A gateway to the animal kingdom

Zoology aims to understand the structure,classifications,behaviour, evolution and existence of animals. To be a part of this field, one has to study behaviour, characteristics and evolutionary trends of different species of animals and factors that have a direct impact on them.

Classical Zoology includes the study of animals from microbes to vertebrates, Physiology, Ecology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Developmental and Evolutionary Biology. Modern Zoology covers cell and molecular biology, Immunology, Biotechnology, Animal Behaviour and Chronobiology, Systems Biology and Computational Biology.

A Zoology student can opt for a number of specialisations like Anthrozoology, Arachnology, Conchology, Ethology, Entomology, Arthropodology, Apiology, Cetology, Mammalogy, Myrmecology and Ornithology.

In Delhi University, the BSc (Hons) Zoology under the CBCS scheme provides an opportunity for students to choose courses comprising 14 core papers, four Discipline-Specific Elective, General Elective (chosen generally from an unrelated subject like Environment and Public Health, and Food Nutrition) and Skill Enhancement courses (valuebased or skill-based courses aimed at providing hands-on training. Job-oriented papers like Fisheries, Sericulture and Apiculture). In addition to this, there is a mandatory Ability Enhancement Compulsory course that includes Environmental Science and English/MIL Communication).

Traditionally, the job opportunities for a zoologist were in academia — universities, research labs or as scientists in Zoological Survey of India. Now, TV channels like Discovery Channel, National Geographic and Animal Planet seek zoologists for research and documentaries.