BSc in Zoology

BSc Zoology course is a three-year undergraduate programme that focuses on the advanced study of animals and their constituent parts. Students who are interested in studying animal biology can pursue this course provided they meet the eligibility criteria prescribed by their preferred institution. The three-year programme teaches students about the diversity of animal life and development, as well as their genetic structure. BSc Zoology course graduates can pursue careers in wildlife conservation, environmental management, ecosystem monitoring, animal welfare and other fields.

The BSc Zoology syllabus and subjects have been intended to provide students with a broad understanding of biological science. They must have completed their class 12 securing a minimum score of 50% aggregate marks in the science stream with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as the main subjects from a recognised board. Admission to this course is done directly based on merit or through entrance exams conducted by separate universities. The average annual course fee ranges from INR 20,000 to 1,00,000, which varies with different colleges. In India, some popular entrance exams for BSc Zoology are IISER, NEST, GSAT, and more. A few best BSc Zoology colleges are Banaras Hindu University, Mount Carmel College, St. Xavier's College, Hansraj College, and more. After completing the course, candidates can work as a Zoologist, Zookeeper, Biochemist, Scientist, etc. with an average starting salary of 3-10 LPA. This page discusses everything students need to know about the BSc Zoology course.

BSc in Zoology is a programme that involves everything related to the scientific elements of the field. The course also includes other aspects which are mentioned below:

The BSc in Zoology course has grown in popularity in recent years, and it is now one of the most sought-after courses after finishing class 12th in the science stream. The reasons for choosing this course are the increased growth and career opportunities after completing studies. There are numerous benefits of pursuing a BSc Zoology course some of which have been mentioned in the infographic below and explained in the subsequent section:

• BSc in Zoology is a career-oriented course that teaches you everything you need to know about the subject. The course is popular among students who have studied science and want to broaden their knowledge base.
• The course offers some interesting topics to study like Genetics, Animal Physiology, Biochemistry, Biodiversity, Genomics, and others.
• BSc in Zoology graduates have numerous career options and can begin working immediately.
• The salary package offered upon completion of a BSc Zoology course is one of the most significant benefits of pursuing the course.
• Graduates can find work as Zookeepers, Researchers, Lab Technicians, Teachers, and Nature Conservation Officers, with annual salaries ranging from INR 4-7 LPA.
• Students can also choose to continue their education with a master’s degree before applying for jobs.

The BSc in Zoology course can be availed by the students in distance education mode also. Various colleges and universities in India offer BSc Zoology through correspondence or distance education mode. However, prospective applicants need to check the validity of the colleges that offer admission through distance education, the colleges must be affiliated through the directorate of the distance education board. 

Candidates must also verify the credibility of the course being taken via distance learning. For the benefit of the students, a list of some top universities that provide an online BSc Zoology degree via distance learning is provided below. The table also includes the typical average annual course fee for online BSc Zoology along with the institution’s offline city name.

There is only one significant difference between the BSc Zoology and the BSc Botany course. BSc zoology is the study of animals, while BSc botany is the study of plants. There are a few similarities between these courses as well. Students must understand the fundamental differences between these two courses, their differences in terms of certain criteria are listed below:

Students can pursue BSc Zoology in all three different modes of schooling: full-time, part-time and distance/online learning. Check out the different types of BSc Zoology courses below:

The BSc in Zoology eligibility criteria is mostly common for every university or college. The prerequisites that applicants must meet to participate in the admissions process are known as the eligibility criteria for BSc zoology. Those who do not fulfil the minimum requirements will not be allowed to participate in the admissions process. Listed below are the BSc Zoology eligibility criteria:

• Students must have completed their class 12th or equivalent from a recognised board with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.
• Students must have studied Mathematics and Physics as main subjects in class 12th, as well as one of the optional subjects such as Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, or Computer Science.
• Students must also clear the cutoff in the earlier academic course and entrance examination.

Required Skill Set for BSc Zoology

Students must acquire the required skills for the successful competition of the BSc Zoology course to become an all-round professional. The course necessitates extensive academic reading. Aside from reading habits, students must also have a variety of skills that will assist them in completing the course. These skills will also assist them in developing their personality and finding suitable employment in the industry. The following are the skills required for BSc Zoology:

Admission to BSc Zoology is mostly done on a merit basis for many universities or colleges. However, certain universities hold the entrance exam for admission to this course. There are some common entrance examinations that students need to take for admission to reputable colleges and universities which provide this bachelor's degree. The following is a discussion of the BSc Zoology entrance exams that prospective applicants may take based on their preference.

• CUET UG
• BHU UET
• CG PAT
• CPGET
• GSAT
• IISER Aptitude Test
• IPU CET
• NEST Exam
• OUAT Exam

BSc Zoology admission is done in two ways as listed in the infographic below and explained in the subsequent section:

• Merit-Based Admission: Students' score on the qualifying exam is used to determine their admission to the course on a merit basis. Additionally, some colleges create a cutoff list based on the admissions test for this course. 
• Entrance-Based Admission: Candidates get admission to this course based on their performance on entrance exams taken at the national, state, or college levels. For this, candidates must achieve a decent score in the exam to meet the university’s required cutoff merit list. Following the counselling process, the admission is completed.

How to Apply for BSc Zoology?

As discussed, the BSc in Zoology admission procedure is solely based on the aspirant's merit. However, some colleges held an entrance exam for this course. Students must meet the eligibility requirements to be admitted to their desired colleges. Furthermore, the application process for BSc Zoology varies depending on the admission procedure, which is mostly carried out online. Students must fill out the required information in an online application form on the official website of their respective universities to apply for BSc Zoology courses online. The following is a discussion of the BSc Zoology admission process in India.

Entrance-Based Admission

Candidates can apply for BSc Zoology by following the steps outlined below:

Step 1: Check into the application form requirements and deadlines listed by various colleges and universities if you want to an admitted to a BSc Zoology programme

Step 2: Register for the entrance exams required for BSc Zoology admissions at the colleges and universities you want to attend

Step 3: Once confirmed, save the application process for future use. Also, for admission and other important notifications, keep an eye on the exam or the university's official website

Step 4: After appearing and passing the BSc Zoology entrance examination, candidates must fill out an application form for their desired university with personal information such as academic details, entrance examination results, and so on

Step 5: Candidates who successfully meet the university's eligibility requirements are shortlisted for the counselling round (if any) to finalise the admissions process

Step 6: After clearing the counselling session, candidates must pay the university's entrance fee to confirm their admission to the BSc Zoology course

Merit-based Admission 

Candidates can apply for BSc Zoology by following the steps outlined below:

Step 1: Fill out the online BSc Zoology application form

Step 2: Pay the registration fee and any additional fees if admission is granted based on merit

Step 3: The shortlisted applicants will receive invitations to the subsequent phases of the hiring process, such as individual interviews or counselling

Step 4: Candidates must submit all the required documents and fees to confirm their admission to BSc Zoology.

A degree in Zoology has a broad range of applications and the fee structure is modest when compared to many technical courses. Check out the BSc Zoology fee details given below:

Please note that the course fees vary with different universities and the facilities available. The fee structure also differs in government and private institutions.

The BSc Zoology course syllabus is divided into three years which includes six semesters. The subject list provides students with both theoretical and practical knowledge. The semester-by-semester syllabus is given below:

BSc Zoology course comes out with numerous career development opportunities. The students who have completed the course can explore jobs in various fields. BSc 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 extends after doing a post-graduation in the similar field. 

There are multiple job profiles that the students can get after doing a BSc Zoology course. The students who want to take admission in BSc Zoology program 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 INR 2-3 lakhs per annum. 

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

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

Teacher- The role of teacher is to impart and disseminate knowledge related to BSc 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 assessment from the students in order to check their knowledge. The average salary of the teacher ranges from INR 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 profile is INR 4.5 -5 lakhs per annum. 

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BSc Zoology graduates can find work in a variety of fields. Zoologists with knowledge of animals and their ecosystems can work for pharmaceutical companies, agricultural farms, medical laboratories, environmental agencies, museums, government hospitals, and hatcheries. Graduates can also pursue Zoology and become specialists in their fields. There are numerous research organisations that seek knowledgeable individuals for various projects in the field of and environmental research. 

Following your BSc Zoology course, you may pursue the following job profiles:

• Zookeeper
• Animal Caretakers
• Environmental Consultant
• Lab Technicians
• Animal and Wildlife Educators
• Animal Rehabilitator
• Animal Breeders
• Nature conservation officer
• Teacher
• Researcher

The salary package after completing BSc in Zoology depends on the job position, organisation, experience, expertise and skills of the candidate. Check the salaries across different job roles below:                                                                         

The growing scope of the BSc Zoology course has enhanced the demand for this course over the last decade. The candidates can either go directly for job opportunities or go for higher education. Check various other options available after completing BSc in Zoology course:

• Master of Science (MSc) - Students with this bachelor's degree can always pursue a Master of Science degree in any relevant field. It is always recommended that students enhance their skills by pursuing a postgraduate degree in the relevant field. Students can pursue Masters degrees in Zoology, Applied Sciences, Life Sciences, and other fields.
• Post Graduate Diploma - Students can also do a PG Diploma and specialise in the relevant field. Students can choose to do Post Graduate Diploma in areas like Genetics, Marine Biology, Ecology, Animal Behavior, Neurobiology, Evolutionary Biology and others.
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Students with a BSc in Zoology can also pursue an MBA if they are interested in business or a related field. Students can pursue a Master of Business Administration degree in biotechnology, pharmaceutical management, clinical research, hospital administration, dairy management, and other fields. After completing an MBA, one's job opportunities and skill set are also enhanced.
• Law - After completing this course, students can pursue a career in law. They can complete a three-year LLB programme rather than a five-year regular LLB programme.
• Masters in Communication - Students can also do a master's in mass communication and be a part of the media industry. Many media organisations 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.
• Bachelor's in Education (B.Ed.) - Students who want to explore the teaching profession can do B.Ed. course after completing a BSc Zoology degree course. After completing this course, they will be able to give information related to Zoology to the desired students.
• Government Jobs - Students can prepare for numerous government jobs. Many government organisations look for students with BSc in Zoology who can work as zoologists, conservationists, etc. They can also prepare for different civil services examinations.