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.