Click here for more information about becoming a Zookeeper.

Yes, you can choose to major in more than one department or even college. Recent zoology graduates have double-majored in history, anthropology, food science and human nutrition, entomology and botany. Completing a douible major requires that you satisfy all of the requirements in each of the departments. However, many courses that are requirements for one major can satisfy requirements in the other at the same time, and in other cases the courses in one major may count as electives in the other. The catch is that at least 15 course credits cannot overlap or be double counted for both majors (this does not include Chemistry, Physics and Math courses).

Here are the criteria for applying to complete a double major program:

1.         You need to have at least 45 UF credit hours earned.
2.         You need have a minimum 3.0 UF GPA.
3.         You need to have term 5 Critical Tracking criteria earned for both majors.

If you meet the above criteria, you can complete a double major application, which can be picked from a receptionist at the front desk of the Academic Advising Center, first floor (Farrior Hall).

Yes, this is a good way to organize your electives around an area of interest, with little effort. For instance, a zoology major can get a minor in Chemistry by adding just two chemistry courses: CHM 3400, 3610 or any 4000-level CHM course. Consider language and humanities minors, too. Note that you can not minor in Biology with a Zoology major, nor can you minor in Zoology with a Biology major (the Zoology and Biology curricula are too similar).

A zoology minor requires a total of 17 credit hours in Zoology, which should include the core biology courses (8 credit hours) and at least three additional courses from the Department of Zoology at UF (except ZOO 4905 and PCB 4905). Credit for the core biology courses can be transferred from another institution.

How do I transfer from another university or junior college?

A detailed list of recommended steps for transfer students is available here.

We recommend that students who want to transfer from a two-year junior college complete the following "core" science and mathematics coursework in their first two years: Biology (e.g., BSC 2010/2011 plus lab), Chemistry (e.g., CHM 2045/2046 plus lab), Organic Chemistry (CHM 2210/2211 plus lab), Physics (e.g., PHY 2048/2049 or PHY 2053/2054 plus lab), Analytical Geometry and Calculus 1 (e.g., MAC 2311), and Analytical Geometry and Calculus 2 (e.g., MAC 2312) or Statistics (STA 2023).

Note that incoming students (including transfer students) do not apply directly to the Department of Zoology, but rather to the University of Florida. The Department of Zoology is not consulted regarding who is admitted, and therefore our faculty do not "select" particular students for our major.

I already have a B.S. or B.A. in another field. Can I get a Bachelor's degree in Zoology at UF?

No. UF will not accept applications from those who have already earned a degree (except for students who apply to Nursing). The following state schools do not have a policy prohibiting second bachelor's degree applications: University of North Florida; University of Central Florida; and University of South Florida.

If your goal is to attend graduate school in zoology or another biological science, it is important to bear in mind that your undergraduate degree does not necessarily need to be in the biological sciences in order for you to be accepted into a graduate program in the biological sciences.

Can I get course credit for a summer internship ?

Typically, summer internships are not suitable for course credit because the experience is not an organized course that can be substituted for a UF course. However, if the internship involves participation in zoology research, then it may be appropriate for you to receive credit by enrolling in "Individual Study" (ZOO4905). In that case, arrangements must be made well ahead of time between you, your internship research supervisor, and the Zoology Undergraduate Coordinator.

Can I test out of a course with an AP or IB exam?

Students who take AP or IB examinations in high school can get credit for some or all of the Integrated Principles of Biology coursework required for the Zoology major (BSC 2010/L and BSC 2011/L). The credit is assigned as follows:

1. AP score of 5: You may receive credit for BSC 2010, BSC 2010L, BSC 2011 and BSC 2011L.

2. IB score of 5 or higher: You may receive credit for BSC 2010 and BSC 2010L.

3. AP score of 3 or 4 or IB score of 4: You may receive credit for BSC 2007 and BSC 2009L, but these are "non-majors" biology courses and do not count towards the Zoology major.

The course I want is full. What should I do?

There are some courses for which the current capacity is not sufficient to provide a seat for every student who wants to enroll in it. As of this writing, ZOO 3713C and PCB 3063 are closed. If you find yourself needing a closed course, we recommend that you do three things:

1. Continue to try enrolling in the course by computer. Students drop courses in the weeks leading up to the beginning of the semester, and when that happens it's first-come-first-served.

2. If you are a graduating senior and you need the course to graduate, contact Ms. Karen Pallone by telephone at (352) 392-1015 (Undergraduate Advising). We are generally allowed to reserve seats for graduating seniors, and once the Registrar's office releases control of those seats to us, Ms. Pallone will be able to add you to the class.

3. Show up to the first course session and tell the instructor that you want to add the course. All registered students must attend the first course session, and those who do not may be automatically dropped. This opens up seats.

Services Offered by the University of Florida

Obviously a poor performance in an exam or exercise will be a good indication. But, the time to get assistance in a course may be when you feel that you are not quite grasping the material. The earlier you recognize you need the better. Utilize your instructors' office hours. Take advantage of the tutoring and study skills help at the Broward Teaching Center (392-2010). Its free, takes little time and may make the difference between passing and failing, or between an A and a B.