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Undergraduate Courses

Why Study Zoology ?

Zoology is the science dealing with the structure, function, behaviour, history, classification, and distribution of animals. It is fundamental to many aspects of biological science and technology in today's world, and impacts on Agriculture, Aquaculture, Fisheries, Wildlife Management, Environmental Protection and Conservation.

Zoology (Biology) in First Science

Students intending to study Zoology at NUI Galway must take Biology and Chemistry as two of their first-year subjects. Biology, the science of life, includes:

• an elementary study of cells and tissues, including reference to fine structure
• an outline course in morphology, reproduction, embryology, classification and ecology
• introductory genetics, physiology and biochemistry
• a study of ancestral forms of life

The practical sessions are designed to give students an opportunity of familiarizing themselves with a range of material relating to selected topics from the lecture course.

Zoology in Second Science

The Zoology course in Second Science includes a systematic study of the principal invertebrate and vertebrate groups, covering aspects of their morphology, physiology, reproduction, development and ecology. Other areas covered in the course include statistics, molecular biology, and immunology.

The 1st lecture of the 2012/2013 academic year takes place at 11am on Monday Sept 3rd 2012, in the lecture theatre in the MRI Annex (near Ward's shop entrance to the University). 

Zoology Third Science (B.Sc. Degree - general - 24 credits)

The core Zoology course in third year includes a detailed study of the evolution, development and ecology of animals.

The first semester deals with developmental biology and the evolution of development. It will start with a general introduction into animal development and the molecular mechanisms that act during these processes. It will be followed by developmental neurobiology and the evolution of developmental mechanisms.

The second semester deals with topics related to animal ecology as follows:

Organisms in Physical Environment - we will examine how the physical elements of the environment (e.g. temperature, light, water, substrate type) can influence the ecology of animals. Case studies will be examined in detail - e.g. how mammals cope with low ambient temperature, and prolonged diving by marine mammals. An examination of Ireland's mammal community, focusing on species considered to be peststand those in need of conservation and the wildlife management tools used to maintain biodiversity in Ireland and further afield. Population fluctuations and cycles - the causes of changes to carrying capacity for species within a habitat and how these fluctuations can become periodical, leading to population cycles. Biotic interactions and competition - the forms of interaction that can occur between species in an ecosystem, focusing on competition and the competitive exclusion principle.

Populations as an ecological level of organisation; elements of population structure, including spatial structure and it’s significance for populations; genetic structure and how this is linked with population size; age structure including how this affects population growth and decline; population regulation and why populations do not grow out of control including density-dependent and density-independent regulation of population growth.

Requirements for admission to Fourth Science

To gain admission to the fourth year Zoology course (B.Sc. honours course) students must have attained a standard in Zoology satisfactory to the College of Science at second and third year levels.

Fourth Year Programme in Zoology (B.Sc. Degree - honours)

The fourth year course includes an advanced treatment of aspects of many of the topics covered in the third year course. Each student will be expected to do research work on some given project and to present the results in seminar and thesis form.

 

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