Zoology with Placement Year MBiolSci

Program Overview

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This five-year program offers a comprehensive exploration of zoology, including biodiversity, conservation, animal behavior, and climate change. Hands-on learning opportunities, a paid placement year, and research projects prepare students for various careers in the field or further studies. Taught by world-renowned academics, graduates gain research skills and practical experience, and are highly sought after by employers for their scientific expertise.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

This five-year program, culminating in a Master's degree, offers a comprehensive exploration of zoology, encompassing biodiversity, conservation, animal behavior, genetics, physiology, and the impact of climate change. The program emphasizes hands-on learning through laboratory practicals, field research projects, and field courses. Students gain invaluable research experience in their final year, working alongside world-leading academics. A key feature of the program is the placement year, providing students with practical experience in industry, government, or the charity sector. This placement year allows students to test out a career path, acquire valuable skills, and potentially secure a graduate-level job.

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Objectives:

The program aims to equip students with a deep understanding of zoology, including:

• Animal function and behavior
• Biodiversity conservation
• Evolutionary processes
• The impact of climate change
Students will develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and research skills, preparing them for a variety of careers in the field.

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Outline:

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Year 1:

• Core Modules:
• Zoology: Introduces the scientific study of animals, covering physiology, reproduction, development, form, and function of invertebrates and vertebrates.
• Animal Behaviour: Explores the evolution, function, ontogeny, and causation of behavior, including sexual, foraging, and social behavior.
• Evolution: Covers evolutionary patterns from the geological past to the present, investigating mechanisms of selection, adaptation, and speciation.
• Skills in Biology: Introduces fundamental scientific practices, including lab skills, experimental design, data analysis, writing, and presentation skills.
• Optional Modules:
• Ecology and Conservation: Introduces ecological concepts and conservation principles, covering factors controlling species abundance and distribution, biodiversity, and habitat management.
• Molecular Biology: Explores molecular processes involved in genetic information storage, expression, and inheritance.
• Climate Change and Sustainability: Covers the causes, impacts, and management strategies related to climate change and sustainability.
• Introduction to Physiology with Pharmacology: Introduces human physiology and pharmacology, examining the functioning of cells, tissues, and organs, and how they are affected by disease and drugs.
• Biochemistry 1: Provides an introduction to biochemistry, examining the molecules involved in chemical reactions within cells.
• Plant Science: Explores the scientific study of plants, covering diversity, form, reproduction, photosynthesis, nutrient acquisition, and interactions with microbes.
• Introductory Developmental, Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology: Covers life cycles of animal model systems, cell differentiation during development, regenerative biology, wound healing, and stem cell biology.
• Microbiology 1: Introduces the diversity of microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, unicellular eukaryotes, and viruses, examining their structure, function, and role in everyday life.
• Genetics 1: Covers the principles of genetics, exploring gene transmission, genetic exchange, mutations, gene mapping, and the genetic basis of diseases.
• Ecological identification skills: Provides training in identification and research skills for ecological fieldwork, covering plant and invertebrate groups and associated ecological issues.

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Year 2:

• Core Modules:
• Invertebrates: Explores the major invertebrate phyla, discussing their structure, function, and way of life.
• Behavioural Ecology: Introduces behavioural ecology, focusing on the adaptive significance of behaviours, including foraging, reproductive behaviour, mating systems, and communication.
• Vertebrates: Explores the major vertebrate phyla, discussing their structure, function, and way of life.
• Skills in Biology II: Develops scientific method, research skills, experimental design, data analysis, critical evaluation, writing, and presentation skills.
• Optional Modules:
• Biological Field Skills: Provides training in ecological fieldwork, including habitat exploration, species identification, and ecological study methods.
• Talking the Talk: Getting science on Film: Introduces science communication through video-making, covering technical information translation, project development, and video production skills.
• Biostructures, Energetics and Synthesis: Examines the structures and functions of proteins, catabolic and anabolic pathways, biosynthesis of amino acids and nucleotides, biological membranes, and photosynthesis.
• The Green Planet: Plants, food and global climate change: Explores plant growth, development, interactions with the environment, and the challenges of providing a secure food supply in a changing environment.
• Pharmacology: Covers drug action at the cellular level, pharmacokinetics, drug discovery, and the development of therapeutics.
• Conservation Principles and Realities: Introduces conservation biology, discussing conservation objectives, tools, concepts, and management solutions for biodiversity.
• Evolutionary Biology: Covers major concepts in evolutionary biology, including the origins of variation, adaptation, natural selection, and the evolution of genes, genomes, populations, and species.
• Developmental Neurobiology: Examines the principles underpinning development of the vertebrate nervous system, focusing on model organisms and their relevance to human development.
• Microbiology 2: Covers bacterial physiology, genetics, virulence, and therapeutics, building on microbiology topics from earlier modules.
• Genetics 2: Builds on Genetics 1, covering eukaryotic genetic systems, genetic analysis, genetic mapping, extranuclear inheritance, human diseases, and ethical considerations associated with genome editing.
• Population and Community Ecology: Provides an overview of population and community ecology, covering factors influencing population growth, species coexistence, biodiversity patterns, and ecosystem function.
• Biochemistry 2: Provides an advanced treatment of biochemistry, covering enzyme function, reaction mechanisms, ligand binding kinetics, and drug development.
• Physiology of Cells and Systems: Covers advanced physiological concepts of cells and systems, examining ion channels, transport proteins, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, nervous and muscular systems, and pharmacological treatments of disease.
• Advanced Developmental Biology: Introduces key principles of embryonic development, focusing on molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying cell differentiation and organ formation.
• Philosophy and Ethics of Bioscience: Explores ethical issues in bioscience, examining concepts such as privacy, ownership, regulation, and public understanding of science.
• Ecosystems and Sustainability in a Changing World: Explores human impacts on marine and terrestrial ecosystems, considering energy, carbon cycling, climate, soils, nutrients, fire, and biodiversity.
• Palaeobiology: Examines recent developments in palaeobiology, demonstrating how fossils are used to generate theories about the history of life.
• Biology of Stem Cells, Ageing and Cancer: Covers stem cell biology, ageing, and cancer, examining the mechanisms that drive tumour formation.
• Neural circuits, behaviour and memory: Provides a broad understanding of neuroscience, covering neurophysiology, molecular biology, model organisms, and simple behaviours.

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Year 3:

• Industrial Experience: Students spend a year on a paid work placement in industry, charities, or government.

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Year 4:

• Core Modules:
• Topics in Modern Zoology: Develops knowledge of topical issues in modern zoology and skills in accessing, interpreting, and synthesizing scientific literature.
• Literature Review: Consolidates skills and knowledge gained in earlier levels of study, involving a comprehensive literature review on a key biological question.
• Research Project: Provides a capstone research experience, involving planning, execution, data analysis, and communication of findings in a research publication format.
• Optional Modules:
• Biological Laboratory Research: Provides hands-on experience with molecular biology and genomics techniques.
• Biological Field Research: Provides field research experience in a range of environments, including habitat exploration, data collection, experimental design, and data analysis.
• Evolution of Terrestrial Ecosystems: Examines the evolution of terrestrial ecosystems from the Ordovician period to the present day.
• Evolutionary Ecology: Explores the interplay between ecology and evolution, focusing on the role of ecology in driving phenotypic evolution and divergence.
• Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: Highlights threats to global sustainability, focusing on food production and ecosystem functioning, and considering sustainable management strategies.
• Human Planet: Examines the historical, social, cultural, and political dimensions of sustainability, focusing on food production and natural resource management.
• Topics in Evolutionary Genetics: Covers current research areas in evolutionary genetics, including the analysis of recent publications.
• Human Evolutionary Genetics: Explores how genomics has shaped our understanding of human evolution, covering topics such as human colonization, Neanderthal hybridization, genetic disorders, and past episodes of selection.
• Future Plants: From Laboratory to Field: Explores current research themes in plant biology, examining how fundamental plant science can be translated into real-world applications.
• Cooperation and Conflict: Studies the characteristics and implications of cooperation and conflict among animals in various contexts.
• Topics in Modern Ecology: Develops knowledge of topical issues in modern ecology, including data and theory related to real-world ecological questions and problems.

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Year 5:

• Core Modules:
• Advanced Literature Review: Retrieval and Evaluation of Scientific Information: Develops skills in reading, understanding, and critically analyzing scientific literature relevant to a research project.
• Extended Research Project: Provides an extended period of research work, involving experimental techniques, record keeping, and writing up.
• The Scientific Cycle: Provides training in generic skills necessary for a research career in biology, including literature analysis, peer-review, and grant proposal writing.

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Assessment:

Assessment methods vary throughout the program and include:

• Exams
• Tests
• Presentations
• Coursework
• Practical work

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Teaching:

• Methods:
• Lectures
• Small group tutorials
• Fieldwork
• Practical lab sessions
• Research projects
• Faculty:
• The program is taught by world-leading academics who are actively involved in research.
• Unique Approaches:
• Research-embedded teaching ensures students gain knowledge and understanding from the forefront of zoology and across the breadth of bioscience.
• The placement year provides students with practical experience in industry, government, or the charity sector.

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Careers:

• Potential Career Paths:
• Biodiversity conservation
• Sustainability
• Data science
• Education
• Research
• Industry (e.g., pharmaceutical, biotechnology)
• Government
• Non-profit organizations
• Opportunities:
• Graduates are sought after by employers for their scientific skills, knowledge, and practical experience.
• The placement year provides valuable work experience and networking opportunities.
• Outcomes:
• Graduates are well-prepared for a variety of careers in the field of zoology and related disciplines.
• Students have access to world-class laboratory and computing resources for biological research.
• The School of Biosciences is home to state-of-the-art facilities, including the Medical Teaching Unit, the Alfred Denny Museum of Zoology, and a controlled environment facility.
• The program offers a range of optional field courses, providing students with opportunities to study ecosystems around the world.
• The University of Sheffield has a strong reputation for supporting student success and providing a vibrant and supportive learning environment.

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Tuition fees

Home students 2024 annual tuition fee: £9,250 Overseas students 2024 annual tuition fee: £29,110