Texas A&M University Graduate Catalog

• Academic Calendar
• Board of Regents
  & System Adminstrative
  Officers
• TAMU Administrative
  Officers
• Office of
  Graduate Studies
• General Information
• Degree Information
• Admission
• Registration & Academic Status
• Tuition, Fees &
  Other Financial Information
• Housing
• Orientation
• Resources for Students
• Texas A&M University at Galveston
• Course Descriptions
• School of
  Rural Public Health
• Faculty
• Appendices

Course Descriptions

Zoology

The aims of a PhD degree in Zoology are to train the student to do original 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 PhD 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 MS student must demonstrate competence in at least three of the above six areas at the time of final examination.

(ZOOL)

(faculty, see Department of Biology)

 

605. Principles and Methods of Systematic Biology. (3-3). Credit 4.

Evolutionary theory, sub-specific variation, speciation and phylogeny; evolutionary, cladistical and numerical taxonomy, methods and rules used in viral, bacteriological, botanical and zoological classification. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.

606. Terrestrial Ecosystems. (3-3). Credit 4.

Population and community structure and function in organization of terrestrial ecosystems, the worldwide pattern of major terrestrial ecosystems. Representative ecosystems studied in the field. Prerequisite: BIOL 357 or equivalent.

634. Comparative Neurobiology. (3-0). Credit 3.

Cellular, molecular and systems neurobiology, together with neuroethology. A comparative approach to subject matter is stressed. Topics such as evolution of nervous systems and their diverse structure and complex functions are dealt with.

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 formation of biogeographical provinces. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.

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 in the same semester.

685. Directed Studies. Credit 1 to 6 each semester.

Limited investigations in fields other than those chosen for thesis or dissertation.

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 674 Cellular and Molecular Aspects of Development and BIOL 689 Special Topics in...