Zoology

Brittney Haptonstall, a graduate of the University of Oklahoma.

The zoology major provides students with a broad foundation in the biology of animals. Students acquire thorough foundational training that is simultaneously flexible in allowing individuals to pursue more specialized interests.

Brittney Haptonstall, a zoology graduate, said a zoology degree is research oriented. Experiments are applied in the field to recover significant results to measure a species’ health.

“The curriculum for zoology majors at OU was designed largely to provide students with broad training in the key associated field of chemistry, while allowing considerable flexibility in choice among a wide array of biology courses,” said Douglas W. Mock, a G L Cross Research Professor.

Although the curriculum is flexible, the courses can be difficult.

“My intention is to design courses that are stimulating but a bit demanding,” Mock said. “Those who are talented, industrious, and relatively unencumbered by other distractions probably find them fairly easy. Others clearly find them frustrating. But what can you do?”

Professors expect certain things from their students.

“I expect them to work hard, placing their educations at the very top of the priorities list and to be truly curious,” Mock said.

Haptonstall studied about two hours a day while in school, but studied more if there were exams.

She said she enjoyed learning under her professors.

“The professors are pretty off the wall," Haptonstall said. "They’re not in it for the money, but for the need to know.”

Haptonstall attempted to be a business major her freshman year.

“I tried business for a semester," she said. "I couldn’t stay awake in my classes. I always liked animals, so zoology seemed the most interesting. I didn’t really have an end goal in mind at the time.”

Students can pursue a more specialized curriculum to correspond with career goals.

“It is a simple fact that a huge faction, something like 80 percent, of zoology majors proclaims themselves to be future MDs,” Mock said. “It is an equally simple fact that roughly half won't get into med school. It sounds like a cliché, but what really matters is that they learn to think. Career choices really should come after they've gotten farther along in that basic skill.”

Mock often quotes his wife’s motto to his students.

“The object of the game is not to dread Monday morning,” Mock said. “It is, therefore, my sincere hope that students will learn how to think critically and then gravitate into a career where they love what they do. Thinking comes first.”

Haptonstall will attend an internship at the Student Conservation Association in a month. The SCA hires teams of interns to work to remove invasive species and introduce native species into the environment.

“I would eventually like to work on government-sponsored research,” Haptonstall said.

In her free time, Haptonstall hangs with friends or exercises at the gym.

Brittney Haptonstall gazes at the campus before she must head home to prepare for her internship.

Letters

The Letters major is a traditional liberal arts major in which students take courses in history, literature, philosophy, and two languages. In many ways, it resembles the original college curriculum that everyone followed before the advent of majors in the early 20th century.

Andrea Golden, a Letters major and Chinese minor senior, defined a Letters degree as an all around degree based on classics and modern philosophy.

“Initially, I was an international business major,” Golden said. “But it wasn’t for me.” Golden changed her major to Letters.

“It sounded interesting,” Golden said. “I don’t regret my decision one bit.”

Professors expect certain things from their students.

Andrea Golden poses for a picture in the Burton Hall lounge.

“Regardless of their major, we expect students in our programs to develop their capacity for independent, critical thought,” said Samuel J. Huskey, academic chairman of the Department of Classics & Letters. “We also expect them to hone their skills in written and oral communication. Most of all, we expect them to develop the life-long intellectual habit of reading widely and thinking seriously about the humanities and their role in the modern world.”

“It teaches morality and virtue,” Golden said. “Those lessons carry on into life outside of class.”

Upper division classes are small, under 20 students. The professors expect the students to come to class. Many of them take attendance.

“I actually look forward to class,” Golden said. “I have never skipped a Letters class.”

The professors expect the students to discuss and debate issues in class.

“The discussion classes make you think about your own understanding versus social understanding,” Golden said.

Golden studies about two times a week. She has to write papers frequently, which takes her about four to six hours to complete each paper.

“It’s not about studying,” Golden said. “It’s about your ability to write a paper.”

The professors are dedicated to teaching students how to write to the best of their ability.

“The professors are really understanding,” Golden said. “One time, I lost a paper that was due the next day. I called my teacher’s home phone, crying. She understood, so she let me turn it in a day late. I got a C. But she let me redo it for an A.”

The professors expect you to be able to write and understand readings.

“We ripped apart the Twilight books,” Golden said. “We discussed why Ovid lasted so long, and how Twilight would disappear over time…we make fun of a lot of literature."

Samuel Huskey recently asked the alumni of the Classics and Letters degree programs to fill out a survey about what they have been doing since graduating from OU.

“They responded with a bewildering variety of job titles,” Huskey said. “Many of our alumni have become doctors and lawyers, but some have also gone on to careers in education, ministry, business, politics, the military, and many other professions.”

Golden plans to either go into law school in environmental law or teach English in China.

When Golden is not writing papers and attending class she is free climbing.

“Climbing is awesome,” Golden said. “I have a grappling hook. I wear a belt and harness. I’m like Batman.” She has climbed at Arrow Peak, Silverton, Colorado, and Castle Rocks, Idaho, as well at Rocktown Climbing Gym in Oklahoma City.

The sport can be dangerous, according to Golden.

“I get injured a lot,” Golden said. “I’m like Sally from the Nightmare Before Christmas. I’m constantly sewing myself back together.”

Andrea Golden climbs at Castle Rock, Idaho.

Decided vs. Undecided

Entering freshmen are pressured to choose a major without knowing what they want to do in the future.

“Going to college is pointless if you don’t know what you’re going to do,” said Breana Miller, an elementary education sophomore at the University of Oklahoma.

It’s overwhelming to choose from 150 majors that are offered at the University of Oklahoma just to put on the application form, Miller said.

It’s no wonder that about 80 percent of students change their major at least once, and on average, will change majors three times over the course of their college career, Janel Russell-Pendergraft, the director of academic advising at the University of Oklahoma, said.

This is why the University of Oklahoma offers major and career counseling at the Goddard Health Center, as well as career and personality tests to better match career interests with personal interests, according to the Goddard Health Center website.

Students are encouraged to take exploratory classes, participate in inventories designed to assess abilities and interests, and interact with academic counselors, Russell-Pendergraft said.

A lot of students will choose pre-health or pre-business when first entering college because those are the majors that students hear the most about and seem a safe choice, Russell-Pendergraft said.

“They feel the pressure to decide before they really decide,” Russell-Pendergraft said. “They think, ‘Well, with this major I can do anything,’ even if it’s not their passion.”

eDISCOVER and OKCIS are two of the web-based systems designed to help students choose a career that are available to all OU students through the University College and the Assessment and Learning Center. Stephen Crynes, the interim director of the assessment center, also offers career coaching.

Programs like eDISCOVER and OKCIS help the students to feel more informed and confident because they have more resources, Russell-Pendergraft said.

Some students choose their major early, while other students change their major more often.

“I didn’t want to feel like a slacker,” Miller said. “I felt that I never would have got a major if I didn’t choose immediately.”

Advisers at OU see some students more often than others. “We get approximately five to six students each semester that change their major each week,” said Jeanne Malson, an academic adviser.

For more information about choosing a major or career at the University of Oklahoma, see http://www.ou.edu/career/Students/CareerExploration/WhatCanIDoWithAMajorIn/index.html

For more information about counseling and testing services at the University of Oklahoma, see http://goddard.ou.edu/counselingservices.html