The study of birds, ornithology courses can play a large role in the academic life of zoology students. In the basic ornithology class at North Carolina State University, students learn to identify and classify different types of birds while also studying the behavior and habitats of the creatures to better understand their life cycle. Some classes also require field trips into natural bird habitats so students can observe them in the wild.
To understand animals down to the cellular level, zoology students are usually required to take several biology courses. For instance, zoology majors at the University of Florida are required to take several biology courses that introduce them to the "nature and practice of scientific research, laboratory safety, advising and career resources for biologists," according to the school. Students also study fields like genetics and physiology as well, preparing them to become well-rounded in the sciences.
Though it can be easy to forget, man is an animal, and humans have complex relationships with other creatures that inhabit the planet. Various ethical and moral questions arrive from these situations, which can be studied in courses like The Biology and Philosophy of Human-Animal Relationships at the University of Wisconsin. The class is an "inquiry into the complex and often contradictory relationships between humans and other animals," according to the school. In courses such as this, students examine how humans and animals interact and learn to "make thoughtful, educated decisions about their relationships with other animals," preparing them for morally sound careers.
Studying the sexuality and mating habits of animals is an important part of understanding their overall biology. Weber State University offers the course "The Nature of Sex," which discusses "breeding patterns in nonsocial and social species, mating systems such as monogamy and polygamy, and reproductive behavior" to teach students the finer points of relations amongst animals, humans included.