Best Colleges for Zoology

To find the best colleges for zoology, think about your career goals and what you want to accomplish as an undergrad or a graduate student. Not many schools offer undergraduate degrees in zoology, so if you choose to go somewhere that doesn't, you may have to take more general biological science courses and then begin a graduate program in zoology after earning your degree. As an undergraduate, where you go to school and what you choose to study matters, and your grades are important as well. Most research, fieldwork, and specialization opportunities are available to graduate students rather than undergrads, however, so try to have a strong demonstrated interest and background in zoology at the time when you apply for grad schools and Ph.D. programs.

Career Planning

MSU offers three different zoology programs for undergraduates. The program builds a strong foundation in biology and focuses on offering courses that address the diversity of animal life on the planet and the many different specializations that students could choose if they decide to go on to graduate programs in zoology.

The University of Hawai'i at Manoa undergraduate program offers unique fieldwork opportunities to which students at other universities wouldn't have access. Because of Hawai'i's tropical climate, natural resources, and great diversity of animal life forms, students earning their undergraduate degrees here have access to fieldwork that will help make their grad-school applications stand out.

UW-Madison offers an undergraduate biology program that concentrates heavily on science and emphasizes genetics, ecology, animal behavior, and several branches of biology. In addition to preparing students to apply for graduate degrees in zoology, this program would be fit for those who are interested in finding positions in law, public health, or environmental relations.

If you can't find a school that offers a zoology degree to undergrads or you're not interested in any of those that do, you can still design a curriculum for yourself that will help you get into a good zoology grad school. Declare a major in biology and make sure to take courses in chemistry, physics, and advanced math as well. Consider completing an independent research project related to zoology.

When investigating schools, look into the research and fieldwork possibilities.

Most grad students seeking the best colleges for zoology are already interested in specializing in a particular area of animal biology or a specific group of animals. When conducting your search for grad schools, take into account research and fieldwork opportunities, the work of the faculty members, and how you feel the programs will prepare you for a career.

UW-Seattle has a renowned graduate program in zoology that is closely tied with its biology department. While not offering many specific courses in zoology, the university presents an interdisciplinary approach that exposes graduate students to many different aspects of zoology and animal science and offers opportunities for specialization and individual projects.

The zoology graduate program at this university in Ohio is one of the nation's largest, giving students access to a greater number of resources than they might have at other schools. The program strives to strike a balance between coursework, fieldwork, and individual research while allowing students to explore areas about which they feel most passionate.

Cornell divides its zoology program into different fields of specialization and recruits students who are particularly interested in vertebrate morphological sciences. The curriculum in the graduate program here is closely tied with molecular biology, evolution, and genetics.

Regardless of the school you choose, make sure to take advantage of all of the opportunities available to advance your learning and to help build a successful career in zoology.

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