Zoologists are scientists who study the behavior, physiology, and classification of animals. They work anywhere that animals are found: zoos, state parks, nature preserves, natural history museums, farms, or industry. Some zoologists are researchers who spend most of their time in the field, while others do the bulk of their research in the lab.
Hiring for government and public university positions, very significant sources for jobs in the discipline, depends very much on the state of the budget; however, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects growth in this fields during the next decade. The median annual salary for a zoologist is around $58,000.
Associate's Degree
Some community colleges and trade colleges offer zoology programs. The curriculum of these is organized to allow the student to transfer the credits to a four-year university to earn a bachelor's degree, which is a requirement for entry-level jobs in the field.
The courses leading to an associate's degree in biology provide a science background that the student can build on after he transfers to a bachelor's program.
Bachelor's Degree in Zoology
For many entry level jobs in zoology, a bachelor's degree is all that is needed. A bachelor's degree takes around four years to complete. Besides the general education requirements necessary for all undergraduates, some courses are of particular importance to zoologist education.
In the latter part of undergraduate coursework, the zoology student takes some classes that both help him broaden his knowledge and allow him to focus on an area of particular interest. Zoology students who choose a secondary education specialization go on to teach biology in high school.
A zoology degree serves as a good basis for graduate studies in ecology, conservation, and other fields related to the environment. Those planning to attend veterinary school frequently choose zoology as their undergraduate degree, as do students who intend to teach zoology or other life sciences at the university level.
Graduates entering the workforce with a bachelor's degree in zoology can expect to work in entry-level jobs of all sorts. Some of these involve working directly with animals, while others are lab research or administrative positions.
Not all practicing zoologists attended colleges with zoology majors. An undergraduate degree in biology, with a focus on zoology or on wildlife biology, frequently serves the same purpose as a zoology major. It can be just as useful in obtaining entry-level positions in the field.
Master's Degree in Zoology
Requirements for entering a master's-level zoology program vary from one school to the next. Broadly speaking, applicants should have a bachelor's degree in a related field; if the undergraduate degree is not in one of the sciences, evidence of some science coursework is desirable. Schools often require G.R.E. results.
Typically, a master's degree in zoology takes around two years to earn. Some programs require the completion of a thesis, or the taking of an oral exam, while others do not. The classes involved in earning a master's degree in zoology include both broad and area-specific courses. Students choose a particular concentration, either a certain animal class, some biological phenomenon common to a range of animals, or the relationship between animals and their environment.
Because of the relative breadth of their experience and the discipline required in earning a master's degree, graduate students are preferred by some employers over applicants with only bachelor's degrees. Beyond entry-level positions, those who have earned master's degrees also qualify for some roles that call for research skills or specific kinds of knowledge.
Ph.D. in Zoology
Those zoology students who plan to devote their careers to research at a university or another institution pursue doctoral degrees. A doctorate takes as long as six years to complete. The work required for a degree at this level involves synthesizing original research with literature. Doctoral students present their hypotheses and findings in a dissertation, and contribute to journal as well. Some schools require that doctoral students dedicate a certain percentage of their time to teaching class, and that they maintain a minimum G.P.A.
Classes for doctoral students consist primarily of dissertation and research hours, with some seminars. Jobs for people graduating with a doctoral degree in zoology are both instructional and administrative.
We found 76 schools offering "Zoology General" degree programs in the U.S.
>> See all 76 Zoology General Colleges in the U.S.
