Animal Management - Jefferson Community College - Watertown NY

Animal Management from Jefferson Community College - Watertown NY is a Campus Associate Animal Science degree that prepares you for a Agriculture career. Career Opportunities Zoo and aquarium employees have the opportunity to educate the public about the critical need for the conservation of wildlife and wild land. This responsibility assures an interesting and rewarding career, but the profession requires more than a commitment to conservation. It requires hard work and an education. Animal Keepers are directly responsible for the care of animals and their enclosures. Job duties and titles vary by employment location, but there are several responsibilities all keepers have in common: they clean enclosures, prepare diets, and monitor behavior of the animals. Keepers feed, water, groom, and exercise animals . They also provide the animals with enrichment activities. Animal caretakers must be alert to behavioral changes that could indicate illness or injury. They sometimes assist in research studies and give interpretive lectures to the public. Much of the work may be physically demanding. Keepers generally work outdoors in all kinds of weather. Animals require attention 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Most full-time keepers work about forty hours per week, some work fifty hours per week or more. It takes a special kind of dedication to provide care for captive animals . In spite of the odd hours and hard work, keeper jobs are at a premium and the rewards are great. Competition is fierce, but the job outlook is good as opportunities continue to expand. Applicants with educational credentials coupled with hands-on experience and skill will enjoy enhanced employment opportunities, particularly if they are willing to explore job availabilities throughout the country. The Animal Management degree may lead to employment in public and private zoos, aquariums, animal attractions, boarding kennels, and other animal care facilities. The degree can also serve as a stepping stone for study in bachelor degree programs in biology or zoology. Salaries for zoo and aquarium employees vary depending on the institution and its location. Institutions located in metropolitan areas generally offer higher salaries. An animal keeper's salary can range from minimum wage to more than $30,000 a year, depending on skills and tenure. This program does not prepare students for the Veterinary Technician profession. The Program This degree program is designed to train students for employment as zookeepers, zoo educators, or for other animal care related positions. It can also prepare program graduates for further studies in biology or zoology. The program provides students with a realistic perspective of the duties and job of zookeeper by offering hands-on experience in domestic and exotic animal management through clinical laboratories each semester. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse is the primary clinical site and provides students with the opportunity to work alongside zookeepers, veterinarians, curators, educators, and administrators. Experiences at other animal care facilities provide a broad learning experience. Course work focuses on zoo animal management, but the care and management of domestic species is also used to illustrate the fundamental principles of animal husbandry and provide additional hands-on experience. Internships at other animal facilities are required as part of the curriculum. Additional general education courses add breadth to the program. View more details on Jefferson Community College . Ask your questions and apply online for this program or find other related Animal Science courses.