What exactly is zoology?

Question

i'm thinking about becoming a zoologist, but i'm not exactly sure what they do. all i know is that it has to deal with animals. i love animals, but i wouldn't want to be a vet because i could never put an animal to sleep or give it shot. also, what is the average income a zoologist makes in a year, what do you have major in to become one, and what are some colleges that are good to attend to for zoology? sorry i have so many questions!

Answer 1

Here are some links. They give you info on zoologist, kinds of jobs you can get with a zoology degree, pay, etc.

See about going to a zoology related camp.

You might also want to see about getting some hands-on experience working with animals. Try volunteering/working at a wildlife rehab, animal shelter, zoo, 4-H, etc.

Also, go talk to a career counselor at school. Mine gave me advice on volunteer opportunities, colleges, and jobs.

I hope the info and links help. Good Luck.

http://www.mammalsociety.org/committees/...

CONCLUSIONS

As can be seen in the above descriptions, career opportunities for mammalogists are many and diverse. However, students considering careers in mammalogy should be realistic in their expectations. Presently, there are more mammalogists seeking employment than there are positions and this situation is likely to prevail into the foreseeable future. Competition for these positions is,and will continue to be intense, and it behooves the prospective mammalogist to acquire the best possible training, in order to be as competitive as possible for the available openings. In this regard,summer employment or volunteer work in the chosen career area can often be extremely valuable.

In general, a broad undergraduate background is desirable for positions in mammalogy. Training should include:

1) fundamental in biology - cell biology, development, genetics, evolution, and ecology;

2) zoology - introductory zoology, comparative anatomy, physiology, ethology, and taxonomy;

3) botany - introductory botany and taxonomy of flowering plants;

4)chemistry - inorganic, organic, and biochemistry;

5) mathematics - at least through calculus;

6)physics - a basic course;

7) paleontology - a basic course;

8) statistics;

9) computer science;

and of course 10) mammalogy, if available at the undergraduate institution.

Other coursework will depend on the specific field of mammalogy. For many careers, graduate degrees and even postdoctoral experience are required, and it is here that the mammalogist receives specialized training.

http://www.mammalogy.org/

http://www.aboutbioscience.org/zoologist...

http://www.collegeboard.com/csearch/majo...

http://www.princetonreview.com/Majors.as...

http://www.halfhollowhills.k12.ny.us/pag...

http://www.csz-scz.ca/cszanglais/engcare...

http://www.jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au...

http://www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/help...

http://www.zoology.ufl.edu/UNDERGRADUATE...

http://www.ns.msu.edu/acrc/career_explor...

http://www.schoolsintheusa.com/careerpro...

http://online.onetcenter.org/link/detail...

http://www.iseek.org/sv/Careers?id=13000...

http://www.iseek.org/sv/Salary?id=46001:...

http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=...

Answer 2

yo has a very good point.. many people love MAMMALS.. not animals..

any zoology course or degree you chase is going to be about 50% invertibrate.. 20% ectothermic.. 15% non human mammals.. and as if there weren't enough subjects about it 15% human related..

if you just want in cause of the furry little hamsters and puppies.. seriously reconsider zoology in favor of like veterinary medicine.. even then only go into residential practice.. they typically only deal with small mammals.. hampsters, cats, dogs, guinea pigs etc..

without an appreciation for ALL animals spending 300,000 dollars on a masters in zoology is going to seem pointless after your second semester...

edit-

mammalian zoology and mammalian veterinary medicine.. both require additional schooling (essentially a Ph.D.) and you'd still ahve to go through the stuff about worms, cnidarians, sponges, reptiles, etc to get there

more money spent + more time used + same material learned = worth it?

that's the question you have to answer

Answer 3

Zoology is the study of animals, when you become a zoologist, you study everything about animals. If you only want to study about mammals, then be a mammalian zoology.

I know that it deals with animals but not only the name of the animals, the food they eat, etc.. you will also study their scientific names, their species, phylum, etc..

Answer 4

Zoology is the study of animals -- all animals. If you want to deal with just mammals, you can specialize in them when you do your graduate work. As an undergraduate Zoology major, consider yourself lucky if you can take a course in mammalogy.

Having attended Cornell University and majored in Vertebrate Zoology, I'm biassed. I can tell you that when I went on for a master's, I was told that I had taken more credits in Zoology than anyone they had ever admitted with just a B.S. degree. My roommate, also from Cornell, was just 2 credits behind me.

Start reading the Journal of Mammalogy. When you find an article of interest, see what university the author is affiliated with (if any). Put that school on your short list. You may have to go to a museum or university library to read the journal.

BTW, snakes are not slimy.

Answer 5

Zoology studies all kinds of animals, including, jellyfish, worms (most of them), insects...Vertebrates are just a small group among all animals (I tell you this because I know many people who say they love animals, but then don´t want to touch a worm)