Vet tech degree? Zoology?

Question

Can a vet tech degree earn you credits toward Zoology? Or is it completely separate? I wanted to go straight to a university for a bachelors in Zoology eventually but I am not sure I would get accepted into a University with the grades I had in high school. Does anyone know if a two year vet tech program would help the situation?

Answer 1

Why go to vet tech school if you do not want to be a vet tech?  Not really clear exactly what career you eventually want.  If you want to major in zoology, then go to a junior or community college first, then transfer to a 4 year university as  junior to major in zoology.  Most community colleges do not have very high GPA requirements to get in.  While there you can get all your general ed over with and pay a lot less than you would at a university, AND you can get your GPA up so that you can get accepted to a good zoology program at a 4 year university.  

Answer 2

my advise is... if you have already started your path in the veterinary side of things, just follow that path. both ways you still have a shot in landing a job in the zoology line... if things don't work out for u in zoological institutions... you still have a shot at the veterinary side.... say for example a job at a local vet clinic.

Answer 3

For the most part, no, it won't help. As a vet tech you'll be taking more vet/medical related courses than animal science/zoology related courses.  The general edu and some of the other classes will transfer, but it also depends on what transfer courses the University accepts.

Animal Science, Biology, or General Education would be a better start for a BA in Zoology than Vet Tech.

You could start off at a community college and take care of your lower classwork then transfer to a University and finish the last two years of you BA. (your grades in high school don't matter to a community college. plus, community colleges cost less than a university)

Look at College Catalogs and see what courses are required for the degrees. Find what University you want to go to for your BA, see what courses are required, then take as many of those courses as you can at a community college.

some CA college catalogs:

http://www.csupomona.edu/~academic/catal... (zoology)

http://www.csupomona.edu/~academic/catal... (animal health [vet tech], animal science)

http://www.animalscience.calpoly.edu/dep... (animal science: pre-vet, zoo and exotic animals)

http://www.macrohead.com/rvt/Classes/Cla... (vet tech)

http://www.moorparkcollege.edu/apply_and... (animal science, Exotic Animal Training and Management)

What is it that you want to do? Be a Vet Tech at a Zoo? If so, you don't necessarily need a BA in Zoology to get a job. It really depends on what the requirements of the Zoo you want to work at. Most will, most likely, care more about your experience than your degree.

http://www.denvergov.org/Portals/16/docu...

Education Requirement:

Baccalaureate Degree in biology or other animal related field.

http://www.aza.org/JobListings/

* Roger Williams Park Zoo: Minimum qualifications include a degree from an AVMA accredited Veterinary Technology program and one year experience as a Veterinary Technician dealing with zoo animals.

*  Chicago Zoological Society - Brookfield Zoo: Graduation from an AVMA certified school of veterinary technology preferred or equivalent combination of training and/or experience required.

Animal care facility, farm, or equivalent experience required. Experience working with zoo/exotic animals and animal keeper experience is desired.

If you do want to be a zoo vet tech, make sure you go to a school accredited by AVMA. After college see about doing a zoo vet tech internship, it will help you when you apply for a job.

http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/anima...

http://www.avma.org/education/cvea/vette...

http://www.azvt.org/IEP.html

http://www.indyzoo.com/content.aspx?CID=...

http://disney.go.com/disneycareers/inter...

https://disney.recruitmax.com//main/care...

http://www.houstonzoo.org/en/cms/?929

http://www.santabarbarazoo.org/internshi...

http://www.mnzoo.com/global/Internships/...

http://dolphin1.net/network/dolphinsong/...

http://www.zoo.org/zoo_careers/tech_skil...