History of the Department

The Department was established in 1959 with a vision to proffer quality education to rural students and in its long journey has equipped itself to provide affordable and comprehensive learning experience in Zoological studies. Initially it was offering Zoology as one of the subject in undergraduate programme- BSc Medical. In 2015, another programme BSc (Honours) Zoology was introduced. The Postgraduate programme M.Sc. Zoology was introduced in 2018. The updated curriculum, excellent infrastructure, dedicated faculty, interdisciplinary approach and exposure to recent advances in Life Sciences is the strength of the department. A degree in Zoology from Mata Gujri College opens a gamut of career opportunities to its students in private and as well as public sectors: scientists, wild life conservationist, curator, entomologist, environmentalist, toxicologist, forensic expert, fishery officer, IAS/IFS, Teaching, Research Project assistants and in higher specialized studies. Majority of pass out graduates of this department are pursuing higher education in prestigious institutes both in India and abroad; Department alumni have been appointed as lecturers, officers and scientists.

Vision of the Department

The department seeks to provide affordable and contemporary education in Zoology making its students able to perform in research, in conservation of biodiversity and human health and to equip them with professional skills to become entrepreneurs and establish their startups.

Facilities

Curriculum :

The course structure being followed is as per UGC guidelines and Choice Based Credit System (CBCS). Students can opt from a wide range of Discipline Specific Electives as per their interest. Skill Enhancement Courses are offered to graduate students to equip them with professional skills to become entrepreneurs. Students are provided with the option of guided research projects at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

The designed curriculum of postgraduate studies includes the content which makes the students able to prepare and qualify CSIR-NET/ARS/GATE and other equivalent competitive Examinations. Various specializations offered to M.Sc. Students are Entomology, Cytogenetics, Fisheries, and Parasitology.

Effective modes of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) are adopted for Teaching in classrooms and Laboratories. The teaching faculty is encouraged to enhance their profiles through faculty development programmes, trainings/ workshops at institutes of national repute which help them to contribute in curriculum designing, addition of recent practicals and improvising the research projects of the students.

Infrastructure:

The department comprises of laboratories with excellent infrastructure, a museum, an apiary and an aquarium. The departmental library holds adequate physical and digital resources of textbooks as well as reference books relevant to various courses taught in the department and also stocks some competitive study material.

Major Instruments

Aquarium, Vertical Laminar flow, DSLR Camera, Binoculars, Digital Weighing Balance, pH Meter, Compound Microscopes, Binocular Microscopes, Stereomicroscope with camera, Dissecting Microscopes BOD Incubator, Egg Incubator, Gel Electrophoretic Units, Soxhlet Apparatus, Microtome, Colorimeter, Centrifuge, Water Bath, Rotary Shaker, Hot Air Oven, Autoclave, Field Water Testing Kits, Insect Light Traps, Haemometer, Haemocytometer, Sphygnomanonometer, Slide/ Live material Projector, Water distillation Unit.

Museum

The museum of Zoology Department is one of the major attractions of the department. Our brilliant collection showcases the diversity of animal life. There is an Entomological section with display of wide collection of insects to appreciate the diversity and importance of the group. The osteology section has the skeleton of different animal groups to study comparative anatomy and evolutionary relationships of vertebrates. Collection of corals and shells are also an attractive feature of the museum.

Clubs/Societies

Zoological Society is constituted every year nominating candidates from various classes. Society regularly conducts visits and Educational Trips to zoological parks, National parks, wildlife sanctuaries and organises Science Fest and outreach activities.

Activities of the Department

The interaction with scientists and academicians in the basic and applied field of Zoology by organizing guest lectures and holding workshops/ training sessions keep the students abreast with latest advances in the field.

Visits to research laboratories of the institutes of national repute is a regular feature of the department. Zoological Society regularly conducts visits and Educational Trips to Zoological parks, National parks, Wildlife sanctuaries, Science Fest and outreach activities.

Celebrating Wildlife Week, National Science Day and World Wetland day are the annual events of the department.

Research and Publications

The Department is covered under “Star College Scheme” by DBT, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India. The department is provided with Seed Grant of Rs. 50,000 for high quality research. Dissertation is offered to under- graduate and post- graduate students in various fields of Molecular Biology, Entomology, Parasitology, Fisheries. Among the Teaching faculty, there are experts in the field of Molecular Biology, Entomology, Parasitology, Fisheries and Physiology. Faculty has a good number of SCI publications. The faculty members regularly attend workshops, seminars, symposia, conferences and Faculty Development Programmes to upgrade their knowledge and skills to make students aware of contemporary advancements in life sciences.