Graduate Program in ZOOLOGY
The aims of a Ph.D. degree in Zoology are to train the student to do orginal and significant research in zoological science,
to develop a broad understanding of the zoological literature, and to provide experience and
training in the presentation and publication of scientific findings. The Department of Biology offers special opportunities
for animal research in several zoological subdisciplines. In addition, the broad range of biological sciences represented
on campus permit collaborative programs in such areas as medicine, veterinary medicine, oceanography,
and wildlife and fisheries sciences.
Zoology Ph.D. students must demonstrate competence in their specific area of research and are expected
to develop proficiency in four of the following six areas: evolution/systematics, ecology/behavior, physiology/anatomy,
biological mathematics, genetics/development, and cellular/molecular biology. In addition,
the student should have a thorough depth-of-knowledge of the organism or system used in the
dissertation research. An M.S. student must demonstrate competence in at least three of the above six
areas at the time of final examination.
Course Descriptions
601. Biological Clocks (3-0). Credit 3.
Introduction to the formal properties of biological rhythms; cellular and molecular bases of
rhythmicity; temporal adaptations of organisms using clocks. Prerequisites: graduate classification or
approval of instructor.
605. Principles and Methods of Systematic Biology (3-3). Credit 4.
Evoluationary theory, sub-specific variation, speciation and phylogeny; evoluationary, cladistical
and numerical taxonomy, methods and rules used in viral, bacteriological, botanical and zoological
classification.
634. Comparative Neurobiology. (3-0). Credit 3.
Cellular, molecular and systems neurobiooogy, together with neuroethology. A comparative
approach to subject matter is stressed. Topics such as evoluation of nervous systems and
their diverse structure and complex functions are dealt with.
640. Chemical Ecology. (3-0). Credit 3.
Describes chemically mediated interactions between and within species; readings in the primary
literature consulted regarding the identification of behaviorally and physiologically active
natural products. Prerequisite: B.S. with organic chemistry (2 semesters).
649. Comparative Endocrinology. (3-3). Credit 4.
Function of endocrine glands and hormonal regulatory systems in different animal groups, vertebrates
and invertebrates. Mechanisms of action of hormones at the cellular and molecular level. Recent experimental advances
in endocrinological research. Isolation, purification and assay of certain hormones. Prerequisite:
course in physiology, BICH 410 or equivalent, or approval of instructor.
653. Zoogeography. (3-0). Credit 3.
Evolutionary, geological and ecological interpretations of the present and past distributions of
terrestrial, freshwater and marine organisms.
654. Field Zoogeography (0-3). Credit 1.
An optional laboratory designed to accompany ZOOL 653 Zoogeography; field studies of ecological,
geological, and systematic processes which govern the geographical distribution of animals and the
formation of biogeographical provinces. Prerequisite: graduate classification.
660. Aquatic Ecology. (3-3). Credit 4.
Primary and secondary productivity in lakes and streams, controlling factors, sampling
and data analysis methodology; introduction to the construction and interpretation of
computer models of aquatic systems; previous modeling experience unnecessary.
663. Biology of the Crustacea (3-3). Credit 4.
Classification, life history, morphology, physiology, ecology, diseases, parasites and
predators of crustaceans; economic aspects of crustaceans; original literature emphasized.
Prerequisite: ZOOL 335 or equivalent, or approval of instructor.
665. Biology of Invertebrates. (3-3). Credit 4.
Morphology, biology and phylogeny of invertebrates. Topics may be either detailed
discussions of specific organisms or comparative information on a process. Prerequisite:
ZOOL 335 or equivalent.
667. Biology of Marine Annelida (3-3). Credit 4.
Survey of marine annelids including their physiology, reproduction; emphasis on
morphology and taxonomy of polychaetous annelids to enable students to more rapidly and
accurately analyze benthic assemblage data. Prerequisites: ZOOL 335 or equivalent;
approval of instructor.
681. Seminar. (1-0). Credit 1.
Detailed reports on specific topics in field chosen. Students may register in up to but
no more than three sections of this course.
685. Problems. Credit 1 to 6 each semester.
Limited investigations in fields other than those chosen for thesis or dissertation.
689. Special Topics in...Credit 1 to 4.
Selected topics in an identified area of zoology.
690. Theory of Research. (3-0). Credit 3.
Design of research experiments in zoology and the evaluation of research results with
the aid of examples taken from the current scientific literature. May be repeated for credit.
691. Research. Credit 1 or more each semester.
Research for thesis or dissertation.
Other related graduate courses offered by the Department of Biology that may be of
interest to zoology students include BIOL 616 Biochemical Systematics and Evolution,
BIOL 674 Cellular and Molecular Aspects of Development, MICR 610 Immunology, MICR 630
Protozoology and BIOL 689 Special Topics.
|
CONTACT INFORMATION
|
|
Graduate Advising Office
Department of Biology
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-3258
E-mail: graduate@bio.tamu.edu
Phone: (979) 845-7755
Fax: (979) 845-2891
|
Department of Biology Home Page
