Bachelor of Arts in Aquarium and Zoo Science
Loretto, USA
BA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2027
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
About: The Bachelor of Arts in Aquarium and Zoo Science (BA) at Saint Francis University combines biology, animal husbandry, and psychology with hands-on courses in animal care, nutrition, zoology, microbiology, genetics, and marine biology. Students train on a 1,500-gallon aquarium, use the marine lab, and complete an animal care practicum plus a tailored internship, join clubs and SCUBA activities, and study Franciscan ethics.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can work in aquariums, zoos, wildlife rehabilitation, and conservation education as caretakers, trainers, technicians or assistants. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 34% growth 2020–30 and 66,200 openings; median wages: caretakers $26,080, trainers $31,520.
Turn your passion for animals into a fulfilling career.
The Aquarium and Zoo Science major is a B.A. degree program with a heavy emphasis on biology, animal husbandry, and psychology. Hands-on coursework includes animal care, animal nutrition, vertebrate zoology, invertebrate zoology, microbiology, genetics, and marine biology.
In this program, you will gain practical experience geared to what employers in this industry need.
- hands-on courses with animal care projects on and off-campus
- dedicated animal care practicum experience and a tailored internship
- career-enhancing student clubs that align with your goals
Hands-on Experience
Our 1,500-gallon aquarium is large enough for a single diver to enter, and students are involved in the operation of the large-scale filtration system needed to maintain it. Access to materials in the on-campus marine lab allows students to do discipline-specific research.
The SFU Learning Experience
As you progress through our curriculum, you will not only learn how to provide care to animals but also develop a strong foundation in Franciscan ethics and values.
As an Aquarium and Zoo Science major, you will gain practical experience geared to what employers in this industry need.
- hands-on courses with animal care projects on and off-campus
- an official animal care practicum experience and a tailored internship
- career-enhancing student clubs that align with your goals
Professional Affiliations
- Saint Francis University is the official Conservation Partner of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)
- Saint Francis University is an Academic Support Organization for the Association of Minority Zoo & Aquarium Professionals (AMZAP)
Clubs & Honor Society Involvement
SCUBA: Students learn to scuba dive or continue to build diving skills while exploring the fascinating underwater world (invaluable experience for those pursuing employment in aquariums after graduation).
Environmental Action Society: This organization promotes environmental education and outreach to the students, faculty, and staff of Saint Francis University as well as to the community at large. Members also have fun in the environment while preserving it!
Biology Club: This club is designed to help students prepare for their future in the sciences as well as to offer opportunities to participate in fellowship and networking activities.
TriBeta Biological Honor Society: Saint Francis is home to the Upsilon Beta Chapter of Beta Beta Beta, the National Biological Honor Society. Numerous student members have received research scholarship grants from the TriBeta national office and presented their research at the District Convention.
The students will complete a broad survey of biology the first year and then build upon this by completing courses in animal care, animal nutrition, vertebrate zoology, invertebrate zoology, microbiology, genetics, and marine biology. Skills will be developed by students while completing their animal care practicum and internships along with laboratory exercises. Students will have the opportunity to develop presentation skills both in front of and inside a large aquarium, presenting information to school children and visitors to the biology department.
The following objectives are tracked as success metrics in the program:
- Job Placement of Recent Graduates
- Benchmark Met: 13 of 14 (93% ) of students in the previous two graduating classes (2019 & 2020) secured a career-relevant position or an internship following graduation, based on our most recent records (6/10/2021).
- Internship Evaluations
- Benchmark Met: All evaluations received from the 2020-2021 year met or exceeded expectations.
- Student Portfolio (cumulative course projects, animal care practicum supervisor evaluation, and internship presentation)
- Benchmark Met: 2021 graduates completed their portfolios with the required elements.
Career opportunities exist within nature centers, wildlife rehabilitation centers, aquariums, and zoos. Students can also seek employment with whale watch groups and other types of non-profit activities where animal knowledge and presentation abilities are valued.
Animal care and service workers are in high demand. The Occupational Outlook Handbook (from the Bureau of Labor Statistics) projects that demand for these jobs will grow by 34% from 2020-2030, much faster than average for all occupations. About 66,200 openings for animal care and service workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Animal Caretakers
The median annual wage for animal caretakers was $26,080 in May 2020. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $19,310, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $40,210.
Animal Trainers
The median annual wage for animal trainers was $31,520 in May 2020. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $21,550, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $62,040.
Our Aquarium and Zoo Science program is one of the only degree programs in the region specifically designed to match the workforce expectations of employers overseeing aquariums and zoos.
- Do you want to work behind the scenes caring for animals or training them?
- Do you want to educate visitors about biodiversity, conservation, and natural history?
- Do you want to work in a zoo or aquarium and want a degree tailored to that goal?
If the answer is yes, the Aquarium and Zoo Science, B.A. could be the degree path for you!
