A zoologist or wildlife biologist typically needs a master’s degree for higher level investigation or scientific work. A Ph.D. is necessary for the majority of independent research positions and for university research positions. Most of the Ph.D. level researchers need to be familiar with programming and statistical software. Portland Community College offers a zoology/animal biology program for an associates degree; Treasure Valley Community College offers a Wildlife, Fish and Wetlands Science and Management program for an associates degree; and Oregon State University offers an entomology course for both a master’s and Ph.D. degree and a zoology/animal biology course for a bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. degree. Portland’s Community College associate's degree program is $104 per credit. Given an associate’s degree is two years, multiply 104 by 60 total credits comes to $6,240. With a rough additional fee of $669, the total comes to $6,909. Treasure Valley Community College’s associate’s degree program is $99 a credit. Multiple 99 by 60 total credits comes to $5,940. With a rough additional fee of $360, the total comes to $6,300. Oregon State University’s zoology/animal biology courses all vary in price since each degree requires additional courses and a longer time period. The bachelor’s degree is $288 per credit. Multiply 288 by 120 total credits comes to …show more content…
The employment for zoologist and wildlife biologist is expected to grow four percent from 2014 to 2024, which is slower than the average for all occupations. More zoologist and wildlife biologists will be needed to study the impact of human population growth on wildlife and their natural habitats. Nevertheless, since most funding comes from governmental agencies, demand for zoologists and wildlife biologists will be limited. Many states will continue to employ zoologist and wildlife biologists to manage animal populations for tourism purposes (hunting, sightseeing, and conservation). Typical employers include: zoos or wildlife parks and environmental protection agencies; government agencies and research institution; medical research establishments and the National Health Service; environmental and animal charities; schools, colleges, science centers, libraries and museums; universities and research institutes; environmental consultancies; chemical, pharmaceutical and petroleum companies; and aquaculture and animal nutrition companies. Some restrictions zoologist and wildlife biologist may face is strong competition looking for employment. If an applicant has practical experience through internships, summer jobs, or volunteer work, or shortly after graduation may have a better chance when finding employment. For a better chance of employment, one should gain