BSc Zoology

Zoology is the study of animal life at all levels, from genes and cells to populations and ecosystems, from individual behaviour to broad patterns of evolution and adaptation. At Reading we give you the opportunity to study the variety of animal life in all its richness. We believe that fundamental to an understanding of Zoology is an appreciation of the diversity of animal life so each year there are specialised modules introducing animals at all levels of complexity, from the simplest forms through to birds and mammals.

What will you study?

Year 1

Ecology: species and their interactions

Mammals: diversity, behaviour and conservation

Exploiters and exploited

Genes and chromosomes

The living cell

Practical field ecology

Introduction zoology

Students without AS or A level chemistry, or an equivalent qualification, are required to take: Fundamental concepts in chemistry

Optional modules

Including:

Introductory microbiology

Digestion and nutrition

Biochemistry and metabolism

Human physiology

Countryside and the environment

Plant diversity, structure and utilisation

Institution-Wide Language Programme

Year 2

Evolutionary biology

Vertebrate zoology

Invertebrate zoology

Animal behaviour

Introduction to entomology

Birds: diversity, behaviour and conservation

Statistics for life sciences

Professional career development

Zoology field course or Tropical biology field course

Optional modules

Including:

Life and death of a cell

Molecular biology of the gene: expression, function and analysis

Animal, plant and microbial development

Genetic data analysis

Immunology

Introduction to history and hilosophy of science

Endocrinology

Practical skills: recombinant DNA exercise

Year 3

Research project

Animal diversity

Optional modules

Including:

Conservation biology

Evolutionary genetics and hylogeny

Behavioural ecology and life istory theory

Research topics in ecology

Animal welfare

Wildlife in a farming environment

Biodiversity informatics

Mammalian reproduction

Forensic zoology

Principles and practice in iological control

Captive animal management

Cardiovascular disease

Viral pathogens

Neurobiology

Urban ecology