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Chaelie
Student
Corvallis, Oregon
1
Question
Asked
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Is a zoology degree worth it? Is it useful post-graduation?
My dream is to travel and work with critically endangered wildlife. Is zoology the right degree for this? Should I do biology or vet or conservation major instead? I feel kind of lost. I don't see a lot of jobs specify zoology degree, but they do say "related majors" which it probably counts as, I think zoology is just less common because it's not offered at a lot of places. Are there any other zoology or conservation students here who have any insight? Thanks guys!
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1 answer
Jing Wang
Business Support
49
Answers
Dalian, Liaoning, China
Updated
Jing’s Answer
Hi Chaelie，
General speaking, Yes, zoology is worth it and useful post‑graduation. But for your specific dream—traveling and working with critically endangered wildlife, I am afraid zoology alone is not enough, wildlife biology or conservation biology is usually a better fit, Veterinary Science is useful if you want to work hands-on with animal health, rescue or rehabilitation, especially for captive or injured endangered wildlife.
And field experience and key skills matter more than your major and degree name, degrees without hands‑on work are weak for conservation careers. You might look for opportunities with NGOs, national parks, or research institutions which focus on endangered species, volunteer is good path to build critical skills like data collection, species identification and field logistics. Recommend you to gain some specialized skills, such as field survey techniques, statistics (R is a big plus), GIS / spatial ecology, scientific writing, grant writing and data analysis and also basic language.
In addition, you can try to join conservation organizations like the Society for Conservation Biology or student chapters, attend conferences and connect with professionals in the field. As you know many roles are filled through word-of-mouth, not just job boards.
If you love zoology specifically, stick with it. If you are open to flexibility, a wildlife conservation or ecology major might feel more directly aligned with your career goals. Whatever, your degree is just the first step, your experience and skills will be what set you apart.
Best wishes and good luck.
General speaking, Yes, zoology is worth it and useful post‑graduation. But for your specific dream—traveling and working with critically endangered wildlife, I am afraid zoology alone is not enough, wildlife biology or conservation biology is usually a better fit, Veterinary Science is useful if you want to work hands-on with animal health, rescue or rehabilitation, especially for captive or injured endangered wildlife.
And field experience and key skills matter more than your major and degree name, degrees without hands‑on work are weak for conservation careers. You might look for opportunities with NGOs, national parks, or research institutions which focus on endangered species, volunteer is good path to build critical skills like data collection, species identification and field logistics. Recommend you to gain some specialized skills, such as field survey techniques, statistics (R is a big plus), GIS / spatial ecology, scientific writing, grant writing and data analysis and also basic language.
In addition, you can try to join conservation organizations like the Society for Conservation Biology or student chapters, attend conferences and connect with professionals in the field. As you know many roles are filled through word-of-mouth, not just job boards.
If you love zoology specifically, stick with it. If you are open to flexibility, a wildlife conservation or ecology major might feel more directly aligned with your career goals. Whatever, your degree is just the first step, your experience and skills will be what set you apart.
Best wishes and good luck.