Students who major in zoology often learn skills in communication, mathematical and scientific reasoning, and project management. Common courses that apply toward the zoologist college degree include animal physiology, genetics, animal behavior, and vertebrate and invertebrate zoology. Animal physiology and genetics focus on cells and organs. Animal behavior looks at how animals, such as birds, insects and mammals, adapt to their environments. Vertebrate zoology focuses on the lives of reptiles, fish and amphibians, while invertebrate zoology investigates mollusks, worms and coral reefs.
Rather than offering a separate major in zoology, some schools offer zoologist college degrees under its biology department. Students often take courses such as general biology, cell biology, marine biology, evolutionary biology and microbiology, which apply toward a career in zoology. Students in biology study various life forms and cellular functions, while evolutionary biology examines how animals change over time. Marine biology concentrates on underwater life forms, while microbiology students examine life under a microscope.
Some schools offer animal conservation as part of a specialization under zoology, biology or environmental science degree programs. Animal conservation tends to focus on methods for protecting endangered species. Examples of courses in this field include animal and plant identification, natural resources, and ecosystem management. Students may focus on animal or natural resource conservation if pursuing a career in wildlife management.
Colleges and universities may offer the field of ecology as a separate major, or they may offer it as a specialization under the zoology major. Ecology students examine "the big picture," or living and nonliving organisms and their environment. Courses such as inorganic and organic chemistry, statistics, genetics, plant evolution and ornithology -- the study of birds -- help students prepare for zoologist-related degrees in research and lab work, and field work at places such as forests and ponds.
Additional courses in calculus and mathematical computation help students master the scientific reasoning and analysis skills needed to work in zoology. Acquiring skills in project management can help students organize fieldwork and lab experiments. English and communication courses supplement zoologist college degrees by teaching students how to efficiently write reports and give oral presentations.