Undergraduate Courses

Undergraduate BSc Degree in Zoology

Entry to undergraduate courses in Zoology by Irish students is through the CAO route into general Science (GY301). Specialist modules in Zoology are also available to students in years 2 to 4 of undergraduate degrees in Environmental Science (GY308), Marine Science (GY310), and Earth and Ocean Sciences (GY314) and to those on the Marine Science and Biology Study Abroad Programme.

Students pursing a degree in Zoology through Science (GY301), take the following specialist zoology modules. Full details of options availabe through Science (GY301) can be found in the Bachelor of Science handbook.

1st Year

Zoology makes up one quarter of the first year Biology module (BO101) giving all students a taster of what they can expect from Zoology in later years.

BO101: First year Biology

2nd Year

Core modules:

Students can progress to 3rd year Zoology if they take these 4 modules.

BO201: Molecular and Cell Biology (5 ECTS)
BO202: Evolution and the Tree of Life (5 ECTS)
ZO208: Invertebrate Biology (5 ECTS)
ZO209: Vertebrate Zoology (5 ECTS)

3rd Year

Students need to pass the 3 core modules and 3 options to progress to 4th year Zoology.

Core modules

ZO315: Applied Ecology (Semester II, weeks 7-12) (5 ECTS)
ZO317: Evolutionary Biology (Semester I, weeks 1-6) (5 ECTS)
ZO320: Concepts in Population and Community Ecology (Semester II, weeks 1-6) (5 ECTS)

Recommended Options

ZO318: Geographic information systems (Semester II, weeks 7-12) (5 ECTS)
ZO3101: Marine Habitats (Semester I, weeks 7-12) (5 ECTS)
AN223: Embryology and Development (Semester II, weeks 7-12) (5 ECTS)
EOS3103: Palaeontology and Evolution (Semester I) (5 ECTS)

Students may take BO3101: Developmental Biology in place of any of the above modules.

Students wishing to take EOS and Zoology pathways together at 3rd year must take the Zoology core modules plus ZO318, ZO3101 and EOS3101 as their Zoology options, together with the following EOS modules: EOS3104 Fieldskills training; EOS3101 Geological structures and maps; EOS303 Ocean dynamics; EOS305 Intro to Applied Field Hydrology; EOS323 Sediments & the Sedimentary record; EOS3102 Environmental & remote Sensing.

4th Year

The fourth year course includes an greater mixture of facilitated and independent learning. For example students carry out a research project (20 ECTS) and a literature review (10 ECTS). There are two core lecture only modules (each 5 ECTS); Marine and Coastal Ecology, and Phylogenetics and Conservation. In addition students complete Advanced Zoology topics during which students have to read a list of books suggested by staff, followed by sitting an open book exam. Integrative Zoology is another module where current topics are discussed by staff and students and students must complete a report based on these discussions. We also run an optional field course overseas. Fourth year is therefore a very dynamic year for students providing them with a set of advanced skills and involving them deeply in departmental life.

Core modules

ZO414: Advanced Zoology Topics (5 ECTS)
ZO415: Biometry (5 ECTS)
ZO416: Integrative Zoology (5 ECTS)
ZO417: Marine and Coastal Ecology (5 ECTS)
ZO418:Phylogenetics and Conservation (5 ECTS)
ZO4101: Final Year Project in Zoology (20 ECTS)
ZO425: Literature Review (10 ECTS)

In addition, the Practical Skills module, which takes place in Morocco, is highly recommended and taken by most students. The number of places on this module is limited to 20, and there is a cost associated with it.