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Zoologist (Wildlife Biologist)
Did you know that earthworms and animal manure are natural fertilizers or that ladybugs are fierce natural pesticides? How about the fact that bees pollinate nearly all crops and fruit trees? Humans' dependence on animals, even the smallest insect, is the reason we need to study and protect them. If you have an affinity for animals, enjoy studying them, and love Science and Math, then you should become a Zoologist.
Zoologists are Scientists who study the origins, behavior, diseases (and parasites), genetics, and life processes of animals and other wildlife and the way they interact with their ecosystems. They also study physical characteristics of animals, animal behaviors, and the impacts humans have on wildlife and their natural habitats. Many specialize in wildlife research and management, collecting and analyzing biological data to determine the environmental effects of present and potential use of land and water habitats.
The duties of a Zoologist include but are not limited to: developing and conducting studies on animals in controlled or natural surroundings; collecting biological data and specimens; studying animals' interactions with other species, reproduction, population, diseases, etc.; using geographic information systems (GIS), modeling software, etc. to estimate wildlife populations, track the movements of animals, and forecast the spread of invasive species, diseases, changes in the availability of habitat, and other potential threats to wildlife; managing invasive animals; helping to restore animal populations to, and remain at, sustainable levels; working with Environmental Scientists and Hydrologists to monitor the effects of water pollution on fish populations; writing research papers, reports, and scholarly articles; presenting research findings to academics and the general public; developing conservation plans and providing consultation to public officials and policymakers on wildlife conservation and management issues; and teaching at universities.
High school students interested in becoming a Zoologist benefit from taking Biology/Anatomy, Chemistry, Earth Science, Environmental Science, Physics, Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, Trigonometry, Computer Applications, and Geography. Students entering Zoology Bachelor's of Science programs from high school with no previous Zoology training should expect a period of four years to complete said program.
Specialties in Zoology include: Entomologists (study insects); Cetologists (marine mammals—whales, dolphins); Herpetologists (reptiles, amphibians); Mammalogists (mammals); Marine Biologists (saltwater organisms); Ichthyologists (wild fish); Limnologists (freshwater organisms); Terrestrial Biologists (land organisms, including plants and microbes); Ornithologists (birds); Microbiologists (microbes exclusively); Evolutionary Biologists (origins of species and inherited generational changes); etc.
Agencies that employ Zoologists are: governments; research and development firms in physical and life sciences; management, scientific, and technical consulting services; farming/agriculture; universities, etc. The work setting for a Zoologist is a mix of office, laboratory, and outdoors, with the possibility of months at sea on a research ship, in deserts, or in remote mountainous and woodland regions.
Due to the need to study human population growth and activity (pollution and climate change), disease, encroaching sea levels, and invasive species' adverse impact on wildlife and their habitats, employment of Zoologists is projected to grow 5 percent over the next decade. They will be sorely needed to develop and carry out wildlife management and conservation plans that combat threats to our biological resources.
Job Description
Median Salary & Range
Median Salary: $57,430
Salary Range: ~$37,150 - $95,460+
College Majors & Attainment Routes
The normal routes to becoming a Zoologist have been to major in Zoology, Biology, Laboratory Animal Science, Biological Sciences, Animal Science, Veterinary Science, Entomology, Animal, Poultry, and Veterinary Science, Veterinary Technology, Agriculture (Pre-Veterinary Science or Animal and Poultry Science concentrations), Marine Biology, Fisheries Biology, Biochemistry, Agricultural Science (Animal Science concentration), Environmental Science, Integrated Environmental Science, Environmental Health Science, Marine and Environmental Science, Agricultural and Environmental Systems, Tropical Animal Health, Marine Environmental Science, Environmental Health, Environmental Physics, Environmental Studies, or Aquaculture.
A bachelor’s degree is needed for entry-level positions in Zoology or to teach Science in high school. A Ph.D. is required to lead research projects and to teach at universities. College course requirements include: Ecology, Anatomy, Wildlife Management, Botany, Chemistry, Physics, Cellular Biology, Statistics, and Computer Science.
Colleges That Provide Above Majors
Colleges and universities that have Zoology and related majors are: Alabama A&M University (Huntsville, Alabama); Alabama State University (Montgomery, Alabama); Talladega College (Talladega, Alabama); Miles College (Fairfield, Alabama); Philander Smith College (Little Rock, Arkansas); Tuskegee University (Tuskegee, Alabama); Delaware State University (Dover, Delaware); University of Arkansas Pine Bluff (Pine Bluff, Arkansas); Edward Waters College (Jacksonville, Florida); Howard University (Washington, DC); Bethune-Cookman University (Daytona Beach, Florida); Clark Atlanta University (Atlanta, Georgia); Florida Memorial University (Miami Gardens, Florida); Fort Valley State University (Fort Valley, Georgia); Albany State University (Albany, Georgia); University of the District of Columbia (Washington, DC); Florida A&M University (Tallahassee, Florida); Morehouse College (Atlanta, Georgia); Kentucky State University (Frankfort, Kentucky); Paine College (Augusta, Georgia); Savannah State University (Savannah, Georgia); Oakwood University (Huntsville, Alabama); Spelman College (Atlanta, Georgia); Dillard University (New Orleans, Louisiana); Stillman College (Tuscaloosa, Alabama); Bowie State University (Bowie, Maryland); Grambling State University (Grambling, Louisiana); University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Princess Anne, Maryland); Alcorn State University (Lorman, Mississippi); Bennett College (Greensboro, North Carolina); Allen University (Columbia, South Carolina); Coppin State University (Baltimore, Maryland); Benedict College (Columbia, South Carolina); Cheyney University (Cheyney, Pennsylvania); Langston University (Langston, Oklahoma); Lincoln University (Jefferson City, Missouri); North Carolina A&T State University (Greensboro, North Carolina); Fisk University (Nashville, Tennessee); Huston-Tillotson University (Austin, Texas); Claflin University (Orangeburg, South Carolina); Fayetteville State University (Fayetteville, North Carolina); Jackson State University (Jackson, Mississippi); Mississippi Valley State University (Itta Bena, Mississippi); Southern University and A&M College (Baton Rouge, Louisiana); Lincoln University (Lincoln University, Pennsylvania); North Carolina Central University (Durham, North Carolina); Elizabeth City State University (Elizabeth City, North Carolina); Xavier University (New Orleans, Louisiana); Saint Augustine's University (Raleigh, North Carolina); Morgan State University (Baltimore, Maryland); Winston Salem State University (Winston Salem, North Carolina); Shaw University (Raleigh, North Carolina); Voorhees College (Denmark, South Carolina); Prairie View A&M University (Prairie View, Texas); Texas Southern University (Houston, Texas); Rust College (Holly Springs, Mississippi); Wiley College (Marshall, Texas); Wilberforce University (Wilberforce, Ohio); Tougaloo College (Jackson, Mississippi); Norfolk State University (Norfolk, Virginia); Texas College (Tyler, Texas); Lane College (Jackson, Tennessee); Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte, North Carolina); Virginia State University (Petersburg, Virginia); Hampton University (Hampton, Virginia); Jarvis Christian College (Hawkins, Texas); Morris College (Sumter, South Carolina); Tennessee State University (Nashville, Tennessee); Harris-Stowe State University (St. Louis, Missouri); Livingstone College (Salisbury, North Carolina); Shaw University (Raleigh, North Carolina); LeMoyne-Owen College (Memphis, Tennessee); Virginia Union University (Richmond, Virginia); South Carolina State University (Orangeburg, South Carolina); West Virginia State University (Charleston, West Virginia); and St. Paul's College (Lawrenceville, Virginia).
Available Scholarships
