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Zoology - B.S.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology offers a modern and integrative study of animals for students interested in going to veterinary school. Students learn about individual animals, as well as populations of animals across all levels of biological organization, from genes to ecosystems. The program also focuses on animal behavior and physiology, as well as how animals evolve, contribute to biodiversity and interact with each other and their environment.

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Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology

Broaden your knowledge of animal biology with Kent State’s Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology. Engage in comprehensive coursework that explores various aspects of animal life, from ecology to evolutionary biology. This program is designed to develop your expertise and prepare you for careers in wildlife management, animal research, and other fields related to zoological sciences.

Program Information for Zoology - B.S.

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology offers a modern and integrative study of animals. Students learn about individual animals, as well as populations of animals across all levels of biological organization, from genes to ecosystems. The program also focuses on animal behavior and physiology, as well as how animals evolve, contribute to biodiversity and interact with each other and their environment.

Students may seek employment immediately after graduation or continue their education in graduate or professional programs. Those entering the workforce may go on to work for national or local parks, zoos/aquaria, museums, animal research facilities, wildlife rehabilitation centers, veterinarian offices or humane societies. The Department of Biological Sciences has several mechanisms to help students prepare for their future careers.

Admissions for Zoology - B.S.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental biological principles as outlined in specific courses.
  2. Acquire fundamental skills necessary for laboratory and field investigations.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of proper experimental design, analysis of biological data and communication of research results.
  4. Demonstrate a greater knowledge and appreciation of the role that biology plays in societal issues, such as those related to the environment, biodiversity, ethics, human health and disease.
Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
BSCI 10110BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) 4
BSCI 10120BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) 4
BSCI 30156ELEMENTS OF GENETICS 3
BSCI 40163EVOLUTION 3
BSCI 40600WRITING IN THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (WIC) 11
CHEM 10060GENERAL CHEMISTRY I (KBS) 4
CHEM 10061GENERAL CHEMISTRY II (KBS) 4
CHEM 10062GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
CHEM 10063GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
CHEM 20481BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I 3-4
or CHEM 30481 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
CHEM 20482BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II 1-3
or CHEM 30475 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I (ELR)
or CHEM 30482 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
MATH 12002ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR) 5
MATH 12003ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS II 3-5
or MATH 30011 BASIC PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS
Zoology Core Electives, choose from the following:11-12
BSCI 30140
CELL BIOLOGY
BSCI 30171
GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY
BSCI 30360
GENERAL ECOLOGY
BSCI 30518
VERTEBRATE ANATOMY
BSCI 30560
INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
BSCI 30580
ENTOMOLOGY
BSCI 40430
ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY
BSCI 40515
ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
BSCI 40556
VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
BSCI 40581
ANIMAL PARASITOLOGY
Biology Electives, choose from the following: 2,31-6
BSCI 30105
CAREER PATHWAYS IN BIOLOGY
BSCI 40191
SENIOR SEMINAR
BSCI 40192
INTERNSHIP IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (ELR)
BSCI 40196
INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION (ELR)
BSCI 40199
SENIOR HONORS THESIS (ELR)
Biology, Chemistry, Physics Electives, choose from the following: 220-25
CHEM 20482
BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
or CHEM 30482
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
CHEM 30475
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I (ELR)
CHEM 30476
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II
PHY 13001
PHY 13021
GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS I (KBS)
and GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY I (KBS) (KLAB)
or PHY 23101
GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS I (KBS) (KLAB)
PHY 13002
PHY 13022
GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS II (KBS)
and GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY II (KBS) (KLAB)
or PHY 23102
GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS II (KBS) (KLAB)
Any Biology (BSCI) course 3
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language (see Foreign Language College Requirement below)8
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each)9
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)6
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours)16
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

2

Students should select their electives in consultation with an advisor. A total of 26 credit hours combined are required to fulfill the Biology Electives and Biology, Chemistry, Physics Electives.

3

A maximum 6 credit hours of any combination of BSCI 30105, BSCI 40191, BSCI 40192, BSCI 40196 and BSCI 40199 may be applied toward the major (with no more than 4 credit hours S/U graded). Enrollment in these courses must be determined with a faculty advisor.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000

The following Biological Sciences (BSCI) courses may NOT be used in the elective category for majors or minors in the Department of Biological Sciences:

BSCI 10001HUMAN BIOLOGY (KBS) 3
BSCI 10002LIFE ON PLANET EARTH (KBS) 3
BSCI 10003LABORATORY EXPERIENCE IN BIOLOGY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
BSCI 10005SMALL ANIMAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY FOR VETERINARY TECHNICIANS 4
BSCI 11010FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (KBS) (KLAB) 3
BSCI 11020FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II (KBS) (KLAB) 3
BSCI 16001HORTICULTURAL BOTANY 3
BSCI 20019BIOLOGICAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION 4
BSCI 20021BASIC MICROBIOLOGY 3
BSCI 20022BASIC MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY 1
BSCI 21010ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (KBS) (KLAB) 4
BSCI 21020ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II 4
BSCI 26002ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF PEST MANAGEMENT 3
BSCI 26003PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION I 3
BSCI 26004PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION II 3
BSCI 30050HUMAN GENETICS 3
BSCI 40020BIOLOGY OF AGING 3

Foreign Language College Requirement, B.S.

  • Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete 8 credit hours of foreign language.
  • The following programs are exempt from this requirement: The Bachelor of Science in Cybercriminology and the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science.2
  • Minimum Elementary I and II of the same language
1

All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and courses. This may be accomplished by (1) passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level; (2) receiving credit through one of the alternative credit programs offered by Kent State University; or (3) demonstrating language proficiency comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language. When students complete the requirement with fewer than 8 credit hours and two courses, they will complete remaining credit hours with general electives.

2
The Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science exemption exists under another college policy (Three-Plus-One Programs). The Bachelor of Science in Cybercriminology exemption is due to its extensive collaboration with and contribution from the Information Technology program in the College of Applied and Technical Studies, which does not have a foreign language requirement.
Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
!BSCI 10110 BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) 4
!CHEM 10060 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I (KBS) 4
!CHEM 10062 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
!BSCI 10120 BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) 4
!CHEM 10061 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II (KBS) 4
!CHEM 10063 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Three
!BSCI 30156 ELEMENTS OF GENETICS 3
!CHEM 20481
or CHEM 30481
BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
or ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
3-4
CHEM 20482
or CHEM 30475
or CHEM 30482
BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
or ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I (ELR)
or ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
0-3
!MATH 12002 ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR) 5
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
CHEM 20482
or CHEM 30475
or CHEM 30482
BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
or ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I (ELR)
or ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
0-3
!MATH 12003
or MATH 30011
ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS II
or BASIC PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS
3-5
Zoology Core Electives 7
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours13
Semester Five
BSCI 40600 WRITING IN THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (WIC) 1
Biology Electives or Biology, Chemistry, Physics Electives 7
Zoology Core Electives 4
Foreign Language 4
 Credit Hours16
Semester Six
Biology Electives or Biology, Chemistry, Physics Electives 9
Foreign Language 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Seven
BSCI 40163 EVOLUTION 3
Biology Electives or Biology, Chemistry, Physics Electives 7
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours13
Semester Eight
Biology Elective or Biology, Chemistry, Physics Elective 3
General Electives 13
 Credit Hours16
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus