Undergraduate Subjects - For degrees commenced prior to 2008
First Year Subjects
At first year level, you will need to undertake the following two core subjects in order to be able to undertake second or third year subjects in Zoology, and to complete a Zoology related major such as Marine Biology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Environmental Science or Zoology.
- BIOL10004 Biology of Cells and Organisms (12.5 points)
- BIOL10005 Genetics & The Evolution of Life (12.5 points)
In addition, first year studies in Chemistry are recommended but not required. This means that a grounding in first-year Chemistry will be extremely helpful, but is not essential for later study in Zoology.
- CHEM10003 Chemistry 1 (12.5 points)
- CHEM10004 Chemistry 2 (12.5 points)
For students wishing to specialise in Zoology, the additional first-year Biology subject is highly recommended
- BIOL10001 Biology of Australian Flora & Fauna (12.5 points)
Elective options include selected subjects offered by Earth Sciences, Geography, History & Philosophy of Science, Mathematics & Statistics, Optometry, Physics and Psychology.
All first year practical classes and tutorials for our first year subjects are conducted within the Biology Laboratory. For more information about Biology at the University of Melbourne including the laboratory facilities click here.
Second Year Subjects
In second year, we offer three core subjects:
Semester 1
- ZOOL20005 Animal Structure and Function (12.5 points)
Semester 2
- ZOOL20006 Comparative Animal Physiology (12.5 points)
- ECOL20003 Ecology (12.5 points)
In addition, we offer elective specialist zoology subjects in Semester 1:
- ZOOL20004 Australian Wildlife Biology (12.5 points)
- EVSC20004 The Blue Planet (12.5 points)
Third Year Subjects
In third-year, there are Zoology subjects offered in all three semesters; Summer, Semester 1 and Semester 2. These are listed below:
Summer Semester
- ZOOL30008 Experimental Marine Zoology (12.5 points)
Semester 1
- ZOOL30007 Experimental Animal Behaviour (12.5 points)
- ZOOL30004 Evolution and the Human Condition (12.5 points)
- ECOL30006 Ecology in Changing Environments (12.5 points)
- ZOOL30006 Animal Behaviour (12.5 points)
- SCIE30001 Research Project (12.5 points)
Semester 2
- ZOOL30009 Field Biology of Australian Wildlife (12.5 points)
- BIOL30001 Reproduction (12.5 points)
- ECOL30005 Applied Ecology (12.5 points)
- SCIE30001 Research Project (12.5 points)
The following subjects are taught in collaboration with other departments:
- CEDB30002 Concepts in Cell and Developmental Biology (12.5 points, Semester 1)
- CEDB30003 Developmental Biology (12.5 points, Semester 2)
- EVSC30002 Problem Solving in Environmental Science (12.5 points, Semester 2)
Majors in Zoology
All students who have enrolled in the BSc, BASc or BSc combined courses are required to complete 50 points of a prescribed science major at the third (3000) year level. Students who have an interest in 3000-level Zoology subjects can major in one of several majors (listed below), and take additional subjects taught by this or other teaching departments. Each major prescribes a plan of subjects that take into account any pre-requisites.
Choosing a major can be daunting if you are not entirely sure what you want to do. We recommend the Zoology major if you have broad interests, since this major provides the most flexible option for zoological subjects.
It is worth remembering...
A major specifies no more than half the maximum number of points you can undertake in any year. This means that the remaining points can be made up from a combination of other subjects of your choice. It is possible, but not a requirement, to do more than one major, or to co-major in Biotechnology, Environmental Science or History and Philosophy of Science. The Faculty of Science entry in the Undergraduate Handbook provides more details about Majors.
The Department of Zoology has a primary teaching role in the following majors. Click on the zoology major of interest for a subject course plan.
- Zoology: Provides the greatest flexibility and choice of zoological subjects
- Conservation and Australian Wildlife: Provides an emphasis on conservation biology and the biology of the Australian fauna, with a consideration of management practices
- Ecology: Provides an emphasis on population and community ecology of animals and plants, with some focus on marine systems
- Environmental Science: This co-major, which provides analytical skills in environmental studies, must be undertaken in conjunction with another major
- Marine Biology: Provides an emphasis on the biology of marine plants and animals, with a particular focus on marine ecology
- Reproduction and Development: Provides an emphasis on the reproductive and developmental biology of animals.
If you are interested in undertaking further studies in Zoology, our department has an active research programme in the following areas:
- Animal behaviour and evolution
- Conservation and Australian wildlife biology
- Marine ecology and physiology
- Marsupial reproduction and development
Research may be concerned with animals in their natural environments, in the laboratory, or a combination of the two. Modern biology uses molecular techniques, sophisticated instrumentation and information technology to study all levels of organisation, from the cell through to animal populations and communities. We also emphasise an objective and quantitative experimental approach, so the use of modern analytical and statistical techniques form an important aspect of zoological research training.