Department of Zoology
The department of Zoology happens to be one of the oldest departments of the college, that started as the department of Biological Sciences along with the department of Botany in 1954-55. The department of Zoology got its own identity after being separated from the department of Botany in 1984 - 85. The department offers both honours and general courses in Zoology that are being run by a group of experienced and efficient faculty members. The department organizes regular excursion (both long and short distance) for providing its students the taste of Nature and its faunal components to make learning a joy. The students are also encouraged to participate in different outreach activities and quiz, seminar lecture, poster presentation competitions frequently.
The strength of the Department lies with the learning resources. The Department houses a seminar library encompassing the different facets of life sciences from classical zoology to molecular biology to cater to the academic needs of the students. There is also a highly updated students’ library which is funded and managed exclusively by the students. The department has two spacious laboratories with modern-day instruments. The department boasts of a large zoological museum which is unique of its kind. The museum hosts several rare and unique specimens which are found hardly in other colleges.
From 2019, the department opened its doors for offering post-graduate course in Zoology under the University of Calcutta. The PG Department of Zoology is dedicated to advancing knowledge and research in the field of Zoology. Situated within the broader framework of Vivekananda College, renowned for its commitment to excellence in education, the Post-graduate Department upholds the college's ethos of holistic development and scholarly inquiry. The Postgraduate Programs are designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of zoology, encompassing both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. With a focus on interdisciplinary approaches, the curriculum integrates various subfields of zoology, including Invertebrate and Vertebrate Study, Cell Biology, Genetics, Developmental Biology, Immunology, Biochemistry and Genetic Engineering, Animal Behaviour, Biostatistics, Ecology, Physiology, Evolution and Conservation Biology. The Postgraduate Department is also equipped with three state-of-the-art laboratories, research facilities, and resources necessary for conducting cutting-edge research and experiments, and has two ICT enabled classrooms. It's noteworthy to mention that since inception in 2019 and till date 2024, 4 students have secured All India Rank at the UGC-CSIR Examination.
Faculty members within the department are highly qualified experts in their respective fields, fostering an intellectually stimulating environment for students. Through their mentorship, students are encouraged to engage in research projects, participate in scientific conferences, and contribute to publications, thereby honing their critical thinking and analytical abilities.
Today, the alumni of this department are well established in their respective fields worldwide.