The teaching methodology of this course is designed to promote active and autonomous learning. Students will work using the information provided by the teaching staff, together with the recommended learning resources and materials. The role of the teaching staff is to facilitate knowledge acquisition, guide the learning process, and encourage the development of analytical, integrative, and critical-thinking skills. To achieve these objectives, the course is organized into the following activities:

Lectures:

Lectures provide the fundamental scientific and technical knowledge of the course. These contents must be complemented by students’ independent work through personal study and consultation of the recommended bibliography and learning materials.

Classroom practical sessions:

Classroom practical sessions are intended to deepen and consolidate the contents covered in lectures through activities such as the analysis and discussion of audiovisual materials, problem-solving exercises, and the analysis of zoological information. These activities aim to foster analytical and synthetic skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.

Laboratory and field practical sessions:

During practical sessions, students will work with zoological material both in the laboratory and in the field. Activities will include observation of specimens and preparations, anatomical and morphological study of different zoological groups, dissections, specimen identification, and the application of terrestrial sampling techniques. These practical sessions are intended to reinforce and complement the knowledge acquired during lectures and seminars, while also developing observational, analytical, and zoological identification skills. At the same time, environmental awareness and sensitivity toward biodiversity conservation will be promoted.

Tutorials:

Students will have access to tutorial sessions to resolve questions, clarify concepts, and receive guidance on recommended materials and information sources. Tutorial schedules will be arranged with the teaching staff through the virtual campus.

Note:

Fifteen minutes of a teaching session, within the timetable established by the faculty or degree programme, will be reserved for students to complete the institutional teaching and course evaluation surveys.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

This course follows a continuous assessment system throughout the semester, including several assessment activities of different types. No single activity accounts for more than 50% of the final grade.

Theory

Midterm examinations:

These examinations assess students’ acquired knowledge, as well as their analytical, synthetic, and critical-thinking skills. Each examination will include multiple-choice questions and open-ended questions, including conceptual questions and diagram-based exercises. Two midterm examinations covering separate course contents will be held: one corresponding to the Arthropods block and the other to the Chordates block. Each examination will account for 30% of the final grade.

Final reassessment examination:

Students who obtain a grade lower than 4 out of 10 in either midterm examination may retake the corresponding part in the final reassessment examination. Students wishing to improve the grade obtained in one or both parts may also sit the final examination. In this case, taking the final examination will imply renouncing the previously obtained grade for that part. Each theoretical block will retain a weighting of 30% of the final grade. To average the theory grade with the remaining assessment activities, the average theory grade must be at least 4 out of 10.

Classroom practical sessions

Both submitted assignments and the individual and group activities carried out during the sessions will be assessed. This activity is not reassessable.

The classroom practical sessions will account for 20% of the final grade.

Laboratory and field practical sessions

Attendance at practical sessions is mandatory. At the end of each practical session, students must complete an individual test or assessment activity related to the contents and competences covered. The practical sessions corresponding to the Arthropods and Chordates blocks will each account for 10% of the final grade, resulting in an overall weighting of 20% for practical activities.

To average the practical grade with the remaining assessment activities, the average practical grade must be at least 4 out of 10. This activity is not reassessable.

Single assessment

Students opting for the single assessment system must complete the laboratory practical sessions (PLAB) and field practical sessions (PCAM) in person. These practical activities must be passed and will account for 20% of the final grade. Likewise, attendance at classroom practical sessions (PAUL) will be mandatory and will have the same weighting as in continuous assessment (20%). The single assessment will consist of a comprehensive examination including multiple-choice and open-ended questions covering all theoretical course contents. The comprehensive examination will account for 60% of the final grade, while laboratory and field practical sessions will account for 20% and classroom practical sessions for the remaining 20%. The single assessment examination will take place on the same date scheduled for the final continuous assessment examination, and the same reassessment system will apply.

To pass the course, students must obtain a minimum final grade of 5 out of 10 overall and a minimum grade of 4 out of 10 in the theory component. The review of final grades will follow the same procedure as for continuous assessment. The same “Not assessed” criteria used in continuous assessment will apply.

Final considerations

The minimum overall grade required to pass the course is 5 out of 10. To be eligible for reassessment, students must previously have been assessed in activities representing at least two-thirds of the final course grade. Therefore, students whose completed assessment activities account for less than 67% of the final grade will receive a “Not assessed” mark.

Students who are unable to attend an individual assessment activity for justified reasons and provide the corresponding official supporting documentation will be entitled to complete the assessment on an alternative date.

Use of artificial intelligence (AI): restricted use. In this course, the use of artificial intelligence tools is permitted only as support for tasks such as bibliographic or information searches, language correction, or translations. Students must explicitly indicate which parts of the work have been produced with the support of these tools, specify the technologies used, and include a brief critical reflection on their influence on the preparation process and the final outcome of the activity.

Any irregularity in an assessment activity —including academic fraud, plagiarism, or misuse of AI— that may lead to a significant alteration of the assessment outcome will result in the activity being graded with a 0. If such irregularity occurs in an assessment activity for which a minimum grade is required, or if multiple irregularities are detected throughout the course, the final course grade will be 0. Regardless of the grade obtained, the university may initiate the corresponding disciplinary procedures in accordance with academic regulations.