Career Alternatives for Zoology degree graduates

By Erik Clinch


Zoologists, also called animal scientists or animal biologists, specialize in observing animals both in their natural habitats and inside the laboratory.

These scientists focus on expanding our knowledge about animal origin and development, ailments, genetics, behavioral patterns, and environmental interactions.

Zoology is an extremely broad field of study, and zoologists work in all areas of animal life, studying processes from the most simple to the highly complex.

As the main part of their studies, zoologists may possibly study the biological processes of one worker ant, or investigate the complex behavioral patterns of the whole colony.

Zoologists can choose between many distinct sub-specialties such as physiology, cell biology, developmental biology, neurology, endocrinology, behavior, anatomy, evolution, ornithology, entomology, mammalogy, and herpetology.

Degree programs in zoology teach a wide range of capabilities including understanding genetic, physiological, evolutionary, cellular and ecological processes; understanding crucial principles of associated disciplines like physics, chemistry and mathematics; familiarity with existing problems in the biological sciences; critically evaluating scientific data; conducting scientific experiments utilizing conceptual skills and quantitative problem-solving as fundamental elements of the planning procedure; investigating the diversity of life and studying its complexity; researching the function humans play in natural systems; collecting relevant information from a range of sources; evaluating real-world scenarios and applying theoretical understanding when needed; documenting observations accurately; and sharing the outcomes of their investigations.

Graduates with a bachelor's zoology degree can get some jobs as technicians and research assistants, though realistically they will face only limited opportunities for advancement.

But more generally it's used to prepare students for pursuing an advanced degree in a wide variety of fields which include veterinary medicine, medical school, optometry, dentistry, ecology, zoology, wildlife science, marine science, cell biology, and also other related disciplines.

Students who have earned a master's degree in zoology or a related field are qualified for some jobs as teachers or research assistants, but typically a career as a zoologist does require a doctoral degree.

Academic and teaching positions frequently require a doctoral degree, as does employment at other institutions such as zoos and museums where investigations into animal behavior and ailments can also be carried out.

The federal government also hires zoologists for positions as conservation specialists, wildlife managers and agricultural scientists.

And biological supply services and pharmaceutical companies are yet another potential area of employment for graduates with a doctoral degree in zoology.

Here is a brief list of the sort of jobs that graduates with a zoology degree could possibly work in:

Agricultural Commodity Inspector, Animal Trainer, Biochemist, Endocrinologist, Environmental Planner, Fish & Wildlife Technician, Game Warden, Laboratory Technician, Museum Zoologist, Pharmaceutical Sales Representative, Scientific Writer, Veterinarian, and Wildlife Researcher.




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