OVERVIEW OF THE MAJOR

The Animal Biology major offers students training in the biological principles of evolution, ecology, physiology, nutrition, genetics, and molecular biology as these apply to animals.  Emphasis is on the application of fundamental biological knowledge in solving societal problems associated with production animals in agriculture, pest management, domesticated animals in suburban and urban areas and vertebrates and invertebrates in natural environments.

The Animal Biology major consists of preparatory courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics.  The student then takes a core of biological studies that build an understanding of animal biology from the molecular to the ecological and evolutionary levels of organization.  After completing these core courses, students have the option of specializing in various interdisciplinary aspects of animal biology.  In consultation with their advisor, they plan their chosen emphasis of study.  The program includes a senior thesis, which the student designs to bridge the disciplines if the major and hence a capstone to his or her studies.