Zoology Career Scope, Eligibility and Job Prospects

Zoology is that branch of science which deals with the study of the animal kingdom. The branch deals with the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct. For someone who is interested in making a career in Zoology will be required to deal with both the existing, dead and quite possible the extinct species of the animal kingdom.

This a great career interest for people who are fascinated with nature and would not mind spending time understanding it. There are several specializations that the students pursuing the field can venture into.  There are physiologists that study the metabolic processes of animals, then there are taxonomists who deal with the naming and the classification of the animal species, one can think of becoming embryologist whose only job is to study and focus on the early stages of the animal life. So similarly there are many such options that one can venture into depending on his / her capabilities and interests.

On choosing this career, the person specializing in the field will be referred to as a zoologist. On being a part of this field, one will be carefully have to study the behavior, characteristics, evolutionary trends of the different species of animals and those factors having a direct impact on them.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for a Bachelor’s degree for Zoology, the candidate needs to pass the higher secondary education or 10+2 from a recognized board with Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. The duration of the bachelor’s course is three years.

In order to be eligible for a Master’s Course in Zoology, the candidate needs to have completed their bachelor’s course with 50 per cent or above. The duration of the Master’s course is two years.

Courses in Zoology

One can specialize in various fields within zoology; some of them are listed as follows:

Job Prospects

Zoology as a career as a number of specializations because of which the students are presented with a plethora of career options once they chose to be associated with this field. This field is concerned with the preservation and management of animal kingdom and a career in it would mean that you are a part of that responsibility.

A zoologist might even get to travel because the nature of his / her job. Channels like National Geographic, Animal Planet, Discovery Channel are in constant need of Zoologists for research and documentaries. Zoologists are also hired for zoos, wildlife services, botanical gardens, conservation organizations, national parks, nature reserves, universities, laboratories, aquariums, animal clinics, fisheries and aquaculture, museums, research, pharmaceutical Companies, veterinary hospitals, etc.

Not only this, few other people who are zoologists by nature; Animal Behaviorists, Animal breeders, Animal Trainers, Animal Caretakers, Animal and Wildlife Educators, Animal rehabilitator, Conservationists, Documentary Maker, Forensic Experts, Lab Technicians, Researcher, Wildlife Biologists, Veterinarian, Zoo keeper, Zoo Curator, and many more.

Pay package

There are many lucrative job opportunities that will come your way, but most of them will be offered once you have some substantial experience. Although the salary mostly depends on the field you choose to specialize in but in the beginning most places will offer you somewhere between Rs 10,000 – Rs 15,000.

Colleges offering Zoology in India