Zoology students will take courses that include genetics, biology, both terrestrial and marine ecosystems, chemistry and organic chemistry. Students will work in the field and also study in the classroom. Students will learn the cellular and molecular systems of different types of animals, as well as their physiology, behavior and anatomy. Microbiology and evolutionary biology are also studied.
In order to succeed in an educational program in zoology, not to mention in the actual profession after graduation, students need to possess certain characteristics. Students should be able to think critically and they should also have a desire to investigate issues on their own. They need to be able to work well in a group and to communicate with classmates and professors. Students are expected to be comfortable working in a laboratory, should be observational and able to collect a lot of data, and have to prepare reports on their findings.
Graduates of a zoology program can go on to work as a zookeeper, teacher, veterinarian, manager of a fishery, researcher in the wildlife or medical field or a conservation officer. Most of these jobs require some type of further training or education. If a graduate wants to teach zoology on a grade school level or in high school, they'll have to attain additional teaching certifications.
While students can get an Associate degree in zoology, there are several zoology programs that require four or five years of study to complete. There are even further degrees to pursue to, if the student wants to focus on a specific area of zoology, such as wildlife sciences. An Associate degree may be a start, but typically, any kind of zoology job requires at least a Bachelor degree.