| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-09-19 | - |
| 2024-01-01 | 2023-10-15 |
| 2024-05-02 | 2024-01-31 |
Program Overview
Course Overview
Our hands-on zoology course provides an understanding of wildlife monitoring techniques using professional equipment and covers a broad range of topics including evolution, ecology and conservation.
During your time with us you will have the opportunity to explore the local area and the many habitats it offers, such as the Eden River basin (close to our Carlisle Campus), the Lake District National Park and our wonderful Cumbrian coastline. On this zoology degree, you spend a substantial amount of time learning within the local habitats we have on our doorstep and where possible we choose to deliver experiential learning outdoors.
On this course you will...
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Program Outline
What you will learn
You’ll gain an understanding of wildlife monitoring techniques using professional kit, and cover a broad range of topics including evolution, ecology and conservation, with visits to a variety of habitats. Our strong links with animal and wildlife organisations provide excellent work placement opportunities, which means you could be studying anything from brown bears and snow leopards to sharks and dolphins.. There will be plenty of opportunity for voluntary work alongside organisations such as Cumbria Wildlife Trust, boosting your CV and giving you hands-on experience across a range of species including butterflies, adders and birds. Our practical focused course will equip you with not only the knowledge, but the real skills and confidence to be a great zoologist.
Year one
You'll start by gaining a broad view of zoological topics, including molecular and cellular biology, animal form and function, ecology and conservation practice which involves visiting the full range of habitats in the region in search of wildlife.
From this year, you will be able to demonstrate that you have the ability to apply a systematic approach to the acquisition of knowledge, underpinning concepts and principles and deploy a range of subject specific, cognitive and transferable skills; evaluate the appropriateness of different approaches to solving well defined problems and communicate outcomes in a structured and clear manner; identify and discuss the relationship between personal and work place experience and findings from books and journals and other data drawn from the field of study.
Complementing Invertebrate Biology, this module ensures that you have a full understanding of all of the animal groups that have ever lived. The evolution and unique physiological characters of each group will be covered in detail.
This module systematically reviews the invertebrates, highlighting the adaptations that have led to the success of each group. This module will give students the broad background knowledge of invertebrates that any professional zoologist requires.
This module will examine the interacting components of such ecosystems and their temporal and spatial dynamics. You will explore the processes by which populations evolve, how communities develop and are maintained, and the modern challenges our ecosystems face.
Students will study the range of ways in which animal species face certain basic issues; how to get oxygen; how to get, digest, process and ultimately excrete food; how to reproduce etc. Also, other challenges are faced by widely differing groups, such as escaping predators.
Provides opportunities to see some of the most significant and spectacular habitats and species found in the UK. Main features are visits to a range of conservation sites, opportunities to speak to those working in conservation and seminars to discuss what has been seen on the visits.
This module develops your skills as a scientist and gives you a firm footing in cellular and molecular biology, genetics and lab practice. In this module, you will also learn how to construct a lab report and communicate using appropriate scientific language.
Year two
From this year, you will be able to demonstrate that you have the ability to apply and evaluate key concepts and theories within and outside the context in which they were first studied; select appropriately from and deploy a range of subject-specific, cognitive and transferable skills and problem solving strategies to problems in the field of study and in the generation of ideas effectively communicate information and arguments in a variety of forms; accept responsibility for determining and achieving personal outcomes; and reflect on personal and work place experience in the light of recent scholarship and current statutory regulations.
This module will help to provide you with the skills required to conceive, design, conduct and interpret scientific research. You will be guided in developing your ability to evaluate a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods and when it is appropriate to use them.
Students will study how monitoring regimes are designed and then employ suitable methods to monitor a range of species “in the field”. These will include a range of species that are of conservation or economic significance increasing employability of students who complete the module.
An understanding of the behaviour of an animal species is fundamental to managing its requirements in captivity and in the wild. It will introduce students to concepts associated with the science of animal behaviour and considers how they can be applied to animal welfare and conservation.
The aim of the module is to explore the mechanisms that have generated today's patterns of biodiversity and it will foster appreciation for the importance of evolutionary thinking in unifying all of the life sciences.
For anyone wishing to pursue a career with animals or conservation in the UK, a good understanding of British Wildlife is essential. The module will focus on identification skills and how to observe wildlife. This involves learning the relevant aspects of each species' ecology and behaviour.
This module helps you develop and document a specialist field investigation relevant to your chosen programme of study. It allows you to learn and apply data analysis techniques and extend theoretical and practical knowledge through accessing specialist literature.
Year three
From this year, you will be able to demonstrate that you have the ability to critically review, consolidate and extend a systematic and coherent body of knowledge; critically evaluate concepts and evidence from a range of resources; transfer and apply subject-specific, cognitive and transferable skills and problem solving strategies to a range of situations and to solve complex problems; communicate solutions, arguments and ideas clearly and in a variety of forms; exercise considerable judgement in a range of situations; accept accountability for determining and achieving personal and group outcomes; and reflect critically and analytically on personal and work place experience in the light of recent scholarship and current statutory regulations.
To enable you to undertake an independent piece of in depth research into a topic of your choice. This module provides you with an opportunity to develop your research skills and gain valuable experience in project management.
Gives you a foundation in those practical and core skills in zoology that pertain to you being a professional zoologist. This module brings together the knowledge and skills that you have developed in your degree up until this point, but applying them to new frameworks (such as funding bids)
Introduces an evolutionary approach towards understanding why animals behave in certain ways. It seeks to explain why different animal behaviours have evolved and what advantages they confer in terms of individual fitness.
Explores the wide range of body forms, physiological adaptations and lifestyles that have led to the unrivalled adaptive radiation (speciation) of insects and parasites. You will learn skills for survey and identification reviewing a wide range of taxa.
Students will approach learning through a case-study/seminar/debate format in which you will be able to develop your critical thinking, analytical and communication skills in how animal behaviour can be applied to the conservation and management of animal populations.
The management of animal populations, be it for conservation, exploitation or control, requires an understanding of how populations and communities work. This module gives you a working knowledge of all of the principles and methods of Population Ecology common to Zoological studies.
