The Department of Zoology was established in the year 1972. The Autonomy status to the college has made the department to frame need-based curriculum with innovative core and electives subjects to cater the needs of emerging specializations in the life science arena. The UG curriculum encompasses wide-ranging scientific area which plays an important role in modern developments like biotechnology, immunology, bioinformatics and genetic engineering.
As a core discipline in biological sciences, Zoology is the fundamental subject in the field of fisheries, sericulture, vermiculture etc. The department engages frequent field trips that gives students an on-field experience on the biodiversity of animals, study of fossils and also, they get an edge to the hands-on experience in the field of vermiculture, sericulture and pisciculture. This skill based elective courses (SBEC) empowers students to become entrepreneursin their elective subjects. Well established labs have provided students hands on experience in the latest fields through well experienced expertise faculties.
The freedom to specialise or maintain breadth in the field of Zoology and the range of research, M.Sc., Zoology, course was started in the year 2012. The programme has been designed to offer several innovative subjects at the Post Graduate level likeAnimal behaviour, Animal Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Nanotechnology andResearch Methodology. These subjects are catered to students by remarkable range of the faculty’s expertise and interests. This comprehensive curriculum which encompasses the CSIR NET syllabus enables students to appear for competitive exams conducted by various research Institutions.
Well established lab facilities engage students to undergo their projects within the campus. Visits to Industrial and Research Institutes has made students to develop interest in the diverse field of zoology.The department’s link with various organisations has galvanised the course outcome.
The current areas of interest in Biology have been incorporated into the curriculum to make our students compete globally. In PG, CSIR-NET based curriculum has been incorporated. To make education “Student centric”, all Skilled based elective courses Sericulture, Pisciculture and Vermitechnology have been converted to Practical oriented programmes with a thrust on field visits. These courses promote practical skills, entrepreneurship and employment. Collaboration with the CSI Mission hospital for the DAMLT programme.Collaborative research with the Bharathidasan university in the Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Butterfly Park, Srirangam and Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary, Ariyalur.
Association of the department invites experts from diversified fields of biology for a better exposure on the current areas of interest.Workshops are conducted in the thrust areas of Biology for the staff and students to promote research aptitude among students. To have an insight into the practical aspects of curriculum, field visits and educational tour to reputed National Institutions and Wildlife sanctuaries are regularly arranged by the Department. Faculty members are publishing books, receiving awards, invited as resource persons, member of Board of studies and reviewer in the reputed journals.
The Department is proud to conduct WINGS a state level intercollegiate competitions centered on the field of Biology from 2015 onwards annually. Its objective is to bring out the hidden talents of the students and help them explore new frontiers.As a part of the DAMLT programme activities, Annual Medical Camps have been organized for the benefit of the staff and students of the college and also for the villagers and school children.