Established in 1965, the Department of Zoology, in the Faculty of Science, aimed to train graduates with competency to teach Biology in Secondary Schools and to conduct research in government departments and parastatal research institutions.

Later, in 1974, the Department established two new major subjects, Marine Biology (MB) and Wildlife Ecology and Management (WE). It was during this time that the second epithet of the department’s name (i.e. Marine Biology) was coined, hence became known as “Zoology and Marine Biology”.

The Department jointly with Botany introduced the undergraduate Biology Programme (BL) in 1982; again, it was in response to the Government’s expressed need for prospective teachers for Secondary Schools and Colleges to study two appropriate teaching subjects at the University. Since its establishment, the Department has trained many graduates now employed in various Government sectors, institutions etc. as well as the private sector.