Zoology

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Zoology student looks at birds

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Can the study of animals teach us about humanity? Can we learn how animals live and adapt to changing conditions?

If you see beauty in how animals interact with their environment and other organisms or find yourself wondering what we can do to ensure biodiversity, you might have the heart of a zoology major.

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Zoology student looks at birds

This program is currently offered in
the following locations:

Laramie Campus
UW Casper

What is Zoology?

As a zoology major, you will specialize in the study of animals, learning about their anatomy, physiology, evolution and ecology—and develop learning and research skills. You will also acquire a foundation in the basic sciences and have the opportunity to explore invertebrate zoology, cell biology, developmental biology and other related subjects.

At UW, zoology is a flexible major that will take you into the wild to learn field techniques such as toxicology testing methods, live chipmunk trapping and even bird-banding skills. You will also have the chance to participate in research as an undergraduate, using Wyoming’s wilderness and wildlife to inform your work.

Your zoology degree program is a springboard to zoology-related careers and graduate school.

Student holds a pipette in the lab

 

Do you want to discover more about your hobbies and strengths? You can customize your degree to your personal aspirations with our degree program in zoology. We offer 2 specialized concentrations in addition to our many College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural resources minors.

Concentrations: 

  • Aquatic Biology
  • Ecology


Possible Minors:

Zoologist holds a golden eagle in front of a crowd

 

 

Zoology Minor

Interested in zoology? Consider getting an undergraduate zoology minor in addition to your primary degree! If you want to explore form, function, behavior, ecology, evolution and conservation of animals and hone analytical, writing, and research skills, this minor might be right for you!

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Zoology Bachelor’s Degree Program Highlights

Study Abroad

Learn about wildlife conservation in Kenya. Travel to the slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes to study ornithology. Visit Panama to learn about complex behaviors in tropical birds. Or take a deep dive into the study of evolution on the Galapagos Islands.

STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS

Gain professional and fieldwork skills and learn more about the job market by completing an internship. Students in the zoology program have interned at the Mpala Research Centre in Kenya, the UW Aquatic Zoology Lab, Bayer Bee Care Center, MIT’s Department of Brain and Cognitive Science and other positions.

 

Study with professors who are researching why giraffes have long necks and documenting how polar bears are adapting to faster drifting sea ice.

Meet our faculty

Work with UW zoology and physiology professors to study bumble bees, giraffes, moose, birds, raccoons, toads and other animals.

 

Acquire hands-on research and lab skills working with UW’s extensive resources that include the Jenkins Microscopy Facility with its laser scanning confocal microscopes, epi-fluorescence microscopes and electron microscopes, the University of Wyoming-National Park Service Research Station, which promotes research in the Yellowstone ecosystem, the UW Museum of Vertebrates and the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.

Explore facilities

Network, attend lectures and take part in field trips as a member of Wyoming Student Subunit of the American Fisheries Society, UW’s Environment and Natural Resources Club and the University of Wyoming Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society.

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

What Can You Do With a Zoology Bachelor’s Degree?

A zoology major from the University of Wyoming is a wide-ranging degree program that can position you for everything from museum work and jobs in zoos to medical school, veterinary medical school, dental school and other graduate programs.

Zoology majors can build careers as the following:

  • Biologists
  • Museum educators
  • Lab technicians/managers
  • Toxicologists
  • Research associates
  • Zoologists
  • Optometrists
  • Doctors (after completing medical school requirements)
  • Veterinarians
  • Dentists
  • College professors

Here are just a few of the places where University of Wyoming zoology alumni have worked:

  • Animal Buffalo Bill Center of the West
  • Denver Zoo
  • University of Colorado Boulder
  • University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
  • Kforce Healthcare Inc.
  • Sanofi
  • Western Ecosystems Technology Inc.
  • Wyoming Game and Fish Department
  • Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium and Safari Park
  • ZooMontana

Graduate schools UW Zoology alumni have attended include:

  • Cornell University
  • Harvard University
  • University of Iowa College of Dentistry
  • University of Wyoming
  • Indiana State University
  • University of Missouri
  • University of Manitoba

Wyoming’s diverse and expansive natural landscape makes it an ideal place to study zoology. With access to ecosystems ranging from alpine mountains and high plains to sagebrush steppe and wetlands, students have unparalleled opportunities to observe wildlife in their natural habitats. From fieldwork in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks to hands-on research in local conservation areas, Wyoming offers a living laboratory for studying animal behavior, ecology and biodiversity.