I'm looking to become a zoologist. How do I start?

I'm not totally sure but I have some friends who want to do that and they described it too me at one point in time. Logically you first take all the scinece classes you can in high school...every little bit helps even volounteering at a humane society or zoo. And then find a good college that offers a degree program in zoology or perhaps even a biology or pre-vet. Med. Program. After this I'd suggest going to a graduate school to get a phd.
After that I'm a little fuzzy but I found some links that might be helpful...How To Become a Zoologist | eHow.com, Zoologist Job Description, Career as a Zoologist, Salary, Employment - Definition and Nature of the Work, Education and Training Requirements, Getting the Job, Zoologist

Good luck on your future endevors!

Hi Magic,
A zoologist is anyone who studies animals. Usually, they are researchers who study animals in the wild or in the lab, not people who work in zoos. A zoo might employ a zoologist or even a few of them if it is a large zoo. But most of the people who work at zoos are caretakers, veterinarians, and administrators. I think if you are specifically interested in zoo animals, you should offer to volunteer at the nearest zoo if you live in a city. If not, see if you can arrange to volunteer at a city zoo next summer.
Meanwhile, study biology and anything else that interests you. And keep up with high school math to keep your options open. You might find that you are interested in other careers that involve animals.

I have a graduate degree in zoology if you have more questions.

I am a zookeeper of 12 years who is now a stay-at-home-mom (for now).

Get a biology degree and once in college, or even now, don't take a job without it being related to the animal field. That was the best advice I got when I worked as an intern at a zoo. Do some internships or volunteer at a shelter now. Then do your best to get some paid internships at a local zoo during the summers during college. While in college, take herpetology/plant tax/animal taxonomy/microbiology classes. Also, any education classes would be good too, because a lot of being a zookeeper is educating the public.

There are also places like Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, Florida and Moorpark College in California that teach zookeeping as a career.

Good luck!

I am Italian Biologist-Zoologist.

I am DrSc in Biological-Zoological Sciences in Italy and then specialized in Tropical Zoology-Biology and Ecoptahology of Wild Life in England and France.

Zoologist instead has been always the driving force of all Zoological Gardens, Zoosafary, Zooparks, Aquatic-Marine Park, Aquarium, Natural Parks.

Since 10 years (after my thesis of MSc on Rhinocerus reproductive Biology Ceratotherium simum and DrSc in Biology-Zoology in Ecopathology of Casuario bennet) I have been enrolled in Zoological Gardens in France to work with great carnivores (Panthera leo, Panthera java trigres) and dolphin, pinnipedes (sea lions, seal: Phoca vitulian, Phoca pusilla) and presently I am scientific director in France of private Zoo associated with EAZA society where there are Carnivores, Elephants, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, giraffes, ratides birds (Ostrich, casuarius, them, nand) aquatic birds (pelican, swan, flamingos) aquatic mammals:seal, sea lions, elephant lions, dolphins, reptiles: loricates -alligators, crocodiles- turtles -terrestrial, aquatic- and snakes -python, boa, anacond, venous snake, iguanes- and fishes -sturgeons, elasmobranch, piranas- and several invertebrates.

So, I know almost 800 Zoos in Europe from Berlin, London, Rome, Paris Zoos that are great and complexes structures until little zoos, I know scientific directors and workers I can say you that (I have passion for History of Zoological Gardens, Zoosafary, Zoopark, Aquatic-Marine Park, Natural Parks) that since 1700 where in Europe was born first Zoological Gardens today all scientific directors and workers must have a degree in Biology-Zoology, in Europe all people that want have a work with exotic animals must go to University before, to take graduation in Biology specialization in Zoology (6 years, 40 exams) and then can work in these structures, this is the law in all Governments of Common Europe (Italy, France, Spain, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Belgium, Netherland, Portugal etc.,), veterinarians can work in Zoos only if they have specialization in exotic animals (if they are specialized in domestic animals or farm animals are not take in consideration much to work in a Zoo) but must work under Zoologists control and working only for animal health but because don' t have scientific preparation in ecology, ethology-zoo-architecture cannot work in conservation biology and captive breeding, also animal nutrition and zoo-architecture are fields only of Biologists-Zoologists, not for veterinarians that can work only in surgery and medication. The same for marine Park where the principal work is for Marine Biologists, all animals on this planets and plants have been discovered by Biologists Zoologists and Biologists Botanists.

People that don' t have degree in Biology-Zoology, can work in Zoos (in Europe) only to forage animals and clean cages and animal spaces or like guide to visitors, but to work like pedagouge you must have the same degree in Biology Zoology-Boatany.

So I advise you to take degree at University in Biology Zoology since Zoologist is the driving force of Zoological Gardens, Zoosafary, Zooparks, Aquatic-Marine Parks, Natural Parks.

I hope to be of helpful,

DrSc Giuliano Russini
(DrSc Biologist Zoologist, Zoobiologist, Zootechnician-Ecopathologist wild life)

Thanks for correcting my errors and giving such a thorough and clear answer to this question. Many students ask this question. So it's great to have your answer.

And welcome to Ask Me Help Desk!

PS. I spent two days at the Jardin des Plantes last fall and became interested in its history. A history of zoological gardens would make an interesting book.

You are welcome,

Jardin des Plantes is beautiful Zoological Gardens like is wonderful Paris, I worked there for one year, in this Zoos studied Jean Bapstiste Comte de Lamark French Biologist and scientific father of Acquired Characters during XVI century and first to understand that living things don't disappear and arise suddenly but are in constant transformation since are in develop and are dynamic not stable like minerals and stones. From this scientist Charles Darwin found inspiration for his theory "On the Origin of Species by natural selection" and Jardin des Plantes has been directed by another french Biologist Buffon during 1600 first to think that animals is a kingdom separated from Plants another kingdom and then there are Protists kingdom, Monera kingdom and Bacteria and last kingdom minerals.

So for any enquiries, don' t hesitate to contact me at also.

See you,

Giuliano

I am huge fan of Lamarck and Buffon. They don't get enough credit for their contributions. (But I don't like Cuvier!)

Well, I agree in side, Cuvier was a Paleonthologist so have had academic studies in paleonthology and geology no in Biology Zoology like Buffon, Lamarck in fact he had not contributed to develop of animal biology, Zoology, Physiology or Embryology, but only fossil studies. Anyway he has been strong paleonthologist. Thus, for example I am not so enthusiast in relation to Charles Darwin since I think (but himself said this on his book) that some several biological phenomenons cannot be explained (or at least find hard adaptation to his theory of evolution) with natural selection, but find solution (or at least find better adaptation of Lamarck theory) with acquired characters for example, hemo-hybrids vegetative in example has been demonstrated that in white geese that transfuse blood in them of black geese (the same with swan, sheep and hares) after several trials (in relation to animal species and volume of plasma-blood transfuse) arise black feathers among white feathers in white pure geese and swan and region of black hairs in the pure white sheep (merionos), rabbit, hares. Then mating this changed (acquired characters) animals with (female or male in relation if has been male or female to transfuse blood) pure line animals (geese, swan, sheep, rabbit, hare white) will be on offspring (F1-F2-F3-F4 generations) an improvement of black feathers and black hair animals, so to reach percentage of offspring at F4 generation in geese and swan of 60 % with black feathers (respect white) and in sheep, rabbits, hare 65 % with black hair in their mantles. >This cannot be explained with C Darwin theory and the same Darwin considered these case particular situation that find a better solution with lamarck thoery. The problem is that today if you say that probably would be right try to consider Lamarck theory and Darwin Theory together to look forward the living thing, at least in Italy, and other European countries considered crazy and like shaman.

I advice you Pierre Paul Grass? Great French Biologist Zoologist during XIII and first side of XX century proposed original ideas.

Have a nice day,
See you,
Giuliano

I am a writer and would like to write about this at some point. I confess, I didn't follow everything you wrote. Do you have citations for the information about feather and fur color? Sounds really interesting. I think you are talking about eco/evo devo stuff.

A lot of people have argued that the central dogma disproved lamarckism, but we now know that the central dogma was wrong.

We are shamelessly hijacking this thread. Probably should start a new one about lamarckism.

Cheers,
Asking