After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• understand and reproduce the basic knowledge in general biology, including molecular biology genetics and physiology
• explain and interpret fundamental technical terms in botany, zoology and ecology
• recognize or identify typical members of the Central European flora and fauna and place them within the phylogenetic system
• recognize members of lower plants, fungi and invertebrates on the level of higher taxa
• collect biological data by an appropriate method and analyse them correctly by basic biostatistical methods
• conduct desk top research using all relevant information sources and summarize and interpret the obtained information
• present results of their own research in written and oral form of adequate standard

The graduates of this study programme have acquired basic theoretical knowledge and special practical skills in the fields of general biology, botany, zoology and ecology. They are able to work as research assistants and analysts under guidance and supervision within institutions conducting basic and applied research or public administration in the field of nature conservation and environmental protection, such as biological departments of universities, biological institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences, state institutions responsible for nature conservation and environmental protection, private companies providing assessments in the fields of nature conservation and environmental protection, natural history departments of museums, botanical gardens, forestry and agricultural research institutes under the corresponding ministries, and comparable institutions abroad.

The standard duration of studies is six semesters.To be admitted to the final state examination, students must obtain a total of 180 ECTS credits for required, selective and elective courses according to their required composition (30 credits per semester on average). The recommended study plan is the same for all students in the 1st year of studies, during which they have to earn 54 credits for required courses. The rest of the credits should be earned predominantly by taking some of the elective courses explicitly recommended in the Course Catalogue. From the 2nd year onwards, there is a separate study plan for each of the two specializations, i.e. Botany and Zoology (depending on the field in which each student plans to write their Bachelor's thesis). Students have to decide on their specialization at the end of the 1st year, that is before enrolling in courses for the 3rd semester. In the 2nd year, students of Botany have to earn 38 credits and students of Zoology 30 credits for required courses. Further, in Botany at least 7 credits have to be earned for selective courses. In Zoology, each student has to choose from the category of selective courses one of the courses leading to a specialization in accordance with the field of their envisaged Bachelor's thesis; 26 credits should be earned during the 2nd year for elective courses. In the 3rd year, students specializing in Botany have to earn 34 credits for required courses, 18 for selective courses and the remaining 8 credits for elective ones. Students specializing in Zoology have to earn 25 credits for required courses, 4 credits for selective ones and the remaining 31 credits for elective courses, taking into consideration the recommendations given in the Course Catalogue. Students have to attend two sports courses during their studies and to pass an examination of the English for Specific Purposes at the B1 level before receiving the official assignment of their Bachelor's thesis. Students of Botany are obliged to take part in at least two selective field courses in Botany. During the course of their studies, students should follow the Course Catalogue for their year of matriculation.

Practical training (in the sense of internships or other work stays at third parties – beyond the practical skills acquired during the laboratory and field courses) is not part of the curriculum.

The final state examination consists of the Bachelor's thesis (for detailed requirements see http://botzool.sci.muni.cz/theses/pokyny_bc.pdf), including its defence, and of a written examination. The written examination consists of questions from three subject areas: (1) fundamentals of the system and evolution of plants, (1) fundamentals of the system and evolution of animals, and (3) fundamentals of ecology. By answering the questions by text and, possibly, drawings, etc., students prove factual knowledge and ability to present this knowledge in a logic way and to adequately use technical language; scientific names on all taxonomic levels are required. The overall grade is the arithmetic mean of the four grades awarded for the Bachelor's thesis and the three parts of the written examination (in equivocal cases the decision is made by the board of examiners).

At the Faculty of Science, the direct follow-up is the Master's degree programme in Ecological and Evolutionary Biology with its study programmes of Botany and Zoology. Provided that the admission requirements are met, graduates can pursue further studies in any Master's degree programme.