Congratulations, 2026 Graduates!
Congratulations, OWU Class of 2026! Commencement Information
Zoology Majors
Zoology is the study of the diversity, classification, and behavior of animals as well as the molecular and physiological processes of animals. Zoologists explore how animals interact with other organisms and their environments and also how animals function at a genetic, cellular, molecular and physiological level.
About the Majors
Choosing to major in Zoology doesn't mean that you want to work at a zoo (unless that really is your goal). Graduates of OWU's highly-regarded Zoology program work as medical doctors and veterinarians, college professors, researchers with national agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control, biologists with national parks and wildlife centers, writers and journalists, and, yes, even zoos.
Ohio Wesleyan's Zoology program gives you two major options, so you can create a program that fits your interests and career goals.
Zoology Bachelor of Science
A B.S. in Zoology is more suited for students preparing for medical school or graduate study in zoology. Completing this major will satisfy the minimum entrance requirements of almost all graduate programs in biology or zoology as well as meeting most of the prerequisites for medical, dental, and veterinary medicine schools. See the requirements and courses.
Zoology Bachelor of Arts
The B.A. in Zoology major is designed for students who are interested in the study of human beings and other animals, but perhaps do not want to pursue a professional career in medicine or zoology. Often, general zoology majors choose to double major in another discipline, further expanding their career options. See the requirements and courses.
OWU also offers a minor in Zoology.
Popular Second Majors
Students pursuing a B.S. in Zoology with a plan to pursue medical school also frequently complete the Pre-Medicine degree. Many students earning a B.A. also complete a major in Environmental Science. For students who choose to complete a second major, some of the other most popular majors have been: Spanish and Philosophy.
Popular Minors for Zoology Students
Think Big
Undergraduate research is a core part of The OWU Connection, and zoology students participate in independent projects, internships, and research with OWU professors and at other universities, research centers. and zoos.
In the 10-week Summer Scholarship and Research Program (SSRP), students work in paid positions, carrying out cutting-edge research alongside faculty mentors.
Go Global
From your first year on campus, you can get off campus with Travel-Learning Courses, a key part of The OWU Connection. Journey to a distant land and immerse yourself in another landscape and culture.
Recent Travel-Learning Courses have taken zoology students to Brazil, Costa Rica, East Africa, the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador, and North Carolina.
Get Real
Build your experience and connections to the professional world with internships at the Columbus Zoo, wildlife centers around the world, universities, museums, and other organizations. OWU zoology faculty use their connections in the field to help many students secure valuable internships.
Zoology students also have received University-funded Theory-to-Practice Grants for research projects from Bolivia to Japan to Vietnam.
Inspired Teaching
OWU faculty are outstanding scholars and researchers—and passionate teachers. They will push you, challenge you, inspire you, and work with you on your own research and creative projects.
They can even pack a 3-minute lecture with ideas, insight, and imagination. Check out our unique I³ lectures.
Highlights
Natural History Museum
OWU's Brant Museum, located on the atrium level of the Schimmel/Conrades Science Center, origiated in the 1850s and houses teaching collections of mammals, birds and their eggs and nests, insects, mollusks, and corals, with smaller collections of other phyla. The collection includes more than 400 mounted birds, including a golden eagle. Researchers from across the country come to check our egg and specimen collections.
Women in Science
The OWU Women in Science (WinS) organization is a collection of students who share a passion for mathematics and the natural and social sciences. WinS strives to cultivate a love of science and research and provide information about research opportunities, graduate school positions, and summer jobs and internships. WinS promotes discussion of issues facing women in science, brings guest lecturers to campus, arranges field trips, and participates in community service.
Pre-Health Club
The Pre-Health Club helps students understand and overcome the challenges of entering medical school to make the preparation more manageable. They also help educate the public about illnesses, preventative measure to take to remain healthy, and how to perform self-exams.
Pet Pals
Pet Pals, a club for all animal lovers, organizes activities on campus and in the community to raise awareness about animal welfare. Pet Pals works closely with the Humane Society of Delaware County to host socialization and adoption events. They also volunteer at animal shelters and take trips to the Columbus Zoo.
Graduate Outcomes
Logan Fraire '24
Logan participated in environmental research and sustainability initiatives, gaining hands-on experience in field studies and conservation. She now works as a Division of Surface Water 401 Mitigation Intern with the Ohio EPA in Chicago, Illinois, supporting environmental and sustainability management.
Zoology News
Brian & Bert
Ohio Wesleyan Student Nurtures Love for Animals with Columbus Zoo Internship
More information
Science Success
Ohio Wesleyan Students Present, Earn Award at Statewide Microbiology Meeting
More information
A Look at Zoology
Iguana Encounters— Photographed during the 2024 Island Biology course in the Galapagos Islands.
Iguana Encounters
Photographed during the 2024 Island Biology course in the Galapagos Islands.
Saving Sea Turtles— Lauren Kiebler '16 and Emily Webb '16 used a Theory-to-Practice Grant to volunteer at the Sea Turtle Conservancy in Costa Rica.
Saving Sea Turtles
Lauren Kiebler '16 and Emily Webb '16 used a Theory-to-Practice Grant to volunteer at the Sea Turtle Conservancy in Costa Rica.
Kraus Nature Preserve— Summer research project at the Kraus Nature Preserve.
Kraus Nature Preserve
Summer research project at the Kraus Nature Preserve.
Field Research with Reptiles— Research project with Prof. Gangloff.
Field Research with Reptiles
Research project with Prof. Gangloff.
Rhino Orphanage Internship— Shannon Schlater '17 helped rhinoceros calves prepare for release into the wild.
Rhino Orphanage Internship
Shannon Schlater '17 helped rhinoceros calves prepare for release into the wild.
Gecko Research— Zoology major Madeline Miguel '14 used a Theory-to-Practice grant to work with researchers at California State University focusing on Mediterranean House Geckos. She also attended the Joint Herpetology and Ichthyology Meeting hosted by the Society of the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles.
Gecko Research
Zoology major Madeline Miguel '14 used a Theory-to-Practice grant to work with researchers at California State University focusing on Mediterranean House Geckos. She also attended the Joint Herpetology and Ichthyology Meeting hosted by the Society of the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles.
Zoology Faculty
Zoology Faculty
Connecting biology and mathematics— Biology-mathematics class studies samples they collected during a trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Connecting biology and mathematics
Biology-mathematics class studies samples they collected during a trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Cloud Forest in Ecuador— Island Biology Travel-Learning class in 2017.
Cloud Forest in Ecuador
Island Biology Travel-Learning class in 2017.
Ohio Wildlife Center Internship— Karis Lowrie '18 with a red-tailed hawk named Naaka-Hay while interning at the Ohio Wildlife Center.
Ohio Wildlife Center Internship
Karis Lowrie '18 with a red-tailed hawk named Naaka-Hay while interning at the Ohio Wildlife Center.
Travel-Learning— Travel-Learning Course to the Galapagos Islands.
Travel-Learning
Travel-Learning Course to the Galapagos Islands.
Biology-Math Class— Collecting samples in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Biology-Math Class
Collecting samples in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Columbus Zoo Internship— Kelly Summers '17 studied dusting behavior of elephants.
Columbus Zoo Internship
Kelly Summers '17 studied dusting behavior of elephants.
Cloud Forest Ecuador— Island Biology class in Ecuador and the Galapagos.
Cloud Forest Ecuador
Island Biology class in Ecuador and the Galapagos.
Travel-Learning in Costa Rica— Serena George '19 studied the behavior and activity budgets of Costa Rican basilisks.
Travel-Learning in Costa Rica
Serena George '19 studied the behavior and activity budgets of Costa Rican basilisks.
Zoology Class with Professor Gangloff
Zoology Class with Professor Gangloff
Horseshoe Crabs— Student-faculty research team studying horseshoe crabs in the labs at OWU.
Horseshoe Crabs
Student-faculty research team studying horseshoe crabs in the labs at OWU.
2024 Island Biology Class— Exploring a lava cave in the Galapagos Islands.
2024 Island Biology Class
Exploring a lava cave in the Galapagos Islands.
Quito, Ecuador— Island Biology Travel-Learning class.
Quito, Ecuador
Island Biology Travel-Learning class.
Department Contact Info
Location
Schimmel/Conrades Science Center 201
Ohio Wesleyan University
Delaware, OH 43015
Ohio Wesleyan University
Delaware, OH 43015
Department Contacts
Chair: Dustin Reichard
Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences
Schimmel/Conrades Science Center 312
740-368-2890 | dgreicha@owu.edu
Academic Assistant: Angela Moore
Schimmel/Conrades Science Center 201
740-368-3907 | almoore@owu.edu
Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences
Schimmel/Conrades Science Center 312
740-368-2890 | dgreicha@owu.edu
Academic Assistant: Angela Moore
Schimmel/Conrades Science Center 201
740-368-3907 | almoore@owu.edu