Undergraduate Program

Course Credit: 3

This course is intended to make students familiar with some basic principles, facts and fundamental rules of zoology and terminologies often used in zoology, which will help students to grasp the future learning as the undergraduate programme advances in the subsequent years of their study. The course focuses on how life came into being on earth, basis and facts of structural and functional organization in animal body, basis and scheme of animal classification, basic ideas on species, biodiversity, ecosystems, habitats and, energy flow through food chains. The course also highlights on animal survey and monitoring, methods and tools for collection of animals and their study, fauna of Bangladesh, protected areas and protected animals of Bangladesh. This course is also designed to give students an outline of various aspects and disciplines of zoology in order that the students can, from the very beginning of their study in the first year, understand what is about zoology, what aspects of zoology are taught and what scope and prospects of zoology teaching and research have in career build up.

Course Credit: 2

Protozoans are the simplest, but a diverse group of unicellular animals widely distributed all over the world. This group is fascinating to study as these perform all body functions within a single cell. Many of these animals are parasitic to human, domesticated and wild animals, and many involved in energy trapping. The course focuses on the detailed classification scheme of protozoans, type study of representative animals, highlighting functional systems, and reproduction. The course is designed to equip students with fundamentals of protozoology applicable in studying, managing and utilizing such creatures of economic and ecological importance.

Course Credit: 2

Phyla Porifera, Cnidaria and Ctenophora comprise more than 15000 known living species. These amazing animal groups exhibit different interesting life forms, peculiar anatomical features and diverse adaptive radiations. This course provides an opportunity to learn about the diversity, and structural and functional peculiarities of these groups of animals. Specifically, the course introduces the students with detailed classification scheme, based on morphological characters and anatomical features of different functional systems of the body by studying the representative animal of each phylum with an opportunity to study the comparative account among the different groups. The course also discusses the habit, habitat, reproduction and evolutionary significance of these animal groups.

Course Credit: 2

Platyhelminthes, the flatworms and the nematodes are two fascinating groups of animal with diverse life forms and anatomical peculiarities. Many of them are parasitic to animals, including the human, domestic and wild animals, and show a wide range of adaptive modifications. The course offers learning opportunities for the students on the ranges of diversity of the groups through studying classification, and morphological, anatomical and functional organization of the body by studying type animals, representing different classes under the two phyla. The course also provides a comparative account on different organ systems between and within each phylum. The course will also discuss the adaptive radiations and parasitic mode of life of the parasitic animals, habit and habitats, reproduction, importance and evolutionary significance of these two groups of animals.

Course Credit: 2

The Phylum Mollusca is a diverse and economically important amazing group of animals, comprising more than 100,000 species. The annelids are also a diverse and ecologically important group of animals with a different scheme of organization of the body and have got functional peculiarities. The course will expose the students to these two fascinating group of animals and offer learning opportunities on the diversity and biology of these two groups. In particular, the major focuses of the course include detailed classification of each of the groups, study of the structural and functional systems based on study of type animals, and aspects of their habitat, food and feeding, reproduction, adaptation and economic importance.

Course Credit: 2

Arthropods are the most diverse group of animals, comprising more than 80% of all known animals on earth. They exhibit a great variety of life forms and adaptations, have great evolutionary and economic significance and thus have been a subject of great interest to biologists. Echinoderms are also a highly specialized group, inhabit the marine environment. The course is intended to enhance students’ learning on the ranges of diversity of these groups of highly evolved animal. The major focuses of the course are on detail classification of both phyla, morphological and anatomical features of each functional system with their comparative accounts. The course will also discuss the habit and habitat, food and feeding, ecology, reproduction and development of these animals.

Course Credit: 1

Course Credit: 4

The intent of this practical course is to enhance students’ skills in the study of animals through laboratory based practical demonstration classes. One of the major focuses of this practical course is the study of museum specimens for identifying the common invertebrates based on their morphological characters. The demonstrations will allow the students to learn how to proceed with identifying an animal species. This course will also provide hands-on training to dissect, detach, distinguish and display different organs and organ systems of some representative invertebrate belonging to different groups of invertebrates to gain skills in investigating internal organs. Field tours will be organized for students to observe the animal species in and around Dhaka.

Course Credit: 2

Course Credit: 4

Course Credit: 4

Course Credit: 2

Animals of minor phyla often do not draw our attention as because these are less diversified groups in terms of species number. However, they are specialized and have great evolutionary significance. Animals of lower chordates are fascinating as they represent a transitional group between the invertebrates and vertebrate groups. The course focuses on classification, morphological characteristics, affinities and evolutionary significance of these animal groups.

Course Credit: 2

Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes, popularly known as finfish, constitute the major vertebrate fauna inhabiting both marine and freshwater environment. Because of its enormous economic importance and contribution to food security, these groups of animals have become the focus of modern studies. This course is designed to provide knowledge and understanding on the diversity and biology of the groups. Specifically, the course focuses on the detail classification of the groups and their morphological characters, structural and functional systems of representative type animals. The course also focuses on habit and habitat, food and feeding, reproduction and development of fishes. The course will help to produce biologists in the country with adequate knowledge on the subject area, capable of taxonomic identification of major groups of fishes.

Course Credit: 2

Amphibia and reptiles, also known as herpetofauna, are two important groups of vertebrate animals with an interesting evolutionary history and is a major focus of zoological study worldwide. This course introduces the students to the diversity and biology of these groups, particularly focusing on classification, morphology and anatomy of different functional systems of the body and a comparative account of the organ systems. The course will also introduce the student to ecology, food and feeding, parental care of different groups of these animals. The course offers learning opportunities for students to know about dinosaurs.

Course Credit: 2

As a major focus of the undergraduate course in zoology, the study of animal diversity progresses with knowing the animals from lower to higher taxa as the programme advances. This course introduces the students to the two highest categories of animal taxa, the birds and the mammals, with particular focuses on their classification schemes, morphological and anatomical features based on the study of two animals, one representing each of the groups. These are highly evolved groups and show fascinating adaptive radiations. The course also highlights on the habitat, habit, adaptation, behaviour, dispersal, animal migration to give the students a comprehensive understanding on the diversity, and structural and functional organization of these two groups of animals.

Course Credit: 2

The cell and its functions are the basis for the structural and functional organization of all life forms. Recent advances in cell research are enormous and unveil the ultra-structures, cellular functions and biosynthesis of basic macromolecules of life. This course deals with the biology of cells of higher organisms: structure and functions of cells, and biosynthesis of cellular membranes and organelles; cell growth; and transport, receptors, and cell signaling; the cytoskeleton, the extracellular matrix and cell movements. The course will also discuss the types and functions of tissues, histological make up of various organ systems, and organization of cells into various tissue and tissue systems.

Course Credit: 2

Developmental biology is a fascinating aspect of biological study that focuses on the embryological development of animal within an egg or in mother’s body. The embryonic development process passes through a number of distinct, but continuous stages displaying the ancestral history. This course specifically highlights the theories of embryonic development, and developmental stages, including cleavages, germ layer formation, cell differentiation and organogenesis until formation of a complete or incomplete life form. The course also offers the embryological studies of three model animals- Neries, chick and zebrafish. The course will also discuss about some recent innovations and applied aspects of developmental biology, including cryopreservation, embryonic stem cell, infertility and its treatments.

Course Credit: 2

Animal systematics is one of the essential basic branches of zoology which deals with scientific classification of all the existing living animals based on certain sets of characters for their easy identification. It provides an idea of its position in the phylogenetic tree of organisms showing their evolutionary relationship. This course introduces the students to the basic and fundamental principles, schemes and rules of animal classification, related to taxonomic collections, procedural steps in animal identification and describing and naming of a new species, type specimens, and taxonomic publications. The course is intended for students willing to develop professionalism in taxonomic study of animals.

Course Credit: 3

Economic Zoology sketches economic viewpoint of the animal world with emphasis on beneficial and harmful species, popular farming practices, animal-borne diseases and finally mitigation principles of integrated pest management. These, in turn, signify the approaches to the sustainable use of animal resources. There are enormous opportunities for using zoological objects for economic purposes and also controlling harmful ones to save the damages to economy caused by them. The course focuses on some of these opportunities from economic perspective.

Course Credit: 1

Course Credit: 4

Vertebrates represent a wide range of groups, including ichthyofauna, herpetofauna, avifauna and mammals and have always been a major focus of zoological study. This course offers learning opportunities about the vertebrate group based on practical demonstrations and hands on training in the laboratory. In particular, the course focuses mainly on the museum specimens study in order to facilitate knowing the animals and also developing skills in dissecting different functional systems of some representative animals, required for internal investigation. The course will also introduce the students to the embryological developmental stages of a representative animal taking chick as a type animal. The students will also undertake field tour to observe and identify vertebrate animals in the field conditions. Overall, this course is designed for students to explore and align the links between theoretical knowledge gained and practical skills needed for zoological study.

Course Credit: 2

Course Credit: 4

Course Credit: 4

Course Credit: 4

Phylogeny of the vertebrates is usually related to the evolutionary diversification and adaptive radiation of all vertebrate groups, including structure and function. Comparative morphology deals with the study of parts and structure, and the corresponding functions. This course examines the adaptive radiation, basic plan of different organ systems, anatomical similarities and modifications among different vertebrate classes to provide a comprehensive understanding on the diversifications in the structure and functions of vertebrate groups and their common ancestry in the evolutionary process.

Course Credit: 2

Genetics provides clue to the basis for life functions centering genes and advances in genetics have resulted in the control of diseases, improvement in animals’ functions and its productive uses in the industry. The sophistication of this branch of biological science has created enthusiasm and interest among students for studying genetics. This course will provide an understanding on the principles and concepts of animal genetics and a basic knowledge on genetics with the mechanism of inheritance of traits, transmission of genes in individuals and from one generation to the next. The course also provides a comprehensive package of learning of the structural organization of chromosomes and the genetic structure of population and also highlights on the practical application of genetics for human welfare. The course is designed to produce geneticists with adequate knowledge on the subject.

Course Credit: 3

Course Credit: 4

As a basic science, ecology informs us about the processes governing the patterns of nature. In fact, ecological processes are keeping the world functioning and are linked to all the life processes of all organisms, including the human, and has become a major focus of biological study. From an applied perspective, ecology provides insights and solutions to many of the environmental issues we face now-a-days. This course will provide students with insight and understandings on fundamental aspects of ecology with major focuses on ecosystems and its functions, biogeochemical cycles, biotic and abiotic interactions, energy flow through living systems, structure and functions of different habitat and biotic adaptations in it, and biotic associations and interactions. The course will also highlight on some advanced and applied aspects of ecology, including the population and community ecology, life table construction and ecological modeling.

Course Credit: 4

This course comprises three important and inter-linked disciplines of modern zoology - human physiology, reproduction and family planning, and population studies. Knowledge on physiology is crucial to study as it relates to body functions and provides the basis for diagnosis and treatment of illness. The focuses of the physiological study include digestion, excretion, respiration, circulation and maintaining homeostatis, muscle contraction, neural and hormonal regulation of body functions. The family planning part of the course introduces the students to the basis, methods and techniques of family planning. There is a mutual and strong relationship between the development and composition of a society’s population and changes in the economy, cultural values and institutions. The course will also introduce the students to basic techniques of demographic analysis, measures of mortality, fertility, marriage and migration levels and patterns. Life table, standardization and population projection techniques will also be explored.

Course Credit: 4

This course deals with the two important subject areas, Biostatistics and Research Methodology, and aims at developing student’s capability to design and conduct quality researches. The biostatistics part is designed to provide the student with knowledge, skills and understanding on the collection, summarization, analysis of data and interpretation of research findings. The research methodology part focuses on providing the students with the knowledge and skills required to competently undertake research assignments, and specifically highlights on developing research hypothesis and research questions and experimental design of researches, developing research methodology and setting strategies for implementation of research, and critical evaluation of research findings to arrive at a genuine conclusion and finally preparing the research reports and scientific papers

Course Credit: 4

Evolution, Zoogeography and Palaeontology are three fascinating inter-linked disciplines of biological sciences as these help us to explore how the diversity of the animals on earth evolved, how individual species formed with time and their past and present distribution pattern on the planet. The course will introduce the students to these fundamental natural processes that shape and govern the diversity in animal kingdom, changes in species and their distribution. The study of evolution includes the ideas, concepts and processes of evolution, species formation and the driving forces that dictate the formation of new species. The palaeontological part focuses on the processes of fossilization, paleontological evidences in support of the past history of evolving of some selected animals. Zoogeography part highlights the past and present distribution patterns of important animal groups on earth, factors and barriers that dictate this distribution pattern and also highlights the glaciation and continental drift, and their impacts on the distribution pattern of animals.

Course Credit: 2

Course Credit: 2

Course Credit: 8

Practical demonstration is a major focus of third year study and is aligned with the major theoretical courses taught in the third year of the BS program. The course is designed to equip the students with the practical knowledge and skills that are often applied in the field and offers a comprehensive package of practical learning opportunities in the diverse ranges of fields of biological sciences. In particular, the practical demonstrations will focus on microtomy techniques, water analysis, study of zooplankton and benthos, study of pest and parasites of economic importance, measuring some blood parameters, activities on classical genetics, animal behavior and applied biostatistics. In addition to practical demonstration classes, hands on training and field tours will be organized for the students.

Course Credit: 2

Course Credit: 3

Course Credit: 3

Course Credit: 3

The rapid degradation to biodiversity is a serious concern worldwide. Global and national efforts are in place to conserve biodiversity for attaining sustainable development and presently it is considered a priority area of biological science. The course provides a comprehensive package of learning opportunities centered on approaches, methods and tools for biodiversity conservation, assessment and monitoring of biodiversity, and legal regime that govern biodiversity conservation in Bangladesh. The course is designed to produce professionals in the country with adequate knowledge about the subject area, capable of assessing biodiversity, developing and implementing biodiversity conservation programmes.

Course Credit: 4

Entomology is a branch of zoology that deals with the study of insects and its interactions with the environment, other species and humans. Insects are the most diverse organisms on the earth; they are essential for the functions of most the ecosystems, particularly the terrestrial ecosystems. Much of our economic productivity depends upon insects, they also cause immense damage to agriculture and transmit some of the most common and lethal diseases. The objective of this course is to give a generalized idea centered on the above mentioned areas of entomology with particular focuses on the insect taxonomy highlighting the classification scheme of insects, diverse anatomical and morphological features across the groups, insect ecology, physiology, reproduction and developmental stages in insects. The course also focuses on some applied aspects of entomology, including the pest control, culture of insects for agricultural and other product purposes.

Course Credit: 4

This course provides students with some basic aspects of fisheries, emphasizing on systematics, biology, population dynamics, resource management, aquaculture, post harvest technology and fish diseases. Biological concepts of the course include morphology, behaviour, reproduction and life history strategies of fisheries species. It also covers the logistic and quantitative methodologies associated with undertaking a biological investigation into the population dynamics of a species. These assessments of fisheries species include reproductive biology, age determination, growth modeling, stock discrimination, population stock abundance and dietary analysis. This course will also introduce the students to a range of aquaculture practices of common cultureable finfish and shrimp species in the country, induced breeding techniques, broodstock management, common fish harvesting and processing techniques and practices.

Course Credit: 4

Study of wildlife and wildlife management has been a focus area of biological studies with the growing concern over rapid decline in wildlife worldwide. This course focuses on the four most evolved and highest classes of animals: Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves and Mammalia with particular concentration on the diversity in Bangladesh. This course also offers an abridged concept of wildlife management, Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act 2012 as well as of the protected areas of Bangladesh. The particular focuses of the course include classification of these four groups of animals, some aspects of wildlife biology, behaviour, ecology and their economic importance. The course also highlights the methods and tools for wildlife conservation and protected area management.

Course Credit: 4

Knowledge on general parasitology is essential to control parasitic diseases and public health since a vast majority of parasites share human and other animals as their host; transmit via contamination of our food and environment. The course particularly focus on basic idea of parasitology, host-parasite association, distribution of parasites, control of parasites and biology of common parasites of different groups of vertebrate animals including man. Basic understanding of Parsaitology and knowledge of common parasites are essential for students of Zoology, particularly useful to those who would like to specialized and develop career in Parasitology.

Course Credit: 4

Molecular genetics is a frontier science of the 21st century. This science combined with classical genetics has disclosed many biological phenomena and enabled us to alter genetic makeup of the organisms of our needs. The course is designed to help student learn the necessary details, concepts, selected techniques and problem-solving skills related to modern genetics. Specifically, the course will discuss about structure and functions of DNA and RNA, DNA replication, RNA transcription, regulation of gene functions, genetic engineering and some aspects of applied genetics. After completion of the course, the students will be equipped with appropriate knowledge and skills instrumental to contribute nationally and globally in academic research, sustainable industrial growth in the related fields like health, food, etc. and in biodiversity conservation.

Course Credit: 2

Course Credit: 8

The main purpose of this course is to provide students with practical knowledge and skills related to five areas of animal science, namely, entomology, fisheries, genetics and molecular biology, parasitology and wildlife biology. This will have broader implications and applicability in the relevant industry and academic research. The course is based on a number of practical demonstrations, hands-on training in the laboratory and field tours.

Course Credit: 2