What kind of degree would be/is needed for working @ Aquarium/Zoo?

[Plasticmotif]

I got my undergraduate degree in Fishery Biology. Mainly fish husbandry. You can do a slew of other things. Marine Biology. Ichthyology. As far as zoos go, mammology or ornithology always is a big booster.

If'n you want a better chance at a job. Pick something obscure like I'm doing. Biology/Fishery/Wildlife undergrad then Fish Parasitology graduate...

 

[polish]

What aspects to you want to be part of?

Honestly I really don't know what is out there, I've never looked into it because it's just been a pipe dream. In all reality I'd like to work somewhere like Shedd and take care of Fish/Aquariums or do the same thing for a Zoo. In the end though it would be just as rewarding to work with any Animals. I'd be game for anything from feeding to cleaning cages to monitoring health to just general care and maintenance. Obviously at the beginning I couldn't be to picky as it seems it's hard to get a job anywhere in this field especially making decent money. I read a lot of the Ads on the Zoo/Aquarium job link you posted and some of them start @ $8 an hour. There is no way I could live off that or even close, I mean how could one even afford a mortgage making $16k a year. I don't think I make much now and I make double that and it's still not easy. So perhaps I need to try and figure out which jobs maybe have a little higher starting pay than $8 an hour and shoot for that. I could certainly take a small pay cut, especially seeing as I'd be starting at the bottom again but there is just no way I could live on $16k a year. Any ideas on what to research? I'm starting from nothing here aside from 15 years fish/pet keeping experience. (I am 26 for what it's worth)


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Plasticmotif, I got my undergraduate degree in Fishery Biology. Mainly fish husbandry. You can do a slew of other things. Marine Biology. Ichthyology. As far as zoos go, mammology or ornithology always is a big booster.

If'n you want a better chance at a job. Pick something obscure like I'm doing. Biology/Fishery/Wildlife undergrad then Fish Parasitology graduate...

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Thanks much, I will be looking into all that as I'm not even familiar with most of those terms at this point. I have a lot to learn but I've got nothing but time.

 

[Zoodiver]

Well, it's tight, let me tell ya. A lot of people work a part time job on the side to pay bills.

School and a good internship will be the best bet for getting your foot in the door. Check out Oregon Coast CC - the have an aquarium science program that is top notch.
Figuring out what area you want to be in will help. Aquatic animal husbandry is a tight job, and lots want it. Learn all aspects of the job... As a person who hires new people, if I have two similar applications, but one knows how to plumb and run electrical wiring, I'm sold on those things. Far more to animal care in a zoo/aquarium than just science.

 

[Ash]

As for the schooling I am currenty going for Animal Biology. Yes you have to start with all the crap classes you dont need beacuse no University is just going to let you in and let you start working for an BA/BS without your AA/AS. I am just finishing up my AA right now. Just in working for my AA I have tried taking all science classes related to the aspects of Biology that I am intrested in. I am WAY over the credits to graduate and should have been done semesters ago, but I need the science classes and it takes a long time to get all the required calases you need just for the University of "insert here" to consider to take you to start on your BA/BS. If you go for any Biology filed Universitys are only looking at you Sceince/Math GPA, What classes you took and do you have all of the Universitys requirements as well as (in my case) a Community Colleges requirements. It's a pain and a lot of hardwork so you have to make sure it is something you want to learn before you put in all the time for it. Also be preapred for internships and volunteering. I did one Internship at the Chelonian Research Institute and I am trying to do another one at the zoo or seaworld. I personally dont mind because this is what I ve wanted to do from a kid. Like everyone else says, its not a money making field so be preapred. The more basic your degree is the more you can do with it, the more specific it is, the less you can do. However the specific degrees are going to help becuase you have studied more on that subject, but as said before... getting you foot in the door by volunteering and interning is what is really going to help you! One of the great things (at least in FL) is that your always only a few classes away from getting another type of biology degree because most of them require the same base classes, meaning you can do both base and specific degrees or base degrees with concentrations in certian areas (most Universitys here give you that option so you can do them both at the same time). It really just depends on what you want to do - just be prepared for an arseload of schooling.

 

[polish]

Well, it's tight, let me tell ya. A lot of people work a part time job on the side to pay bills.

School and a good internship will be the best bet for getting your foot in the door. Check out Oregon Coast CC - the have an aquarium science program that is top notch.
Figuring out what area you want to be in will help. Aquatic animal husbandry is a tight job, and lots want it. Learn all aspects of the job... As a person who hires new people, if I have two similar applications, but one knows how to plumb and run electrical wiring, I'm sold on those things. Far more to animal care in a zoo/aquarium than just science.

Well really I'd like to stay where I am (Fort Wayne, IN) so I could keep my current job while attending school here. There are a couple schools locally, I know one offers a degree in Biology. I am not sure about the others, I've just started my research the last few days. Then once I am done relocate, as it would likely be necessary at that point because I doubt I could luck out and get hired at the local zoo but you never know. I wouldn't completely throw out the idea of relocating for the right school but that would be a HUGE amount of work, I'm not sure I could make it happen at this point. Funny thing you mentioned a part time job, after reading some of the pay figures I was already thinking it might be needed. Funny you mention electrical as well, I've done low voltage work for many years but I can also do high voltage along with the fact that I worked on cars for a couple years (At a real shop, not just my garage but I've done that too) and can fix/install just about anything electrical or mechanical including cars and small engines. I didn't think that would be much help in this field but if it's a good skill to have that surely makes me feel better.

As for the schooling I am currenty going for Animal Biology. Yes you have to start with all the crap classes you dont need beacuse no University is just going to let you in and let you start working for an BA/BS without your AA/AS. I am just finishing up my AA right now. Just in working for my AA I have tried taking all science classes related to the aspects of Biology that I am intrested in. I am WAY over the credits to graduate and should have been done semesters ago, but I need the science classes and it takes a long time to get all the required calases you need just for the University of "insert here" to consider to take you to start on your BA/BS. If you go for any Biology filed Universitys are only looking at you Sceince/Math GPA, What classes you took and do you have all of the Universitys requirements as well as (in my case) a Community Colleges requirements. It's a pain and a lot of hardwork so you have to make sure it is something you want to learn before you put in all the time for it. Also be preapred for internships and volunteering. I did one Internship at the Chelonian Research Institute and I am trying to do another one at the zoo or seaworld. I personally dont mind because this is what I ve wanted to do from a kid. Like everyone else says, its not a money making field so be preapred. The more basic your degree is the more you can do with it, the more specific it is, the less you can do. However the specific degrees are going to help becuase you have studied more on that subject, but as said before... getting you foot in the door by volunteering and interning is what is really going to help you! One of the great things (at least in FL) is that your always only a few classes away from getting another type of biology degree because most of them require the same base classes, meaning you can do both base and specific degrees or base degrees with concentrations in certian areas (most Universitys here give you that option so you can do them both at the same time). It really just depends on what you want to do - just be prepared for an arseload of schooling.

Thanks Ash, I wish I was still in Orlando. (Grew up there) Having Sea World along with the other places there would certainly broaden the choices as far as volunteering and internships go. If I stay here I'll have to hope I can get lucky and get in at the local Zoo. As far as the school goes, I really don't mind learning when it's stuff I want to learn, however some of the early courses may irk me a bit, it's all good though. It is the only thing at this point I can think of as far as a Career goes. Nothing else even interests me in the slightest, I could easily take over the family business but I can not stand it anymore so thats a big, No thanks. I am one of the type that if I never tried I'd be bummed, even if I get all done and in 6-8 years decide it's not for me at least I can say I tried. Better then sitting in my silly office all day wondering what else I could be doing. Thanks for the insight though.

 

[oceanobsession289]

Well, it's tight, let me tell ya. A lot of people work a part time job on the side to pay bills.

School and a good internship will be the best bet for getting your foot in the door. Check out Oregon Coast CC - the have an aquarium science program that is top notch.

THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING!!!!!!! I just moved out here to Oregon for the Aquarium Science Program and i'm so excited! (see signature) There are also zookeeping schools, Moorepark in California and Gainesville in Florida that I looked into.

If you don't want to move I think the biggest thing is just putting yourself out there and working your butt off to make a good impression. That's how you can set yourself apart from everyone else if you are volunteering/interning. Networking is also huge!!!! I have already found that this industry is small and everyone knows everyone.

 

[Zoodiver]

I have already found that this industry is small and everyone knows everyone.

Hey, I know you!
(And Smoky says 'hi'.)


But joking aside, that's more good info. Work your tail off and earn a good reputation as a hard and smart worker. It will open a lot of doors down the line.

 

[polish]

Interesting, I will keep that in mind. Thanks again.

I doubt it but does anyone know if the Biology program at IPFW is good? If anyone has a minute take a quick look and tell me what you think if possible. Just some of the courses alone sound like a ton of fun. (No sarcasm)

http://bulletin.ipfw.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=8&poid=1452&bc=1

 

[Zoodiver]

Purdue actually tried to get me to sign a letter of intent fairly hard when I was in highschool (not for biology reasons). The program is pretty good.

 

[Plasticmotif]

If I had the choice to go back to any school I'd go to Souther Illinois at Carbondale....or I woulda forked over the cash and gone to Cornell. Ithaca may suck, but the school is amazing.

Dr. Brooks Burr has the dream job, like, no joke. The school is pretty amazing as far as fishery sciences goes.

The general biology degree is nice....but - I'd go from specific to more specific. Find a niche you like after about 2 years in college then stick with it.