Zoology: Understand the Animal World (The Great Courses Series)

What is the Zoology: Understanding the Animal World Course for Teachers?

In this course, The Great Courses teams up with the Smithsonian, the acknowledged leader in animal research, conservation, and education, to bring you these visually rich video lectures that take you behind the scenes of not only the animal world but of the scientists trying to understand how it works. This course offers a wonderful introduction to the fundamentals of zoology through the eyes of a trained zoologist, bringing you up close and personal with a breathtaking variety of animal species: crocodiles, birds of prey, lions, dolphins, giant pandas, elephants, and more. Packed with exclusive footage from zoos, research parks, and animals in their natural habitats, as well as interviews with other Smithsonian scientists, these video lectures will reveal the hidden world of animals in a way no other course could ever hope to do.

Learn What Zoologists Do

Modern zoological research is discovering subtle but important differences between species that aren’t necessarily apparent to the naked eye. While most of the time, the public sees a zoo as an entertaining and educational way to spend an afternoon, your average zoo is also a vital part of research and conservation activities going on across the world. To make this scientific field a little more manageable to grasp, and to guide your learning in a way that builds upon insights, we have organized this course into three general sections.

• Start with the basics of zoology. Topics include the intriguing relationship between genetics and environment, sexual behaviors in different animal groups, parenting styles and their evolutionary importance, and the role conservation plays in our current research into the animal kingdom.
• Explore the different orders of life on our planet. It’s a colorful tour that takes you from the ocean depths to the highest treetops and reveals the characteristics of different animal orders (invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, fish, mammals) as well as the astounding diversity within them.
• Investigate special subjects intriguing today’s zoologists. How do animals interact with their environments and with one another (including human beings)? How do we study animal intelligence, and can animals think? What diseases threaten animals in the wild and in zoos? How can we ensure the survival of endangered species?

Meet Incredible Animals

Of course, the most fascinating part of zoology are the animals themselves. Each module features some of the most incredible animals on Earth. And thanks to the special footage from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and others, you’ll be able to see these and other animals in action—without the crowds. Not only this, but you will see exclusive behind-the-scenes footage only available in this course, including a sneak peek at a baby giant panda filmed months before the first public viewing. You’ll also learn a host of other interesting facts about what zoologists now know about animal life. In fact, you may be surprised to discover some things you thought you knew are mostly myths. It’s a wide, wild world out there. And with this engaging and informative course, you’ll be better equipped to get out there and discover the wonders that live in it, whether they’re in your local zoo, aquarium, national park, or right in your own backyard. Assignments address the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) for Science.

The Great Courses Video Content

FPU’s Zoology: Understanding the Animal World provides a lecture series of 24 videos of 30 minutes each. You’ll learn from award-winning professors and researchers who present the information in a practical and accessible format that allows you to apply new concepts in your classroom. Students can reference videos, podcasts, worksheets, online activities, journal articles and other resources that provide a comprehensive look at the importance of the animal world as a vital component of the health of the planet. There is no required textbook, but a course guidebook is included with the cost of the course.

This course is applicable towards the Life Science Teaching Certificate.