Zoology is a vast subject, encompassing all aspects of scientific knowledge about animals, such as embryonic development, evolution, behavior, ecological distribution, and classification. The course provides an introduction to the natural world and its animal inhabitants.

The study of animals and their habitats is so vast that it is broken down into five main branches. The course begins by looking at what zoology is, defining its five branches, and introducing you to animals from a zoology perspective. We’ll review the history of zoology - learning about some of its famous practitioners, understanding the history of the animal kingdom and how evolution and adaptation work.

We’ll dive into animal characteristics and how they are used in classification, and explore behavioral types, instincts and social behavior. We’ll also look into genetics and the breeding of animals; learning how and why it is done, and its advantages and disadvantages.

We’ll take a deep dive into the various aspects of animal environments. This includes an exploration of organisms, ecosystems and their elements; food chains; nature cycles like the water, nitrogen and carbon cycles; and biodiversity. We also look into the various diseases that affect animals, how these diseases are diagnosed, and how they are treated.

We’ll look at the practical side of animal care - learning how animals are handled, trained, and reared. We’ll discuss animal shelters, how animal health care facilities function, how health issues are detected in animals, the common health issues that occur in animals and the process of animal rehabilitation.

The course concludes with a selection of case studies that showcase various aspects of zoology.

This course will be of interest to animal lovers who want greater insight into the animal kingdom, whether you own animals or are just interested in how they live and are cared for, and if you own or are setting up an animal care business.