Michelle Foley December 6, 2020 4 Academic Tips and Info,College Lists

List of All U.S. Colleges With a Zoology Major

The natural world is a compelling one, and zoologists are tasked with understanding and caring for it. As a sub-branch of the larger biology field, zoology covers more than the flora and fauna found at your local zoo. Its students cover all aspects of animal life down to the cellular level, soaking up zygote-to-adult development and evolutionary processes.

Many with an affinity for the animal kingdom may feel drawn towards the zoology major, but most will have to do a bit of research to decide if it’s really for them. 

Interested in this major? Here, we’ll break down which colleges offer zoology programs and what to look for in a school.

Overview of the Zoology Major

Though course requirements will differ at each college, students can expect to cover many of the following subjects:

• Cell Biology
• Invertebrate and Vertebrate Biology
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Organic Chemistry
• Physics
• Advanced Math

After fulfilling core requirements, you will take a few electives and possibly specialize in a specific area, like pre-veterinary science or wildlife conservation. In addition, some schools will offer or require that you complete research, field work, or an internship.

Given the heavy math and science requirements, it helps to have a deep interest in these subjects, especially biology. Strong students in this major are passionate about every aspect of the animal kingdom, from six-legged bugs to the towering giraffe. Their interest in science is wide-spanning, covering ecology, evolution, genetics, and cellular biology. Oftentimes, successful zoologists are highly environmentally-focused, matching their passion for this planet with a desire to protect it.

The education you’ll need, if any, after a Zoology bachelor’s is wholly dependent on your desired career. Many grads’ go-to path is one as a zoologist or wildlife biologist, careers which only require a bachelor’s. The same goes for park naturalists, zoo educators, and animal trainers.

However, aspiring veterinarians, professors, and research scientists will look into Master’s, V.M.D., and Ph.D. programs after graduation. 

What to Look for in a College as a Zoology Major

Fieldwork Research Opportunities  

This is especially important for the doctors and academics shooting for grad school. Zoology research is somewhat unique from other fields with regards to how much is performed outside: interning in a zoo, scooping up invertebrates for data collection, braving the elements while studying animal behavior in a natural environment.

Check out your college’s undergraduate access to research. How expansive are your schools’ research opportunities? Which professors do work that interests you? How many zoology majors perform research, and how easy or difficult is it for them to do so?

Lab and Technological Offerings

While performing and presenting your research, you’ll need a program equipped with adequate technology. You’ll need up-to-date computers to perform complex data analysis, examine topographical maps, and observe animal X-rays.

Check out your possible colleges’ facilities; are the labs up to date, technology-wise? Are they accessible?

Specialization Opportunities

If you look at the course offerings of schools that you’re interested in, you may notice that some programs have a bent towards a particular area, like ecology or molecular biology. If your possible schools do have a focus, does it interest you?

If you’d like to personalize your educational journey, look into opportunities to specialize. Some schools allow you to focus on a specific area. 

Texas A & M even offers opportunities for teacher certification and requires that those with a pre-vet emphasis take specific classes. Meanwhile, the University of Wisconsin-Madison allows students to choose to obtain either a B.A. or a B.S. in Zoology. 

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List of All U.S. Colleges With a Zoology Major

What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?

No matter your major, you must be academically comparable to previous years’ admits to be a competitive college applicant. Most selective schools use the Academic Index, a complex tool based on your grades, test scores, and class rankings, to evaluate academic aptitude and filter out students who don’t meet their standards.

Prospective zoology majors must take full advantage of the educational offerings at their high school, specifically within the realms of math and science. Take a rigorous courseload of biology, chemistry, physics, and math.

The qualitative aspects of your application, like your essays and extracurriculars, are your place to show who you are and demonstrate fit with your chosen schools and major. 

Work—paid or volunteer—with wildlife communities and organizations is a great way to expand your experience. Look into environmental protection organizations, animal shelters, and veterinary offices in your area. They may all provide fantastic opportunities to work, intern, and volunteer.

Additionally, work on your verbal communications skills. Many working in zoology-related fields have presentation-heavy lives, whether they’re educating others about local endangered species or presenting their research findings to a committee.

If you’re struggling to figure out where you match up to other applicants, we recommend using our free Chancing Engine. Unlike other solely stats-based chancing calculators, ours considers your profile holistically, including both your quantitative stats and qualitative extracurriculars.