University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2014/15 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Life Sciences > School of Biological Sciences > Zoology (MSci) > Specification
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Programme code | 7BISC014U |
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Programme type | Single Honours |
Programme director(s) |
Jane Memmott
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Faculty | Faculty of Science |
School/department | School of Biological Sciences |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Relevant QAA subject benchmark groups | Biosciences (2023) (benchmark statement) |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 4 years (full time) |
Our primary aim is to equip our students with the broadest range of intellectual and practical skills, to fit them to confront the diverse biological questions they will meet in their future careers.
We aim:
A zoologist will gain knowledge in depth of the diversity, evolution and function of animals, with specialized knowledge of some taxonomic groups, and of the latest developments in behavioural ecology and its physiological foundations.
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Students are taught through a combination of lectures, supervised practical classes, self-study and e-learning materials, field work, workshops, tutorials, and seminars. In addition, students are required to undertake independent learning through reading and experimental work both in the lab and in the field, with an extended research project in the final year. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Aptitude, learning, skills and understanding are assessed through a combination of assessed practical work, projects, tutorial work, posters, essays, open and closed examinations, and a dissertation. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Such skills are taught throughout the teaching programme, but in particular are addressed through tutorial, practical, field and project work. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Tutorial, practical and project work is designed to test such skills, is assessed according to School guidelines and forms the continuous assessment element of the taught units. These skills at L3 are measured in the Fieldcourse Report, the Literature Review and the practical projects undertaken in the Advanced Practical Skills in Biology unit. Closed examinations – particularly at L2 and L3 – are also designed to test these skills. At L4, the project proposal and dissertation test the advanced set of skills. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Such skills are taught through tutorials, practical work and field/lab work throughout all three levels and in the Literature Review, project and fieldwork units at L3. One unit at L2 (Science and Success) has been specifically designed to teach and assess such important transferable skills. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Time management is assessed through successful completion and submission on time of coursework (especially in L1, L2, and L4); teamwork is assessed through successful completion of group activities in practical and field work; written and spoken skills are assessed both through tutorials and examinations. Units in L2 (Science and Success) and L4 (Professional Development for the Life Sciences) have been specifically designed to teach and assess such important transferable skills. These skills are also assessed at L3 and L4 through the Literature Review and the Advanced Practical Skills in Biology unit, the oral presentations associated with both units, and the activities associated with final project planning and reporting. |
Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level C/4 - Certificate |
Students are expected to have a sound and broad-based knowledge and understanding of biological principles; have learnt to analyse scientific problems and to draw objective conclusions, and have gained self confidence in written, verbal and organisational skills, including communication, teamwork, and computer literacy. |
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Level I/5 - Intermediate |
At level 5, students build on the foundation that they established in level 4, and are expected to develop subject-specific skills such as data handling, statistics, molecular methods and experimental design (depending on unit choice). Students should be able to apply these skills widely and to undertake more in-depth analysis of scientific problems and be able to review their own progress. |
Level H/6 - Honours |
At level 6, students will develop subject-specific skills from a variety of aspects of the subject, including those specific to zoology and botany; they will have expanded their breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding of biological systems and will have become confident in their ability to design experimental protocols, collect and evaluate data, analyse complex scientific problems and communicate their findings both verbally and in writing. |
Level M/7 - Masters |
Students graduating at level 7 will be able to demonstrate a systematic understanding and critical awareness of the forefront of their field of study, and are expected to develop a comprehensive and practical understanding of techniques and the application of knowledge to a focussed research project; they will show self-direction, autonomy and initiative in decision-making, and demonstrate personal responsibility and an awareness of how to develop their continuing professional skills independently. |
The intended learning outcome mapping document shows which mandatory units contribute towards each programme intended learning outcome.
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the undergraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
The Faculty of Science expects a minimum work input by its undergraduates of 40 hours per week for every week of the academic year. The 40 hours is made up of a portfolio of different components. The balance between these components varies slightly from programme to programme reflecting the varying academic demands of different subject areas.
Lectures, practical work, tutorials, seminars and required coursework and homework for may take up around 20 hours per week. While this volume of formal teaching is common in the early years of programmes, in later years there is more self directed learning and the opportunity to carry out supervised research work. In total the formal teaching and the students learning should amount to the 40 hours a week mentioned.
The Faculty of Science requires students to do some academic work in the periods between the terms, both required work and that which reflects their interest in, and commitment to their programmes of study.
The School of Biological Sciences maintains a series of world-class research specializations across a broad base and is particularly strong in studies at the whole organism level; modern molecular techniques are also applied across diverse fields from microbiology, molecular and cell biology, plant biology to animal behaviour and ecology. Much of its teaching is research oriented, and it offers a wide, diverse range of units which delivers a broad biological education, although the opportunity also exists to focus on particular areas of interest. The School has extensive links with local organisations such as the Veterinary School at Langford, the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Avon Wildlife Trust, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, and the BBC. Such collaborations further the research of the School and inform its teaching.
This Integrated Master's programme has been designated as type II: Advanced Study in accordance with the QAA descriptors for Master's programmes. Please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes for further information on this type of programme.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Life Processes Part A Not available in this year | BIOL10009 | 20 | Mandatory | |
Diversity of Life Part A Not available in this year | BIOL10010 | 20 | Mandatory | |
Diversity of Life Part B Not available in this year | BIOL10007 | 20 | Mandatory | |
Life Processes Part B Not available in this year | BIOL10008 | 20 | Mandatory | |
Key Concepts for Biologists | BIOL10002 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Units from the following list totalling 20 credit points. Please note the open unit chosen must take place in TB2: | ||||
Current Topics in Biology | BIOL10001 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Sustainable Development | UNIV10001 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Big Ideas in Science | CHEM10001 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Choose open units | OPEN | 20 | Optional | |
Any other Level 1 UWLP (University-Wide Language Programme) unit - 20 credit points. Please see http://www.bristol.ac.uk/sml/study/uwlp/ for more details. | ||||
Certificate of Higher Education | 120 |
This Integrated Master's programme has been designated as type II: Advanced Study in accordance with the QAA descriptors for Master's programmes. Please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes for further information on this type of programme.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Quantitative Methods in Biology | BIOL20001 | 10 | Mandatory | TB-1A |
Molecular Methodology for Biologists | BIOL20005 | 10 | Mandatory | TB-1A |
Science and Success: Writing, Speaking and Communicating Science | BIOL20014 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Evolutionary Biology | BIOL20212 | 10 | Mandatory | TB-1B |
At least three units chosen from: | ||||
Neurobiology: from nerve cells to behaviour | BIOL20102 | 10 | Optional | TB-1B |
Acquisition of Behaviour | BIOL20103 | 10 | Optional | TB-2C |
Behavioural Ecology | BIOL20104 | 10 | Optional | TB-2D |
Parasite Biology | BIOL20202 | 10 | Optional | TB-2C |
Insect Biology | BIOL20204 | 10 | Optional | TB-2D |
Plus other units from: | ||||
Molecular Approaches to Biological Problems | BIOL20004 | 10 | Optional | TB-1B |
Plant Disease | BIOL20008 | 10 | Optional | TB-1B |
Cell and Developmental Biology | BIOL20011 | 10 | Optional | TB-2D |
Ecology | BIOL20012 | 10 | Optional | TB-1B |
Green Planet | BIOL20013 | 10 | Optional | TB-2D |
Conservation Biology | BIOL20401 | 10 | Optional | TB-2C |
Marine Ecology and Physiology | BIOL21403 | 10 | Optional | TB-2C |
Diploma of Higher Education | 120 |
This Integrated Master's programme has been designated as type II: Advanced Study in accordance with the QAA descriptors for Master's programmes. Please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes for further information on this type of programme.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Advanced Practical Skills | BIOL30006 | 30 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Literature Review | BIOL30002 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Field Course or Laboratory Workshop | BIOL30001 | 10 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
At least four units chosen from: | ||||
Mammalian Ecology and Sociobiology | BIOL31117 | 10 | Optional | TB-4 |
Host-Parasite Interactions | BIOL31121 | 10 | Optional | TB-4 |
Neuroethology: neural mechanisms underlying behaviour | BIOL31127 | 10 | Optional | TB-4 |
Sensory Ecology | BIOL31132 | 10 | Optional | TB-4 |
Optimisation, Behaviour and Life Histories | BIOL31134 | 10 | Optional | TB-4 |
Plus other units chosen from: | ||||
Agricultural Biotechnology | BIOL31129 | 10 | Optional | TB-4 |
Flowering Plants | BIOL31131 | 10 | Optional | TB-4 |
Evolutionary Ecology | BIOL31136 | 10 | Optional | TB-4 |
Social Evolution: Genes to Societies | BIOL30003 | 10 | Optional | TB-4 |
Ecology: Theory and Practice | BIOL31135 | 10 | Optional | TB-4 |
Tree of Life | BIOL30004 | 10 | Optional | TB-4 |
Plant Environmental Adaptation | BIOL30005 | 10 | Optional | TB-4 |
BSc Zoology | 120 |
This Integrated Master's programme has been designated as type II: Advanced Study in accordance with the QAA descriptors for Master's programmes. Please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes for further information on this type of programme.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Research Project Execution for MSci in Zoology | BIOLM0018 | 60 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Understanding Data: Experimental Design and Statistics for Life Scientists | BIOLM0006 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Professional Development for the Life Sciences | BIOLM0015 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Research Project Planning for MSci in Biology/Zoology | BIOLM0020 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Zoology (MSci) | 120 |
Unit Pass Mark for Undergraduate Programmes:
For details on the weightings for classifying undergraduate degrees, please see the Agreed Weightings, by Faculty, to be applied for the Purposes of Calculating the Final Programme Mark and Degree Classification in Undergraduate Programmes.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
Please refer to the specific progression/award requirements for programmes with a preliminary year of study, the Gateway programmes and International Foundation programmes.
All undergraduate degree programmes allow the opportunity for a student to exit from a programme with a Diploma or Certificate of Higher Education.
Integrated Master's degrees may also allow the opportunity for a student to exit from the programme with an equivalent Bachelor's degree where a student has achieved 360 credit points, of which 90 must be at level 6, and has successfully met any additional criteria as described in the programme specification.
The opportunities for a student to exit from one of the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry with an Award is outlined in the relevant Programme Regulations (which are available as an annex in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes).
An Ordinary degree can be awarded if a student has successfully completed at least 300 credits with a minimum of 60 credits at Level 6.
The pass mark for the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine and Dentistry is 50 out of 100. The classification of a degree in the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry is provided in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
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