BSc (Hons) Zoology Bachelor's degree at the University of Sheffield

This core module is designed to give you the essential practical skills you'll need for a successful career in scientific research. Throughout this module, you'll build a strong foundation in laboratory techniques, data handling, and scientific methodology. In Semester 1 you'll learn fundamental lab skills, such as pipetting, microscopy, and performing basic mathematical calculations. You'll also learn to use analytical software to collect and process data. In Semester 2 you'll work with your co

This module is built around a team-based project focussing on identifying and communicating a real-world bioscience problem. Your team will pick one issue from UN's Sustainable Development Goals to focus on. You'll research this issue using articles, reports, and data to better understand it, before creating a digital project showing why the issue matters and needs action. Depending on your interests, you could choose to focus on environmental issues, health disparities, or agricultural chal

This core module explores the vast spectrum of life that underpins modern biology. We'll introduce you to the approaches used to study genetics, evolution, and diversity, including classical population and quantitative genetics, phylogenetic trees, and the fossil record, covering single-celled extremophiles to multicellular animals and plants. You'll examine the evidence for major transitions in Earth history, such as the colonisation of land and extinction events that have shaped life over geol

This core module will introduce you to the essential components that constitute all living organisms. To understand the complexity of any biological system, we must understand it across scales from molecules through to cells, tissues, organisms, populations and ecosystems. This module explores the key principles of molecular cell biology that form the foundation of life. You'll learn about the structure and function of cellular components, how genetic information is stored and transmitted, and h

This module will introduce you to the scientific study of whole organisms. You'll explore the physiology, reproduction, and development of animals and plants. You'll learn how both genetic and environmental factors determine animal behaviour, and how those same factors contribute to form, function and diversity across life. You'll also investigate how animals and plants acquire and process energy, nutrients, and water, before examining asexual and sexual reproduction in a range of contexts.

Humanity is facing inter-related crises of biodiversity decline and climate change. This module will give you an understanding of the anthropogenic and natural factors that determine the distribution of biodiversity, species' interactions and population sizes, and key biological-geochemical cycles that regulate environmental conditions on our planet. You'll explore links between biodiversity decline, climate change and ecosystem function, before discussing the consequences for nature's ability t

During this module, you'll explore the rapidly expanding field of neuroscience, gaining insights into the experimental methods and techniques that are used here. You'll learn about the fundamental physiological principles that enable the nervous system to function, before exploring the anatomy and physiology of the sensory and motor systems. Alongside understanding the mechanisms of sensation and movement, you'll begin to explore the brain's role in behaviour, cognition, and memory. By the end o

This core module will build on the laboratory and field techniques and associated scientific skills that you developed in your first year. Throughout the year, you'll complete mini group research projects, developing your own hypotheses before applying robust experimental design principles to test them. You'll then apply data analysis techniques to visualise and interrogate the data. We'll teach you how to effectively communicate your research projects. You'll be shown how scientific posters can

During this module, you'll develop the advanced professional skills you'll need for a data-driven world. You'll then apply your new skills, working in a team to address a real-world problem. We'll train you to use the statistical programming language, R, which is used to apply statistical methods to solve biological data problems. In the second semester, you'll work in a team to address a 'Global Challenge' from UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Alongside your coursemates, you'll work to d

This module will introduce you to the major invertebrate and vertebrate animal groups. You'll learn about the variety of structure found in the groups and how this relates to function and way of life. We'll also explore evolutionary comparisons between and within the groups. Through practical work and field trips, you'll put what you've learnt into practice. You'll get the chance to identify selected groups of species under natural conditions, and make inferences from your observations about the

This module will introduce you to animal behaviour. You'll explore foraging, reproductive behaviour, mating systems, cooperative breeding and communication. As part of your learning, you'll test hypotheses about the development, mechanisms, adaptive significance and evolution of behaviours to answer behavioural questions.

This module will boost your understanding of evolutionary concepts and show you why evolution is crucial to our understanding of biology. You'll learn how the latest research in evolutionary biology is transforming our understanding of biodiversity, and tackling problems from human health and disease, to responses to changing environments. You'll cover the origins of variation, adaptation, and natural selection, and discuss how various evolutionary forces affect the evolution of genes, genomes,

This module will give you a broad understanding of neuroscience, covering neurophysiology, molecular biology, neuropharmacology, model organisms, and simple behaviours. Building on your knowledge from the first year, you'll learn about the concepts behind complex topics such as higher brain function, behaviour, biological psychiatry, and neurodegenerative disease.

This module will take you deep into the world of plant biology, exploring how plants utilise developmental and environmental signals to optimise growth, survival, and reproduction. You'll uncover how human intervention, through agriculture and biotech