Zoology (BSc (Hons)) at University College Cork

Zoology covers all aspects of animal life. This wide-ranging scientific area plays an important role in modern developments in biotechnology, genetics, animal behaviour and physiology, parasitology and ecology.

Zoology is a core discipline for the biological sciences and for the environmental and earth-system sciences, and is fundamental in applied fields such as environmental biology, pest and disease management, aquaculture and fisheries.

Students will learn about all animal biology, from microscopic, single-celled forms to complex forms such as fish, reptiles, birds and mammals, including man. It is mainly concerned with living species, of which more than one million are described and up to 10 million are as yet undescribed. But knowledge of extinct forms, covering 350 million years of evolution, is also important.

The study of zoology at UCC includes animal structure (anatomy and physiology), development (embryology), diversity (taxonomy), physiology, behaviour, ecology, genetics, evolution, and distributions (biogeography).

Zoology is a wide-ranging scientific area covering all aspects of animal life. It is a core discipline for the biological sciences and environmental and earth system sciences, and it plays an important role in modern developments in biotechnology, genetics, animal behaviour and physiology, parasitology, and ecology. It is also fundamental in applied fields such as environmental biology, pest and disease management, aquaculture and fisheries. 

Placement or Study Abroad Information

The School of BEES operates an exchange system mainly with North American universities that allows students to substitute a year abroad for year 3 in UCC. A work experience module is also available to year four students, enabling you to spend six to ten weeks in a structured working environment where you are evaluated both on your contribution to the placement institution and by a report on your experience.

Skills and Careers Information

A BSc (Hons) Zoology degree provides you with a sound scientific knowledge of animal biology and the necessary skills and qualifications for a career in a wide range of biological disciplines. Skills include data handling, chemical and biochemical laboratory-based analytical techniques and field techniques for environmental monitoring. Our Zoology graduates are well equipped for careers ranging from field-based environmental research, conservation and management, agriculture and pest control, and aquaculture and fisheries to more laboratory-based disciplines such as genetics, biochemistry, pathology and toxicology. Job opportunities exist in research, management, or consultancy posts at universities, government agencies or in private companies. A zoological training is also relevant for other biological disciplines, in industry, and in teaching.