Job opportunities in zoology

Many diverse job opportunities are available for people trained in zoology. The following is a brief synopsis of the major areas.

Teaching: Biology is taught at all secondary schools, colleges and universities. Thus, there is a continual demand for qualified teachers.

• Secondary School Teaching: Many people interested in biology find their greatest rewards in introducing other people to the subject. Teaching at the secondary school level may be a very satisfying career for such people. Teaching in secondary schools requires a bachelor's degree and state certification. Secondary school teachers must be generalists capable of giving students a broad spectrum of knowledge about living organisms.
• College and University Teaching: Teaching at the college and university level requires more specialized training. Generally, a Ph.D. degree is required. College teaching positions are highly competitive. Success as a college or university professor is increasingly dependent upon maintenance of active research as well as excellence in teaching.  

Medicine: The practice of medicine requires an M.D. degree following a four-year undergraduate training program. 

Dentistry: Dentistry also requires specialized training leading to a D.D.S. degree following college. 

Veterinary Medicine: Veterinary medicine is a field that deals with the prevention and treatment of disease and injuries in animals. As in medicine and dentistry, specialized training leading to a DVM degree is required after four years of college. 

Other Medically Related Fields: Chiropractic, optometry, podiatry, pharmacy and physical therapy are other fields which can be entered with advanced training beyond a college degree in zoology.

Wildlife Management and other Conservation Fields: State conservation agencies employ people with college training in zoology as wildlife managers, biologists, and conservation officers. Similarly, several federal agencies hire college graduates trained in zoology. These agencies include, but are not limited to, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

Other Fields: People trained in zoology may also find employment as pharmaceutical sales personnel, science librarians, science writers, laboratory technicians and toxicologists.