BSc Hons Zoology

BSc (Hons.) Zoology is a three-year undergraduate degree programme that puts emphasis upon the study of animals and their constituent parts. This course is quite popular among science students and is very demanding at the same time. Students who wish to pursue research in this field usually opt for this course during their undergraduate studies.  The students who want to pursue BSc (Hons.) in Zoology course must have completed their Class XII or an equivalent examination from a recognized board in the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as the main subjects. 

Students who aspire to study animal biology can benefit to a large extent from a Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Zoology. The three-year BSc (Hons.) in Zoology sets forth education on the diversity of animal life and development as well as their genetic structures and compositions. However, to study this course at the undergraduate level, the students must meet the eligibility criteria for BSc (Hons) in Zoology course. Both private and government colleges offer admission in BSc (Hons.) in Zoology courses. BSc (Hons.) The zoology course syllabus is extensive and covers all aspects of zoology spread across six semesters or three years in most of the colleges in India. 

BSc (Hons.) Zoology course is a hands-on practical training program that provides decent employment opportunities to the students. A bachelor’s in Zoology honours course is enriched with many interesting job profiles and hence the students show keen interest in taking admission into the zoology course. The students after pursuing this course can go for higher education and pursue a master’s in the relevant field. The scope of a degree in zoology honours is enormous and the BSc (Hons.) Zoology fees structure is also quite nominal as compared to many other technical courses.

• BHU UET 2025 Exam notification is yet to be released. To know more about this exam, about its eligibility criteria, syllabus and more, click at BHU UET 2025 Exam. 
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• JEST Exam 2025 notification is expected to be announced in January 2025. Click at JEST Exam 2025 to know about the exam syllabus, eligibility criteria and more. 

The students can check the quick facts about the BSc (Hons) Zoology degree course here. Some of the major highlights of the zoology honours course are given below :  

FAQs

Q1. What is BSc Honours Zoology? 

BSc Honours Zoology is a three-year undergraduate degree programme which focuses on subjects like evolution, genetics, animal physiology, animal behaviour, animal classification, biological processes, animal form, function and more. The programme bestows students with a thorough understanding of the link between animals and their environments. This course deals with the study and investigation of animal life where the students study in detail about the cell and molecular structure of different types of animals. Students who aspire to study animal biology can benefit from a Bachelor of Science in Zoology. The three-year BSc Honours in Zoology imparts education on the diversity of animal life and development as well as their genetic structure and composition. 

Q2. What are the benefits of Zoology Honours? 

After completing a bachelor’s of science in Zoology Honours, a graduate’s career pathway is opened to a plethora of exciting opportunities in the wildlife sector. From working at wildlife reserves to zoos, or choosing from a variety of career options like animal and wildlife educator, zoo curator, researcher, animal caretaker, animal breeder and more. Zoology is a great field with a wide scope when it comes to choosing a career path, so if you do decide to pursue a career in this field, do not doubt your choices.

The demand for BSc (Hons.) Zoology course has increased in recent years and it is one of the most sought after course after completing Class XII from science stream. The reason for choosing BSc (Hons.) in Zoology course is the enhanced growth and career opportunities after doing BSc (Hons.) in Zoology. There are multiple benefits of doing BSc (Hons.) in a Zoology course. Some of the common benefits that the students can keep in mind before applying for BSc (Hons.) Zoology is mentioned below. 

It is a career and growth oriented course and imparts in depth knowledge about the subject. The course is taken by many students who have studied science and want to build on their existing knowledge base. 

BSc (Hons.) in Zoology course imparts knowledge to various aspects of the course such as Genetics, Animal Physiology, Immunology, Structural Biology, Developmental Biology, Biochemistry, Biodiversity, Genomics, etc. 

One of the greatest benefits of pursuing BSc (Hons.) in a Zoology course is the salary package offered after doing the course. The average salary package offered after a BSc (Hons.) in Zoology degree course is 4-7 lakhs per annum. 

BSc (Hons.) in Zoology course provides great career opportunities and scope for the students. The students can either go for a higher education like MSc, MPhil, or PhD in the respective field or they can choose to do a job in the respective field. 

FAQs

Q1. Why choose a BSc in Zoology? 

Choosing to complete a bachelor’s in zoology is deemed to be an excellent choice in terms of career prospects. The field of zoology provides a student with a deep insight into different scientific fields like genetics, biochemistry, ecology, animal husbandry, research and much more. Due to the wide variety of career opportunities available to a zoology graduate, a  candidate can go along with any job opportunity that suits their needs as well as interests. 

Q2. Which field of Zoology is considered to be the best? 

Some of the best career pathways that a graduate in Zoology Honours can enter into are Veterinarians,  Zookeepers, Animal Biologists, Ecologists, Animal Behaviourists, Conservation Scientists, Zoologists, Marine Biologists, Wildlife Biologists and more. Thus, a candidate is exposed to multiple employment opportunities after having completed a bachelor’s in zoology from a reputed university. 

In order to pursue the BSc (Hons.) Zoology course, the candidates will have to fulfil the given below eligibility criteria : 

• The students must have passed Class 12th or equivalent from a recognized board.
• The students must have studied Mathematics and Physics as the main subjects in Class 12th along with one of the optional subjects as Chemistry/Biology/Biotechnology/Computer Science. 
• The students must have acquired a minimum aggregate of 50% in the qualifying examination.

FAQs 

Q1. Is Chemistry a compulsory subject for a BSc Hons in Zoology? 

Yes, a candidate is required to have completed their Class 10+2 in the Science stream from a recognised school and an accredited board with compulsory subjects as Physics, Chemistry, Maths or Biology. Thus, the knowledge of Chemistry is vital to the study of Zoology in the undergraduate programme. 

Q2. What is the qualification for BSc Hons Zoology? 

Any candidate who aspires to apply for a BSc Honours in Zoology must have completed their Class 10+2 with a minimum aggregate of 50% marks in the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as their major subjects. Furthemore, the board of education in which the student has completed their 10+2 should be recognised across the country. 

The BSc (Hons.) Zoology admission is done on the basis of merit and entrance. The students can check the BSc (Hons.) Zoology admission process mentioned below. 

Merit-Based : The merit-based admission is done directly on the basis of the score obtained by the student in the qualifying examination. Some colleges also prepare a cutoff list based on the qualifying examination for BSc (Hons.) Zoology admission. 

Entrance Based : The entrance based admission to the BSc (Hons.) Zoology course is done on the basis of scores obtained by the candidate in a national level, state level or college level entrance exams. The admission is done through the counselling process. 

The students must keep in mind the different processes for being a part of the BSc (Hons.) Zoology course. The students can check the major details related to BSc (Hons.) Zoology admission.

• Almost all the private and government colleges take BSc (Hons.) Zoology admissions on the basis of the merit list released by the colleges or universities. However, there are certain colleges like Banaras Hindu University that also conducts entrance examinations for taking admission to BSc (Hons.) Zoology courses at undergraduate level. 
• The students have to fill the application form once the dates are released. The students can fill the application form either online or offline depending as mentioned by the colleges. 
• In the test-based entrance examination, the students have to qualify the entrance examination in order to take admission to BSc (Hons.) Zoology course. 
• After the tests are conducted, the conducting authority releases the list of students who have qualified the entrance test. The selected candidates are called for admission to different colleges and universities. 
• The colleges and universities release the cut off marks for the students who want to get admission in BSc (Hons.) Zoology degree course on the basis of merits. If the percentage of marks obtained in Class XII matches the cut off marks released by the respective colleges and universities, then the students are granted admission to BSc (Hons.) Zoology course. 

FAQs

Q1. Is NEET necessary for admission to BSc Hons Zoology?

NEET is a necessary examination for students who wish to study medical courses in India. However, if a candidate wishes to enrol into a programme of zoology during their graduation, then it's not necessary for them to appear for the NEET exam. Admission to BSc Hons Zoology is given to students on the basis of the marks they managed to secure in Class 12th. 

Q2. Which PG is best after BSc Hons Zoology? 

After a student has completed their undergraduate programme in BSc Zoology, then they can choose to complete their Masters in Science from some of the few fields that are mentioned below : 
MSc Zoology
MSc Botany
MSc Microbiology
MSc Biotechnology
MSc Medical Technology
MSc Medical Biotechnology
MSc Bioinformatics
MSc Medical Physiology and much more

BSc (Hons.) Zoology Entrance Exam is conducted by certain universities for admission at undergraduate level. Though certain colleges take direct admission on the basis of merits as per the cutoffs released by them, there are some common entrance examinations that the students apply for taking admission to the reputed colleges and universities. The lists of such entrance examinations along with their details are mentioned below. 

Also Read, 

FAQs

Q1. What are the top entrance exams for taking admission in BSc (Hons.) Zoology?

BSc (Hons.) Zoology Entrance Exam is conducted by certain universities for admission at undergraduate level. There are some common entrance examinations that the students apply for taking admission to the reputed colleges and universities. The lists of such entrance examinations along with their details are mentioned below. 

BHU UET- Banaras Hindu University Undergraduate Entrance Test is conducted by BHU for taking admission to different undergraduate degree programs offered by Banaras Hindu University. BHU UET will now be conducted as CUET.

NEST- NEST is conducted annually by the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) and CEB-DAE Mumbai. The exam is conducted to shortlist the students for taking admission to different courses offered at undergraduate level including BSc (Hons.) Zoology. The NEST is conducted online and it is a computer based exam. 

JEST- JEST is jointly conducted by various participating institutes and it stands for Joint Entrance Screening Test. It is also conducted annually for shortlisting students for taking admissions to different degree programs. The examination is conducted online and it is computer based. 

Q2. Can Zoology students apply for the UGC NET exam? 

Yes, students who have studied Zoology in their undergraduate degree programme can go on to apply for the UGC NET exam if they choose subject matters like botany, plant biotechnology, zoology or other related subjects in their post graduation programme. After having completed a master’s in science in zoology, one can go on further to sit for the UGC NET exam in India.

There are many prominent colleges that offer BSc (Hons.) in Zoology courses for the aspiring students. The students who have successfully completed their class XII or equivalent examination from a recognized board are eligible to apply for BSc (Hons.) in Zoology admission to these colleges. The students can check the list of top BSc (Hons.) in Zoology colleges in India mentioned below. The average annual BSc (Hons.) in Zoology fees is also mentioned against these BSc (Hons.) in Zoology colleges for the knowledge of the students. The students can decide the college for BSc (Hons.) in Zoology course of their choice after checking the details and BSc (Hons.) in Zoology fee structure and apply to these colleges subsequently. 

FAQs

Q1. What are the top colleges in India for BSc Hons in Zoology? 
Some of the top colleges in India for a bachelors in zoology are the Hindu College, Miranda College, Christ University, DAV College, Chandigarh, Hansraj College, Fergusson College, The Oxford College Of Science, University of Lucknow, Mount Carmel College, Bangalore. A student should aim to apply in colleges mentioned above to get a good faculty and have higher and better chances at placements in this field. 

Q2. Which specialisation of Zoology is best? 
The most common specialisations under the field of zoology are animal behaviour, biomedical science, entomology, herpetology, ecology and evolutionary biology, zoology with psychology, pre-veterinary zoology, marine biology, wildlife biology and more. These are a number of specialisations that an aspiring zoology student can choose from for excellent career prospects. 

BSc (Hons.) Zoology is a three-year degree programme that is split into 6 semesters. BSc (Hons.) Zoology subjects are taught during the span of these three years. The students are given both theoretical and practical knowledge in BSc (Hons.) Zoology subject list. The students learn the BSc (Hons.) Zoology subjects gradually and the examinations are taken at the end of every year to know the learning outcome of the students. The semester-wise BSc (Hons.) Zoology syllabus followed by most of the BSc (Hons.) Zoology college/universities is given below : 

First Year BSc (Hons.) Zoology Syllabus 

The students can check the BSc (Hons.) Zoology subject list taught in Semester 1st and 2nd. 

Second Year BSc (Hons.) Zoology Syllabus

The students can check the BSc (Hons.) Zoology subject list taught in Semester 3rd and 4th.

Third Year BSc (Hons.) Zoology Syllabus

The students can check the BSc (Hons.) Zoology subject list taught in Semester 5th and 6th.

BSc (Hons.) Zoology Subjects

The students can check the major BSc (Hons.) Zoology subject list taught during the course.

BSc (Hons.) Zoology Core Subjects

Non-Chordates I

Environmental Science

Cell Biology

Principles of Ecology

Diversity of Chordates

BSc (Hons.) Zoology Elective Subjects:

Animal Diversity

Human Physiology

Animal Cell Biotechnology

Insect Vector and Health

Food, Nutrition and Health

Environment and Public Health

Animal Diversity

BSc (Hons.) Zoology Required Skills

BSc (Hons.) Zoology course has various horizons to cover. The students must know the skills that are required for them to make a BSc (Hons.) Zoology course and learning effective. The BSc (Hons.) Zoology course requires a lot of extensive academic reading. The students apart from reading habits must also possess lots of skills that will support them in doing BSc (Hons.) Zoology course. The skills mentioned below will also help them in enhancing their personality and finding a suitable position in the industry. The students should check the required skills that they should have in order to do the BSc (Hons.) Zoology course. 

• Time Management Skills
• Patience
• Hard work
• Decisiveness
• Independent 
• Analytical Skills
• Research Skills
• Communication Skills
• Leadership Skills
• Listening Skills
• Attention to Details
• Interpersonal Skills

BSc (Hons.) Zoology Best Books to Study

BSc (Hons.) Zoology course requires the best books for the students who want to excel in this field. There are hundreds of books available in the market for studying BSc (Hons.) Zoology courses. The students must know about the relevant BSc (Hons.) Zoology course books that will help them not only during the course duration but also after the course for taking admission for higher studies like Masters, MPhil and PhD. The students will also be able to appear for different competitive examinations for taking government jobs. Books play a crucial role in shaping your prospects and honing your research skills. The students must check the popular and recognized BSc (Hons.) Zoology books for studying BSc (Hons.) Zoology courses as mentioned below. The students can check the names of the book and their respective authors.

FAQs

Q1. What are the required skills for BSc (Hons.) Zoology?

The students must know the skills that are required for them to make a BSc (Hons.) Zoology course and learning effective. The students should check the required skills that they should have in order to do the BSc (Hons.) Zoology course. 

• Time Management Skills
• Patience
• Hard work
• Decisiveness
• Independent 
• Analytical Skills
• Research Skills
• Communication Skills
• Leadership Skills
• Listening Skills
• Attention to Details
• Interpersonal Skills

Q2. What are the BSc (Hons.) Zoology subjects that will be covered during the course?

The BSc  (Hons.) Zoology subject list that will be covered during the course are as follows.

BSc (Hons.) Zoology Core Subjects:

• Non-Chordates I
• Environmental Science
• Cell Biology
• Principles of Ecology
• Diversity of Chordates

BSc (Hons.) Zoology Elective Subjects:

• Animal Diversity
• Human Physiology
• Animal Cell Biotechnology
• Insect Vector and Health
• Food, Nutrition and Health
• Environment and Public Health
• Animal Diversity

BSc (Hons.) in Zoology course comes out with numerous career development opportunities. The students who have completed their course in BSc (Hons.) in Zoology can explore jobs in various fields. BSc (Hons.) in Zoology degree helps the students to clear the government examination and can be a part of Indian Forest Service (IFS), wildlife conservation, bioinformatics, animal biodiversity prospecting, environmental management, ecosystem monitoring, and many other similar jobs. 

Students can also choose to pursue higher education in the similar field related to basic life science courses such as MSc Zoology, Masters in Life Sciences, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Immunology, Agricultural Entomology, Genetics, Forest and Wildlife, Environmental Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, etc. The job options further extend after doing a post-graduation in the similar field. 

There are multiple job profiles that the students can get after doing a BSc (Hons.) in Zoology course. The students who want to take admission in BSc (Hons.) Zoology programmes must check the important profile for which they can work. The students can check the job description and the salary offered for the mentioned profile as mentioned below. 

Zookeeper- The role of zookeeper is to take care of animals that are kept in the zoo. They are also responsible for ensuring that visitors follow the discipline as per the guidelines of the zoo. The feeding of the animals kept in the zoo is also done by the zookeeper. The salary of the zookeeper is as per the profile and it ranges from 2-3 lakhs per annum. 

Animal Caretaker- This profile requires taking care of animals and catering to everyday requirements of animals. They are responsible for maintaining daily activities of animals such as feeding, bathing, etc. The average salary structure for this profile ranges from 3-4 lakhs per annum. 

Researcher- The job of the researcher is to conduct extensive research in the related domain. The studies of genetics, animal behaviour, animal reproduction, animal husbandry, etc. are taken into consideration by the researcher. They take a lot of surveys and opinions to analyse the data. The salary of the researcher varies from 4-5 lakhs per annum.  

Forensic Expert- This profile includes assessment and inspection of physical aspects, composition of wild animal’s anatomies and conducting the physical study. They are also required to work with blood and other organic hair, liquids, bodily discharge, paints, strands, drugs, and glass. The average salary for this profile ranges from 7-8 lakhs per annum. 

Lab Technician- A lab technician is responsible for maintaining well equipped labs. They also assist researchers and scientists in conducting and completing their jobs. A lab assistant is very crucial to any organisation. The average salary of the lab technician varies from 2.5-3 lakhs per annum. 

Teacher- The role of teacher is to impart and disseminate knowledge related to BSc (Hons.) in Zoology to all the students who have interest in the course. A teacher is responsible for delivering lessons in the form of lectures. A teacher also takes assessments from the students in order to check their knowledge. The average salary of the teacher ranges from 3-4 lakhs per annum. 

Nature Conservation Officer- As the name indicates, the job of nature conservation officer is to conserve the endangered species of plants and animals and their respective habitats. The nature conservative officer also suggests ideas and makes plans to conserve the species. The average salary structure for such a profile is 4.5 -5 lakhs per annum. 

BSc (Hons.) Zoology Scope

In the last one decade, the demand for BSc (Hons.) in Zoology has increased multiple folds because of increasing scope associated with BSc (Hons.) Zoology Course. Students are keen to explore different opportunities related to BSc (Hons.) in Zoology. One of the common scopes is to take a job after completing their graduation in BSc (Hons.) Zoology. Apart from jobs, the students can also opt for following options to enhance their scope. 

Master of Science (MSc) - The students of BSc (Hons.) in Zoology can always opt for doing Master of Science in any of the relevant fields. It is always advisable for the students to enhance their skills by doing postgraduate work in the relevant field. Students can choose to do Masters in Zoology, Applied Sciences, Life Sciences, etc. 

Post Graduate Diploma- There is also an option of specialising in the relevant field by doing PG Diploma. Students can choose to do Post Graduate Diploma in areas like Genetics, Marine Biology, Ecology, Animal Behavior, Neurobiology, Evolutionary Biology, etc. 

Master of Business Administration (MBA) - The students of BSc (Hons.) in Zoology can also opt for an MBA course if they have interest in business or related fields. Students can do Master of Business Administration in Biotechnology, Pharma Management, Clinical Research, Hospital Administration, Dairy Management, etc. The job opportunities and skill set also gets enhanced after doing MBA. 

Masters in Communication- The students can also do masters in mass communication and be a part of the media industry. There are many media organisations that require researchers and documentary makers. There is a constant need for zoologists in organisations like National Geographic Channel, Animal Planet, Discovery, and many other similar platforms. 

Bachelors in Education (B.Ed.) – The students who want to explore the teaching profession can do B.Ed. course after doing BSc (Hons.) in a Zoology degree course. After doing BSc (Hons.) in Zoology course, they will be able to give information related to Zoology to the desired students. 

Law – The students can also explore the law domain after doing BSc (Hons.) Zoology course. They can do a 3 Year LLB course rather than doing a 5 year regular LLB programme. 

Government Jobs- The students can prepare for numerous government jobs. Many government organisations look for students from BSc (Hons.) in Zoology who can work as zoologists, conservationists, etc. They can also prepare for different civil services examinations. 

FAQs 
 

Q1. What are the job roles after completing the BSc (Hons.) Zoology course? 

There are numerous job roles available for candidates who successfully complete the BSc (Hons.) Zoology course. Also, the pay scale of  BSc (Hons.) Zoology candidates are quite decent. Following are some of the job roles suitable for  BSc (Hons.) Zoology candidates.

• Zookeeper- The role of zookeeper is to take care of animals that are kept in the zoo. They are also responsible for ensuring that visitors follow the discipline as per the guidelines of the zoo.  
• Animal Caretaker- This profile requires taking care of animals and catering to everyday requirements of animals.  
• Researcher- The job of the researcher is to conduct extensive research in the related domain. The studies of genetics, animal behaviour, animal reproduction, animal husbandry, etc. are taken into consideration by the researcher.  
• Forensic Expert- This profile includes assessment and inspection of physical aspects, composition of wild animal’s anatomies and conducting the physical study.  
• Lab Technician- A lab technician is responsible for maintaining well equipped labs. They also assist researchers and scientists in conducting and completing their jobs. 
• Teacher- The role of teacher is to impart and disseminate knowledge related to BSc (Hons.) in Zoology to all the students who have interest in the course. A teacher is responsible for delivering lessons in the form of lectures. 
• Nature Conservation Officer- As the name indicates, the job of nature conservation officer is to conserve the endangered species of plants and animals and their respective habitats. 

Q2. Is BSc (Hons.) Zoology a good career? 

BSc (Hons.) in Zoology course comes out with numerous career development opportunities. The students who have completed their course in BSc (Hons.) in Zoology can explore jobs in various fields. BSc (Hons.) in Zoology degree helps the students to clear the government examination and can be a part of Indian Forest Service (IFS), wildlife conservation, bioinformatics, animal biodiversity prospecting, environmental management, ecosystem monitoring, and many other similar jobs.