- Preparation for careers such as ecologist, wildlife biologist, wildlife refuge manager, zoologist, and general biologist
- Preparation for graduate school in wildlife biology, mammalogy, ornithology, herpetology, animal ecology, animal behavior, and conservation biology
Major code:BS2522
Faculty Contact: Karen Mammone
Program Overview
This track is suitable for students who are interested in careers in the conservation and biology of wildlife. Graduates of this program meet the course qualifications for state and federal civil service registers as ecologist, wildlife biologist, wildlife refuge manager, zoologist, and general biologist.
This program also provides training for students planning to go on to graduate school in wildlife biology or an allied discipline, such as mammalogy, ornithology, herpetology, animal ecology, animal behavior, and conservation biology.
Tier II social science electives can be chosen to meet the requirements of the Environmental Studies Certificate program. For federal job and employment information, check the USA Jobs website.
Careers and Graduate School
Graduates of this program meet the course qualifications for state and federal civil service registers as ecologist, wildlife biologist, wildlife refuge manager, zoologist, and general biologist. This program also provides training for students planning to go on to graduate school in wildlife biology or an allied discipline, such as mammalogy, ornithology, herpetology, animal ecology, animal behavior, and conservation biology.
Browse through dozens of Internship opportunities and full-time job postings for Ohio University students and alumni on Handshake , OHIO's key resource for researching jobs, employers, workshops, and professional development events.
Admissions Information
First year applicants: "Strong preparation in mathematics and science as evidenced by coursework."
Transfer applicants: "Applicants must have a 2.5 cumulative grade point average and have completed the equivalent of BIOS 1700 and 1705."
Degree Requirements
Major Hours Requirement
The biological science major requires a minimum of 125 hours.
University-wide Graduation Requirements
To complete this program, students must meet all University-wide graduation requirements.
College-Level Requirements for the College of Arts & Sciences
View the College-Level Requirements for the College of Arts & Sciences.
Biological Sciences Hours Requirement
Complete a total of 41 semester hours of BIOS coursework, including all of the requirements below. Note: 1000- and 2000-level courses not specifically required by the major will not count toward the BIOS hours requirement, but they may be used to fulfill University graduation requirements.
Biological Sciences Common Curriculum
Complete the following courses:
- BIOS 1700 - Biological Sciences I: Molecules and Cells Credit Hours: 3.0
- BIOS 1705 - Biological Sciences I Laboratory Credit Hours: 1.0
- BIOS 1710 - Biological Sciences II: Ecology, Evolution, Animal Body Systems Credit Hours: 3.0
- BIOS 1715 - Biological Sciences II Laboratory Credit Hours: 1.0
- BIOS 3100 - General Genetics Credit Hours: 3.0
- BIOS 3200 - Fundamentals of Animal Cell Biology Credit Hours: 3.0
- BIOS 3300 - Principles of Evolution Credit Hours: 3.0
Ecology
Complete the following courses:
- BIOS 3750 - Animal Ecology Credit Hours: 3.0
- BIOS 3760 - Field Ecology Credit Hours: 3.0
Wildlife Subjects
Complete three of the following courses:
- BIOS 4710 - Ornithology Credit Hours: 4.0
- BIOS 4720 - Herpetology Credit Hours: 4.0
- BIOS 4740 - Mammalogy Credit Hours: 4.0
- BIOS 4810 - Animal Conservation Biology Credit Hours: 3.0
Zoology Subjects
Anatomy
Complete the following course:
- BIOS 3030 - Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Credit Hours: 4.0
Tier 3 Equivalent
Complete one of the following courses:
- BIOS 4730 - Animal Behavior Credit Hours: 3.0
- BIOS 4810 - Animal Conservation Biology Credit Hours: 3.0
Internship
Complete an internship for a minimum of 2 hours:
- BIOS 4910 - Biological Internship Credit Hours: 1.0-3.0
Extradepartmental Requirements
Chemistry
Complete the following courses:
- CHEM 1510 - Fundamentals of Chemistry I Credit Hours: 4.0
- CHEM 1520 - Fundamentals of Chemistry II Credit Hours: 4.0
Organic Chemistry
Complete either the following course or course group option:
- CHEM 3010 - Organic Chemistry Credit Hours: 3.0
Organic Chemistry course group option
Complete the following courses:
- CHEM 3050 - Organic Chemistry I Credit Hours: 3.0
- CHEM 3060 - Organic Chemistry II Credit Hours: 3.0
Math
Complete the following course:
- MATH 2301 - Calculus I Credit Hours: 4.0
Physics
Complete the following course:
- PHYS 2001 - Introduction to Physics Credit Hours: 4.0
Plant Sciences
Complete at least 9 hours from the following courses:
- BIOS 1090 - Readings in Biology Credit Hours: 1.0
- PBIO 1150 - Plant Structure and Development Credit Hours: 4.0
- PBIO 2090 - Plant Ecology Credit Hours: 3.0
- PBIO 2470 - Biomes of the World Credit Hours: 3.0
- PBIO 3050 - Plant Propagation Credit Hours: 3.0
- PBIO 3080 - Structural Botany Credit Hours: 4.0
- PBIO 3190 - Ohio Flora Credit Hours: 3.0
- PBIO 3220 - Tropical Plant Ecology Credit Hours: 3.0
- PBIO 3301 - Plant Breeding Credit Hours: 3.0
- PBIO 4090 - Plant Systematics and Survey of Vascular Plant Families Credit Hours: 4.0
- PBIO 4350 - Plant Population Biology and Community Ecology Credit Hours: 4.0
- PBIO 4380 - Soil Properties and Ecosystem Processes Credit Hours: 4.0
Statistics
Complete one of the following:
- MATH 2500 - Introduction to Statistics Credit Hours: 4.0
- PSY 2110 - Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences Credit Hours: