What Can You Do With A College Degree Working With Animals?

Agricultural management focuses on the business and administrative side of the world food system. Students learn how to manage farms and other agricultural businesses, including fishing and forestry.

This advanced course of study focuses on understanding the behavior of animals and combining principles from many different disciplines. Jobs may run the gamut from animal trainer to research scientist.

Emphasizing biology in the context of environmental conservation and sustainability, conservation biology focuses on threats to animals, plants, and ecosystems. Conservation biologists may work to protect animal habitats and endangered species.

A degree in dairy science explores both the management and science of dairy cattle production. These programs often combine studies in genetics, animal biology, animal welfare, nutrition, and agribusiness.

Environmental science broadly refers to the study of the environment and the application of scientific principles to environmental problems. The discipline contains many subfields relating to animals, such as aquatic biology and environmental agriculture.

Focusing on the care and management of both domestic and nondomestic animals, this degree combines knowledge in zoology and animal husbandry. Students gain hands-on experience caring for animals at zoos, aquariums, and animal parks.

Often operating as a focus area within the agribusiness field, farm and ranch management degrees highlight the managerial and scientific dimensions of agricultural production. This includes animal science and range/pasture management.

A specialized subfield of biology, marine biology focuses on the scientific study of marine life. This varied field encompasses subjects including oceanography, zoology, environmental science, and conservation management.

Veterinary science refers to the medical treatment of and research into various types of animals, including both domestic and farm animals. This broad field encompasses subjects as diverse as anatomy, animal behavior, parasitology, and gastroenterology.

Wildlife programs focus on the intersection of science, conservation, and management, examining the behavior of animals and their interactions with various ecosystems. This degree usually emphasizes researching, protecting, and preserving animal species.

Targeting the study of animals both in the wild and in captivity, zoology encompasses topics such as anatomy, evolution, genetics, and ethology. Zoology often emphasizes research into all aspects of animal life.

Animal biology applies biological principles to the study of animals. The field resembles animal science, but animal biology programs may take a more research-based approach. However, animal biology majors still work with wild and domesticated animals frequently.

Many colleges offer animal biology degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. The degree typically encompasses basic biology concepts along with specialized studies in areas including animal growth and development, reproduction, genetics, and physiology.

Animal science uses scientific principles in the service of animal research, animal husbandry, and animal management. Students gain a broad understanding of scientific concepts such as biology, genetics, physiology, and immunology. Students may also specialize in areas including animal behavior, animal production, animal biotechnology, equine science, or rangeland science.

Students can pursue animal science degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels, with bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs often available.

Ecology studies spatial relationships among living organisms, including various animal populations. Drawing together concepts in environmental science, biology, zoology, and botany, ecology programs typically highlight principles of conservation and sustainability. Candidates in ecology programs may study topics as diverse as geography, wildlife management, entomology, evolution, and forest ecology.

As a major scientific field, many colleges offer ecology programs at all academic levels, including bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral.

Fisheries and aquatic science programs explore the biology of wetlands, lakes, and rivers, emphasizing the ecology of both freshwater and marine environments. These programs build the skills and knowledge to manage fisheries and practice conservation for aquatic systems. Students may complete coursework in areas such as fishery biology, aquatic plant science, fish and shellfish reproduction, aquaculture, and aquatic animal health.

Colleges commonly offer fisheries and aquatic science programs at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. Candidates interested in extensive research may continue their studies at the doctoral level.

Farm managers oversee operations at farms and other environments that process and produce livestock, dairy products, and crops. Also known as agricultural managers and ranchers, these professionals often supervise every aspect of the crop or livestock production process, such as planting, fertilizing, and harvesting. They also make major organizational decisions for farms relating to factors such as weather, soil conditions, disease, and market conditions.

Farm managers require at least a high school diploma, and colleges generally offer associate and bachelor’s programs in the field.

Marine biologists study marine life, including all types of animals that live in the ocean and other aquatic environments. They may specialize in a certain type of animal or environment and often work at colleges and universities, research institutions, and aquariums.

Marine biologists typically need at least a bachelor’s degree to enter the field. Advanced positions involving in-depth research require at least a master’s degree. Positions with universities and other major research institutions typically require a doctorate.

Veterinarians care for domesticated animals, including pets and livestock. They may research, diagnose, and treat various types of medical conditions in animals and advise owners about proper care. Veterinarians often work at animal clinics and hospitals, though they may also work at farms, zoos, and laboratories.

Veterinarians must hold a doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) degree. Requiring applicants to hold at least a bachelor’s degree, DVM programs build advanced skills and knowledge in animal anatomy, diagnosis, treatment, and disease prevention.

Zoologists and wildlife biologists study different types of animals and examine animal behavior, relationships to the ecosystem, and the influence of human activity on natural habitats. They may work at colleges, conservation agencies, research institutions, zoos, and other environments related to animals. These professionals work in the field observing animals in their natural habitats.

Zoology and wildlife biology careers require at least a bachelor’s degree. Research-based positions typically require a master’s degree or doctorate.

Somerville:
Animal keepers’ training can come in various forms. Modern keepers are expected to hold a college degree — at least an associate degree but often a bachelor’s and sometimes graduate degrees. There are some college programs that focus specifically on animal husbandry and care in a zoo or aquarium setting.

But the most important training comes from working with animals directly through volunteering and internships, along with entry-level positions in other animal care facilities. At the Buffalo Zoo, novice keepers may start in an apprentice position working with an experienced keeper for a period of time to gain more skills before working independently.

Rice:
Some college education (at least an associate degree) is almost always a requirement for a full-time zookeeping position, and most zookeepers hold at least a bachelor’s degree in some sort of science, whether it’s animal sciences, biology, zoology, etc. I personally hold a BS in biology and a minor in psychology (which has been incredibly useful in terms of training… remember Pavlov’s salivating dog? Operant conditioning is the most common form of training utilized in the animal world, so knowledge of psychology has actually been really applicable to my career as a zookeeper!).

Somerville:
Take every opportunity to work around animals. Pursue a degree in an animal-related field. Volunteer or intern while you’re in school. Be prepared to start at the bottom and work your way up. You may need to be flexible and move around the country as positions come available. Be open to every option — work with new species in different settings to diversify your experience.

Rice:
Start working with animals early on! Make sure that this is something you really want before committing to it. Keep in mind the less attractive aspects of the field: cleaning up after messy animals (urine, feces, vomit, etc.), working on weekends, working on holidays, irregular schedules and working nights sometimes, lots of hard manual labor, etc. Most keepers feel the job is most definitely worth all of the less appealing elements of it, but some people find out it’s just not for them. The field is highly competitive so don’t get discouraged early on, and if you’re willing to travel around the country, your chances of landing that first paid position increase dramatically!

Also, visitor engagement and public experience are SUCH important parts of what zookeepers do. Our job is to help the public make a connection with our animals, and you can’t do that if you have a fear of public speaking, dislike kids/people, etc. Get in touch with your inner thespian and start getting comfortable with that element of the job early on so that it is not an obstacle for you later.