Job options for a zoology degree?

Crocodile-dan has pretty much summed up what I would say. I am in my final year of a BSc. Zoology.

More and more zoo-related jobs in the UK require degrees now so if you want a shot at those then it's probably something worth doing. Various animal management courses can also do, but it depends on the job. A considerable number of the keepers and higher zoo staff I know have degrees.

If not coming out of university without a certain path to follow bothers you, then Zoology might not be for you, but if you'd like a shot at Zoo-related things but realise you might have to change direction to something less animal related if nothing comes up then go for it.

Zoology is a form of biology, after all (at my uni, Zoology only differs very slightly from Biology) so you will be getting a Biological Sciences degree. This means that general biology-related jobs will also be open to you, as well things animal-related. Things like, environmental management, science teaching, NHS graduate work, lab and field research for conservation or agriculture, work in environmental regulatory bodies such as DEFRA, Natural England, CITES and loads of other things. So getting a Zoology degree doesn't restrict you just to working with animals.

There are far worse degrees in terms of job prospects at most universities (think film studies, psychology, history) whose graduates often have a worse time finding jobs related to their degree because they don't have the science backing that biologists/zoologists have and that their courses are very popular compared to the amount of related jobs available.

With anything animal-related, an academic qualification only gets you so far, you have to back it up with volunteering and hands on experience but that's not to say it won't help you a bit.
 
I don't think this is an argument of hands on experience versus a degree. I hope we all agree that the two go hand in hand. It's all about supply and demand, so if we all agree on how competitive the zoo industry is in most countries, then anything extra that you could bring to the table will be looked upon favourably.

So although you do not need a degree to pick up sh**, there are many people with more than one degree lining up to do it. I am sure I mentioned it on this thread or another one, but last year the Melbourne Zoo received 600 applications from all over the world for a couple keeper trainee positions. The first culling criterion was whether the applicant had a degree or not, followed by whether the applicant had a relevant degree.

The messageis simply this: for whatever path you choose to follow, make sure you give yourself the best chance possible of getting your dream job. And don't forget that it will take years of sacrifice, but the journey is just as rewarding as the destination which then becomes the starting point for a new journey.
 
Although I agree with most of what has already been said, I will add another comment that was once told to me by a veteran keeper:

Get a degree in what you love doing, whether that be in a biologically-oriented field, or some other subject. I have known keepers who have degrees in architecture, design, communications, and even a trainer who had a PhD in cell biology. What's important is that you have something to fall back on that you love, just in case zookeeping doesn't work out. The physical demands of some of the positions mean that your body won't be able to hold up forever, plus, heaven forbid, if something happened to you physically, you would have to find another career.

Most institutions now require a four-year degree (at least in the U.S.) for their keepers, and while some designate a preference for a degree in biology or a related field, those that are hiring are looking for candidates that put a lot of hard work and dedication into something (which is what any degree requires). If you have a degree in a field that you love, plus practical experience in the field, I think that would be the best route.

Hope this helps, but it may make your decision even harder.
 
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