What Training Is Needed to Become a Zoologist?
Zoology, simply put, is the study of animal biology. A zoologist receives training through a college education with a bachelor's degree in zoology. Because zoology is a broad topic, a prospective zoologist chooses from several degrees within the zoology field. Zoologists can also go on to receive more training through graduate degrees.
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Courses
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Regardless of the specific area of zoology to be studied, all zoology students must take many of the same basic courses. The zoologist takes general education classes in subjects such as writing, history and communication. Zoology students also take many science classes in chemistry and physics. Finally, zoology students take classes in their chosen specialty field within zoology. These classes can include such things as animal behavior, animal genetics and ecology.
Types of Zoology Degrees
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Both bachelor's of arts and bachelor's of science degrees in zoology are available to students. The arts degree focuses more on the humanities aspects of zoology. This degree would be appropriate for someone who wanted to work in public relations, sales or politics with a focus on animals. The science degree is aimed towards the zoologist who wants to be involved in research, working with zoos and other hands on scientific work. Zoology students must also pick a concentration within the topic. Some schools specialize in one concentration, such as the University of Rhode Island's Marine Biology program. Other schools offer many concentrations, such as Michigan State, which offers seven concentrations within the bachelor's of science in Zoology degree program, including marine biology and animal behavior and neurobiology.
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Graduate Degrees
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A zoologist can receive further training through a Master's degree or even a doctoral degree. These programs generally involve one-on-one study with zoology faculty and involve research, lab experiments and a thesis presentation on the research and experiments conducted. This gives the zoologist freedom to pursue a narrow topic of interest and become an expert in that field.
Job Outlook
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The United States government expects job growth in the area of biological sciences, including zoology, to grow by 21 percent from 2008 to 2018. Zoologists can expect to make between $48,000 and $56,000 with a bachelor's degree and can work in a variety of fields from hospitals to wildlife organizations and even as writers for scientific journals.
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References
- Photo Credit Tanzania, Wildlife, scenery, Pemba, Swahili, Safari, Serengeti image by GeorgeT from Fotolia.com
