How exactly to go about becoming a zoo curator and a zoo director?

[Nature123]

Hi! I was wondering, how exactly do you go about becoming a zoo curator and director? I'd like to become either one of those when I get out of college. I'm currently either going to go for college for zoology or biology, but most likely zoology to get a head start. I'm currently a senior in high school and I volunteer at a local zoo so I'm planning to ask them too, but I just want to get an insight on here first.

So, for a zoo curator, what are the qualifications to become one? Would a zoology undergrad degree help out? And how about for a masters?

For a zoo director, how do I go about becoming one? I was thinking something along the lines of a undergrad in zoology, then moving my way up from there? Or would a zoology degree help for undergrad then a masters in business or something similar?

And what could I expect out of a normal day being either of them? Thanks!

 

[zoogiraffe]

From my experience all the best Curators or Directors,have worked there way up through the ranks from Keeper upwards,I know that alot of keepers have no respect for a Director or Curator,that doesn't understand their job.As for qualifactions these days you will need some form of qualifaction in Animal mangement,but then you will also need hands on experince.I suggest you just have a search round the forum as there are alrady a fair number of threads asking very similar questions to yours!

 

[Zooplantman]

Yes to what zoogiraffe posted..., remember these are career goals not simply a job a college grad might apply for.
Zoology makes sense. Management will be helpful but not at the beginning. Same for Finance.
All Curators come through the Keeper ranks to some degree.
Some Directors do, but fewer and fewer.
Many Directors today rose through other career tracks; Marketing, Business, etc. I know a Director who rose through the Education Dept. One who rose through the Horticulture Dept. Another came through Exhibit Dept.
Some came from the Museum world or even business.
Depends on what kind of Director you want to be. To lead a top rate zoo you need to first become a zoo person. Doesn't matter how.
When you can, join the AZA and attend any conferences you are able. The networking will do you good and attending the sessions, etc. will help you understand the business that zoos are.

Oh, as to what to expect on a normal day: lots and lots of meetings
But not to worry, you'll have more fun in the years before that ever happens
http://www.aza.org/education/detail.aspx?id=260
http://www.zoosociety.org/MultiMedia/PhotoGallery/ZooDirector/
http://www.aza.org/Jobs/detail.aspx?id=26789
http://www.oaklandzoo.org/Staff.php

 

[Nature123]

Thanks for the responses! I think I'll go up the path of undergrad zoology, then move on from there! Hopefully I'll be able to move up the corporate ladder from there if I do go into finance or something similar after a few years of being a keeper haha.

Also, I have one more question. How exactly do you become a curator of a specific area? Such as a herpetology curator and such. I'm guessing you'll need a masters degree of some sort and years of experience. And what's the pay for a curator of that level? I'm not in it for the money, if I was then I wouldn't be in zoology haha, I was just wondering.

 

[Zooplantman]

Thanks for the responses! I think I'll go up the path of undergrad zoology, then move on from there! Hopefully I'll be able to move up the corporate ladder from there if I do go into finance or something similar after a few years of being a keeper haha.

Also, I have one more question. How exactly do you become a curator of a specific area? Such as a herpetology curator and such. I'm guessing you'll need a masters degree of some sort and years of experience. And what's the pay for a curator of that level? I'm not in it for the money, if I was then I wouldn't be in zoology haha, I was just wondering.

Others can perhaps answer better than I but like with so many professions, much will depend on where you are and what size institution. I know smaller institutions with a General Curator who oversees the entire collection (fish, birds, herps, mammals). Or a Mammal Curator in Wichita will not see the salary of the Curator of Mammals at the Bronx Zoo. Depends....