Free Post #1: Questions Cont.

9/8/13

     Hey again!  So this post gets to be my first free post!  A free post will happen about once a week and can be about whatever I want in relation to my chosen field of zoology.  For this post I wanted to continue answering the questions I had about zoology, but this time using sources other than a book.  I'm hoping that this way I get much more specific and detailed answers to my questions and really start to learn the fundamentals of the field of zoology.  So just as a recap, here are the original 10 questions I asked:

      

      1.) What exactly is zoology?

      2.) Why is zoology studied?

      3.) How is zoology studied?

      4.) What is the minimum degree necessary to be a zoologist?

      5.) What is the zoology job market like?

      6.) What types of places and parts of the country are zoology jobs located?

      7.) What types of jobs do zoologists do?

      8.) What is the starting and average salary of zoologists?

      9.) What types of animals do zoologists study?

    10.) Can zoology be combined with environmental and animal conservation work?

Keeping in mind that I already answered the first 3 questions in my last post, I decided to go to the internet to try to find answers to the rest.  This was a much easier and informative way of getting my information. It was not nearly as difficult or stressful as having to find a book at the library that barely skimmed the surface of answering the questions I had.  This is what I was able to find:

      4.) What is the minimum degree necessary to be a zoologist?

• The minimum degree necessary is a Bachelor's degree.  However, earning a Masters or Doctorate degree would be helpful in the competitive job market. 

      5.) What is the zoology job market like?

• The zoology job market is very competitive.  There are not a lot of jobs offered in this field and even fewer good paying ones.

      6.) What types of places and parts of the country are zoology jobs located?

• Some places that hire zoologists include: Federal and state agencies, universities, zoos, non-profit organizations, museums, environmental consulting firms, and hunting ranches.  Country locations really depend upon what type of zoology you go into.  I am very interested in doing something with marine animals so the best job locations would be by the coast.  The top 5 highest paying states for zoologists are Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Hawaii, and New Jersey.

      7.) What types of jobs do zoologists do?

• Zoologists do many things when on the job.  A few consist of the following: Studying animals in their natural habitat, assessing effects of environment and industry on animals and their habitat, identify animal characteristics and classifications, writing reports/scientific articles/journals, making presentations for others interested in the field, organizing and conducting experiments with animals, overseeing care and distribution of zoo animals, coordinating the prevention and control of outbreaks of wildlife diseases, raising specimen for observation and experimentation, and collecting specimen to examine under microscope.  

      8.) What is the starting and average salary of zoologists?

• A beginning salary of a zoologist is typically in the low to mid $30,000 range.  The mean pay of zoologists is around 61,880.

      9.) What types of animals do zoologists study?

• Zoologists can work with many different types of animals, from things like lizards to large cats, it really just depends on what type of animal you are interested in studying.  

    10.) Can zoology be combined with environmental and animal conservation work?

• Yes, many zoologists work to understand and preserve at risk populations of animals and work to maintain good environments for animals such as nature preserves and zoos.

After researching all of these questions I feel that I now have a pretty good idea as to what the field of zoology consists of and the circumstances surrounding jobs in that field.  The more I am researching the more I think that I can see myself having a future in this field.  It seems to have a lot of aspects that I find very interesting and a lot of choices and variety in jobs.  However, the competitive job market and low beginning pay are a concern for me and would be something I would have to consider very carefully if I were to pursue a career in this field.     

Work Cited:
Elsberry, Wesley R., and Diane J. Blackwood. "Interviews." Online Zoologists:. N.p., n.d. Web. 08

      Sept. 2013. <http://www.onlinezoologists.com/features/interviews/iv_old.html>.

Hess, Kenneth. "Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist." Science Buddies. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Sept. 2013.  
      <http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/science- engineering-
      careers/Zoo_zoologistsandwildlifebiologists_c001.shtml>.

Imani, Faizah. "What Is the Standard Beginning Wage As a Zoologist?" Chron. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 

      Sept. 2013. <http://work.chron.com/standard-beginning-wage-zoologist-2531.html>.