Аннотация:Based on new archival materials, this paper reconstructs the pre-revolutionary system of women’s training in zoology at the Moscow Higher Women’s Courses. The history of teaching zoology at the Women’s Courses is the first experience of a large-scale training in life sciences for female students based on the university-level curricula. The zoological laboratory opened at the Courses in 1904 to train the auditors in histology, embryology, and evolutionism. The academic quality of education was provided by Moscow University professors, M.A. Menzbir, N.K. Kol’tsov, and P.P. Sushkin, who were invited to teach at the Courses. The training, which lasted from September through May included lectures, the female students attended practicums; many attended scientific seminars and circles, and also conducted research under the guidance of eminent scientists. The laboratory was fitted with the necessary equipment, collections, and professional literature: all of this was regularly updated and replenished, which was paid with the Courses’ own funds and charity donations. The experience of organizing the teaching and learning process at the Zoological Laboratory was shared with the participants in 12th Congress of Natural Scientists and Physicians in Moscow to demonstrate different forms and methods of zoological teaching. In 1918, the Courses were reorganized into the Second Moscow University. Nevertheless, the traditions of prerevolutionary education were adopted by the teachers of the nascent soviet higher school and implemented in teaching practices. Among those who received training in zoology at the Moscow Higher Women’s Courses were S.L. Frolova, N.N. Ladygina-Kohts, M.P. Sadovnikova-Kol’tsova, V.N. Shreder, and others who became renowned scientists in the fields of zoology, cytology and genetics, the teachers and organizers of Russian science.