(E-mail: phebert@uoguelph.ca)
Graduate co-ordinator - James S. Ballantyne (379 Axelrod, Ext. 2708/8385) (E-mail: jballant@uoguelph.ca)
Graduate secretary - Mary Anne Davis (255 Axelrod, Ext. 6094)
(E-mail: mdavis@uoguelph.ca)
F. William H. Beamish BA, PhD Toronto - Professor
Jim P. Bogart BSA Toronto, MA, PhD Texas - Professor
Elizabeth G. Boulding BSc British Columbia, MSc Alberta, PhD Washington - Assistant Professor
Ronald J. Brooks BSc, MSc Toronto, PhD Illinois - Professor
George A. Bubenik MUDr Charles - Associate Professor
Teresa J.D. Crease BSc, MSc Windsor, PhD Washington - Assistant Professor
Roy G. Danzmann BSc, MSc Guelph, PhD Montana - Assistant Professor
Moira M. Ferguson BSc, MSc Guelph, PhD Montana - Associate Professor
John M. Fryxell BSc, PhD British Columbia - Associate Professor
David E. Gaskin BSc Bristol, PhD Massey - Professor
Paul D.N. Hebert BSc Queen's, PhD Cambridge, FRSC - Professor
Denis H. Lynn BSc Guelph, PhD Toronto - Professor
Gerald L. Mackie BSc, MSc, PhD Ottawa - Professor
Alexander L.A. Middleton BSc, MSc Western Ontario, PhD Monash - Professor
David L.G. Noakes BSc, MSc Western Ontario, PhD California - Professor
Thomas D. Nudds BSc, MSc Windsor, PhD Western Ontario - Professor
John C. Roff BA, MA Cambridge, PhD Newcastle - Professor
Michael E. Ruse BA, PhD Bristol, MA McMaster, Dr. Philos, H.C. (Bergen), FRSC - Professor
Steven R. Scadding BSc, MSc, PhD Toronto - Associate Professor
E. Donald Stevens BSc, MSc, PhD British Columbia - Professor
Vernon G. Thomas BA Oxford, MSc, PhD Guelph - Associate Professor
Glen J. Van Der Kraak BSc, MSc Manitoba, PhD British Columbia - Associate Professor
Patrick T.K. Woo BSc, MSc British Columbia, PhD Guelph - Professor
Patricia A. Wright BSc McMaster, PhD British Columbia - Assistant Professor
Peter Yodzis BSc Duke, PhD New Mexico State - Professor
Associated Graduate Faculty
Roy C. Anderson BSc Alberta, MA, PhD Toronto, Dip. Helm Paris - University Professor Emeritus
Eugene K. Balon RNDr, CSc Charles - University Professor Emeritus
D. George Dixon Bsc Sir George Williams, MSc Concordia, PhD Guelph - University of Waterloo
Robert J. Etches BSc (Agr) British Columbia, MSc McGill, PhD, DSc Reading - Adjunct Professor
John C. George BSc, PhD Bombay - University Professor Emeritus
Arthur H. Houston BSc McMaster, MA, PhD British Columbia - Adjunct Professor, Brock University
Sarah A. Jones BSc Nottingham, PhD Bristol - Mount Sinai Hospital Research Institute
John S. Millar BA, MA British Columbia, PhD Alberta - University of Western Ontario
Derek C.G. Muir BSc, MSc, PhD McGill - Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Winnipeg
Kelly R. Munkittrick BSc, MSc Guelph, PhD Waterloo - Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Burlington
Mark S. Ridgway BSc Miami, MSc British Columbia, PhD Western Ontario - Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
John B. Sprague BSc, MSc, PhD British Columbia - Retired
William D. Taylor BSc, PhD Toronto - University of Waterloo
John H. Youson BA Victoria, MSc McGill, PhD Western Ontario - University of Toronto
Special Graduate Faculty
McLaughlin, Robert L. BSc Queen's, MSc Windsor, PhD McGill - Research Associate
G. Fred Ramprashad BSc Western Ontario, MSc Guelph - Associate Professor
Watson, Alan P. BSc, MSc Guelph - Director, Arboretum
Admission Requirements
To be considered, applicants must meet the requirements of a four-year honours science degree with a minimum 'B' (73%) average during the final two years (4 semesters) of undergraduate study. Applicants must obtain the support of a faculty member willing to serve as their thesis adviser. For more information regarding this requirement, applicants should consult the section titled "How to Apply to Graduate School" in the department's booklet Research in Zoology, available from the office of the graduate secretary of Zoology.
Under exceptional circumstances, an applicant with a 'B-' (70-72%) average during the last 2 years (four semesters) of study may be considered for admission. Such applicants must have outstanding letters of recommendation that provide strong evidence of potential research capability and a strong endorsement from a potential thesis adviser.
Admission may be granted in September, January or May. Completed applications should arrive in the department at least one full semester (four months) before the expected date of admission. Applications from international students, especially those applying for financial support, should arrive at least eight months prior to the expected date of admission.
Degree Requirements
Students must complete and defend an acceptable thesis. In addition, they must successfully complete courses totalling not fewer than 1.5 credits.
An acceptable MSc thesis comprises a scientifically defensible account of the student's research on a particular, well-defined research problem or hypothesis. (Such research should begin with the practical expectation that it could be completed and the thesis defended in not more than six semesters.) Paramount to the notion of acceptability of the thesis is its quality with respect to the underlying rationale (problem identification), the approach used to address the problem, and the evaluation of the results. Final acceptance of the MSc thesis need not imply that the work is sufficiently meritorious to warrant publication in scholarly media, though the majority of MSc research in the department is published.
The department endorses the idea that graduate students in zoology should benefit from exposure to recent developments both within and between the major areas of emphasis. To that end, students may enrol in any of the regularly offered courses entitled "Advances in ...", which are team-taught by several faculty members . A selection of subjects is given in each of the course descriptions below. Details of course content, format and evaluation will be available in the office of the chair of the department one semester prior to the semester in which the course is offered. In addition, the department offers two "Topics in..." courses to provide students with the opportunity to study with individual faculty on specific topics in the faculty member's area of expertise. These courses may be taken by groups as either reading/seminar courses, or on an individual research-project basis. Students should approach individual faculty members to request supervision on individual research project courses; faculty members may be petitioned by students to offer, or may advertise, "Topics in..." courses at least one semester prior to the semester in which the course is to be offered.
Admission Requirements
The admission and degree requirements of the PhD program are essentially those of the university. Most applicants will have a recognized master's degree in a related field obtained with minimum academic standing of 'A-' (80%) in their postgraduate studies, and the endorsement of a potential thesis adviser. For more information about this last requirement, applicants should refer to the department's booklet Research in Zoology, available from the graduate secretary of Zoology. Under exceptional circumstances admission directly to a PhD program with an appropriate honours degree alone, or transfer from MSc to PhD program without completing the MSc thesis requirements, is also possible. Applications should be received at least one full semester (four months) prior to the expected date of admission. Applications from international students, especially those applying for financial support, should arrive at least eight months prior to the expected date of admission.
Degree Requirements
The Department of Zoology expects that the major part of the student's time will be devoted to research in fulfilment of the thesis requirement. For that reason, the department does not require that PhD students take any courses. Even so, advisory committees may, from time to time, require that a student take some prescribed or additional courses. Regardless, PhD students are expected to contribute and participate actively in the full academic life of the department, including regular attendance at departmental and inter-departmental seminars, and to provide leadership and counselling to undergraduate and MSc students.
PhD students will become candidates for the PhD degree upon successful completion of an oral qualifying examination, which must be conducted not later than the fifth semester of the PhD program. The exam evaluates students' knowledge in the general area of the intended research.
Candidates will spend not fewer than five semesters (seven without an MSc) in the program, and are expected to complete their studies within 11 semesters.
Submission and defence of an acceptable thesis complete the requirements for a PhD. An acceptable thesis comprises a report of the candidate's research on a particular and well-defined research problem or hypothesis. It should represent a significant contribution to knowledge in that field. Emphasis is placed on the quality of the work as judged by the expression of mature scholarship, critical judgment, and satisfactory literary style in the thesis. Thesis approval implies that it is judged sufficiently meritorious to warrant publication in reputable, refereed journals in its field.
The Department of Zoology participates in the MSc program in aquaculture. Those faculty members whose research and teaching expertise includes aspects of aquaculture may serve as advisers for MSc (Aquaculture) students. Please consult the Aquaculture listing for a detailed description of the MSc (Aquaculture) interdepartmental program.
Biophysics MSc/PhD Program
The Department of Zoology participates in the MSc/PhD program in biophysics. Those faculty members whose research and teaching expertise includes aspects of biophysics may serve as advisers for MSc and PhD students in biophysics. Please consult the Biophysics listing for a detailed description of the graduate programs offered by the Biophysics Interdepartmental Group (BIG).
Toxicology MSc/PhD Collaborative Program
The Department of Zoology participates in the MSc/PhD program in toxicology. Those faculty members whose research and teaching expertise includes aspects of toxicology may serve as advisers for MSc and PhD students. Please consult the Toxicology listing for a detailed description of the MSc/PhD collaborative program.
- 9206020 Advances in Evolutionary Biology (0.5)
- This modular course reviews books and/or other publications in the field of
evolutionary biology, providing knowledge of progress in this area of biology. Topics may
include epigenetics, phylogenetics, developmental basis of evolutionary change, and molecular
evolution. The course includes lectures and seminars in which the students participate. Offered
annually.
Physiology
- 9206010 Advances in Physiology (0.5)
- A modular course format in which several faculty members lecture and/or lead
discussion groups in tutorials on advances in their areas, or related areas, of physiology. Topics
may include metabolic adaptation to extreme environments, behavioural and molecular
endocrinology, and exercise and muscle physiology. The course includes lectures and seminars in
which the students participate. Offered annually.
Ecology and Behaviour
- 9206000 Advances in Ecology and Behaviour (0.5)
- This is a modular course in which several faculty lecture and/or lead discussion
groups in tutorials about advances in their broad areas, or related areas, of ecology and
behaviour. Topics may include animal communication, optimal foraging, life-history evolution,
mating systems, population dynamics, niche theory and food-web dynamics. The course includes
lectures and seminars in which the students participate. Offered annually.
General
- 9206070 Topics in Advanced Zoology I (0.5)
- 9206080 Topics in Advanced Zoology II (0.5)
- 9206080 Topics in Advanced Zoology II (0.5)
- These courses provide graduate students, either individually or in groups, with the
opportunity to pursue topics in specialized fields of zoology under the guidance of graduate
faculty. Course topics will normally be advertised by faculty one semester prior to their offering.
Courses may be offered in any of lecture, reading/seminar, or individual project formats. A
minimum enrolment may be required for some course offerings.
- 9206550 Aquaculture (0.5)
- Examination of the history, practice and future of aquaculture with special
reference to the application of biological principles and knowledge to the production of aquatic
organisms for food and other uses.
- 9206630 Seminar in Scientific Communication (0.5)
- The development and refinement of the skills of communication (oral and
written).
- 9206640 Research Seminars in Zoology (0.25)
- Participation in a regular departmental seminar series including a presentation.
