Faculty of Science Zoology

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Faculty of Science

Table of Contents

1. Bachelor of Science (Degree with Honours)
2. Further information
Subject Lists
    Subject descriptions
        200-level subjects
        300-level subjects

How animals live and why they live that way are questions addressed by zoologists. Most of the Australian fauna are poorly understood or not even formally named, yet informed management and resource use of Australia's flora, fauna and habitats depend upon zoological knowledge. We need to catalogue what species exist and how they survive in their natural environments. This requires knowledge of their physiology, breeding and reproductive systems, ecology, evolution and behaviour.

Students enrolled in zoology subjects can learn a diversity of topics, ranging from the structure and function of the cells that make up animals, through anatomy and physiology, reproduction and development, evolution, ecology and behaviour. This knowledge is important for biomedical research, agricultural and fisheries practices, the management of natural resources, environmental planning and for understanding the natural world.

Graduates with majors in zoological subjects find employment in the public and private sector in a wide range of biomedical, environmental, fisheries and wildlife fields. Their studies provide students with specialised knowledge about animals and their environment, which will allow students in the workforce to make informed decisions, and/or to accumulate more knowledge by further research. Students will also gain experience with a variety of technical analytical equipment and obtain several generic skills, including the ability to:

• evaluate critically scientific evidence;

• develop research projects;

• organise and analyse data; and

• develop written and oral communication skills.

Zoology graduates have gained employment in secondary and tertiary education; museums; Federal and State instrumentalities, such as CSIRO, National Parks and Wildlife Service and State Departments of Natural Resources; organisations specialising in medical (eg. Department of Health, hospitals), biomedical, veterinary, agricultural, fisheries, aquaculture and industrial research; companies dealing with environmental, conservation and wildlife management; and the media (eg. ABC Natural History Unit). Additionally, you may wish to gain further research experience by undertaking a higher degree in zoology, which will provide you with opportunities to pursue independent research interests.

Students who are interested in zoology are strongly recommended to include a core of four zoology subjects in their selection of 200-level science subjects: 654-201, 654-202, 654-203 and 654-204. These provide an essential basis for completing many of the majors offered by the Department of Zoology. The majors cover the broad spectrum of zoological subjects and include:

• zoology;

• conservation and Australian wildlife;

• ecology;

• marine biology.

• reproduction and development

Students can add further breadth to their degree by undertaking a second major in environmental science, or other subjects offered by the Department of Zoology or other departments (eg. anatomy and cell biology; biochemistry and molecular biology; botany; earth sciences; genetics; anthropology, geography and enviromental studies; physiology; and psychology). You may also pursue your own research interests in zoology more extensively by enrolling in a Research Project subject.

Students who are interested in a particular subject but do not have all the prerequisites are encouraged to contact the coordinator of that subject. We recognised that students come to zoology from a wide range of backgrounds and we may waive prerequisites in some cases.

1. Bachelor of Science (Degree with Honours)

For information about the faculty and department entry requirements for honours, please refer to Bachelor of Science (Degree with Honours) and Bachelor of Information Systems (Degree with Honours). These requirements should be considered when planning your course.

2. Further information

More extensive subject descriptions and email addresses of subject coordinators can be found on the Zoology website.

Department of Zoology
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010
Tel: +61 3 8344 6244
Fax: +61 3 8344 7909
Web: http://www.zoology.unimelb.edu.au

Subject descriptions

200-level subjects

300-level subjects

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