The OU Department of Zoology offers two graduate degrees:

Students can also apply to simultaneously enter the Department of Zoology and either the Cellular and Behavioral Neurobiology or the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Ph.D. program. These students earn their Ph. D. in one of the latter programs with a specialization in Zoology.

In addition, students interested in teaching secondary school science can obtain a Master of Natural Science degree through the College of Education.

The requirements for completion of the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Zoology are summarized briefly here. A detailed description of these requirements is provided in the Graduate Student Manual.

Full Graduate Standing:
Admission to the Zoology Department graduate program can be either “Admission in Full Standing” or “Conditional Admission”, depending upon each student’s educational background. Students not meeting the requirements for Admission in Full Standing are still encouraged to apply, and if accepted, the conditions for obtaining Full Graduate Standing are outlined in the offer letter. In general, to obtain Full Graduate Standing the following prerequisites need to be fulfilled:

Advisory Examination:
Entering graduate students take an Advisory Examination during orientation week of their first fall semester of graduate work in the department. The results of the examination are used for advisement purposes during the initial semester(s). The objective of these early advisements is to ensure a broad baccalaureate-level background in zoology/biology. The Director of Graduate Studies usually advises new graduate students during the first and second regular semesters of their residency. Thereafter, advisement will be by the Major Professor.

To obtain the M.S. degree, a student with Full Graduate Standing must complete at least 30 hours of graduate courses beyond the bachelor's degree, must complete a thesis based on original research, and pass a final oral examination.

The student, in consultation with the Major Professor, will determine an area, termed the Specialty Field, that is of prime interest to the student and in which the student wishes to attain a high degree of expertise. The student and Major Professor will also choose at least one Supporting Field that relates to and supplements the field of specialization, such as biochemistry supporting physiology, or microbiology supporting genetics. The final oral examination covers the area of specialization, supporting fields, and the defense of the thesis.

To obtain the Ph.D. degree, a student with Full Graduate Standing must complete at least 90 hours of graduate courses beyond the bachelor's degree, serve as a teaching assistant for two semesters, complete a dissertation based on original research, pass the General Examination (consisting of written and an oral portions), and successfully defend the dissertation in a Final Oral Examination.

Prior to taking the General Examination, the student, in consultation with the Major Professor and Advisory Committee, will designate at least one specialty field and two supporting fields in which the student will be examined during the General Examination.

• Introduction
• M.S. and Ph.D. Degrees
• How to Apply
• Financial Support
• Current Students
• ZAGS!
• Zoology Faculty
• Courses
• Graduate Handbook
• Seminars
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