Two-Year Programs

Alamance Community College
A.A.S. Animal Care & Management Technology
P.O. Box 8000
Graham, NC 27253-8000
(336) 506-4385
Program Contact: Christine Remington, Department Head|
remingc@alamancecc.edu
The A.A.S. degree in Animal Care and Management Technology focuses on cultivating caring, educated, and experienced employees in a wide variety of animal related fields including exotic animal husbandry. With a broad base of knowledge including habitat design, sanitation, nutrition, healthcare, principles of behavior and training, and animal handling and restraint grounded in hours of service learning projects, rigorous competencies, and cooperative work experiences, students exemplify the education, compassion & skill of captive animal care and management.
A.A.S. Animal Care & Management Technology Curriculum

America's Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College
Exotic Animal Management and Training Program (EATM)
Moorpark College
7075 Campus Road
Moorpark, CA 93021
(805) 378-1441
Students may earn an A.S. degree by taking general education courses alongside their zoo curriculum and they can earn degrees and certificates in Animal Training, and Wildlife Education. This is an intense program and EATM students are required to attend classes, work with and care for the animals, and work at the campus zoo most days and weekends.
EATM@vcccd.net
http://www.moorparkcollege.edu/zoo/

Davidson County Community College
A.A.S. Zoo & Aquarium Science
P.O. Box 1287
Lexington, NC 27293-1287
(336) 249-8186
Program Contact: Kim Sepich, Associate Dean of Enrollment Services, (336) 249-8186, extension 6780
Faculty Contact: Mark E. Stevens, mesteven@davidsonccc.edu
This is a 5 semester full-time program leading to an A.A.S. degree in Zoo & Aquarium Science. The program combines a rigorous classroom curriculum with over 1400 hours of practical experience at area animal facilities including Animal Discovery, the North Carolina Zoological Park and Duke University Lemur Center.
http://www.davidsonccc.edu/academics/as-zoo.htm

Harcum College
A.S. in Animal Center Management
Harcum College
750 Montgomery Avenue
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
(610) 525-4100
Program Director: Mary Friday, (610) 526-6108, mfriday@harcum.edu
Animal Center Managers provide managerial support to veterinarians in clinics and hospitals, biological research settings, animal control, humane organizations, zoos and educational facilities. Management duties include both the facility and its personnel. Animal Center Managers must complete a 2-year educational program, and 250 hours of practical experience.
http://www.harcum.edu/PS_ACD_Animal_Center_Management_632839831382031250.aspx

Jefferson Community College, Watertown, New York
A.A.S. Degree in Animal management
1220 Coffeen St.
Watertown, NY 13601
Program Director: Mark D. Irwin, D.V.M., mirwin@sunyjefferson.edu
Admissions Office, (315) 786-2277
The Animal Management Program at Jefferson Community College is designed to provide students with the basic skills, experience and knowledge required for a career as a progressive zoo keeper in zoological parks. Upon graduation with this Associate in Applied Sciences degree, students will have been exposed to all aspects of zoo animal management and care. Students will study at many of the zoos of New York State and Southern Canada. Hands-on keeping experience is provided at Syracuse's Rosamond Gifford Zoo (AZA) and The New York State Zoo at Thompson Park.
http://www.zookeeping.com
http://www.sunyjefferson.edu/amg

Syracuse's Rosamond Gifford Zoo
http://www.rosamondgiffordzoo.org

The New York State Zoo at Thompson Park
http://www.nyszoo.org

Niagara County Community College
A.A.S. in Animal Management
3111 Saunders Settlement Rd.
Sanborn, NY 14132
(716)-614-6222
Coordinator: Aaron Cobaugh, (716) 614-6424, acobaugh@niagaracc.suny.edu
http://www.niagaracc.suny.edu/lsd/animal.html

Buffalo Zoo
300 Parkside Ave
Buffalo, N.Y. 14214-1999
(716)-837-3900
http://www.buffalozoo.org/

Pensacola Junior College, Zoo Animal Technology
A.S. Degree, Zoo Animal Technology Program
Department of Biological Sciences
Pensacola Junior College
1000 College Avenue
Pensacola, FL 32504-8998
Program Director: Joyce Kaplan, (850) 484-1164, jkaplan@pjc.edu
This is a two year full-time program leading to an A.S. degree in Zoo Animal Technology offered in conjunction with The Northwest Florida Zoological Park and Botanical Gardens in Gulf Breeze and other animal facilities in the region. Includes 900 hours of practical experience in addition to a variety of animal biology and zoo specialty theoretical courses. A new class of up to 30 students is admitted each Fall.
This school offers a cooperative program with the University of West Florida (see four-year programs), providing further education in biological sciences and business courses relevant to zoo management.
http://itech.pjc.edu/jkaplan/zooschool/

Northwest Florida Zoological Park and Botanical Gardens
http://www.thezoonorthwestflorida.org/

Pikes Peak Community College
A.A.S. in Zookeeping Technology
5675 S. Academy Blvd.
Colorado Springs, CO 80906 USA
(800) 456-6847 | (719) 576-7711
Zookeeping Liaison: Tracey Anderson, (719) 650-0472, zooliaisonppcc@gmail.com
The program is a two-year degree in which students complete 690 hours of hands on training through required internships. Most internships are done at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. In addition to the practical application, students are trained in animal husbandry, exhibitry, safety, veterinary care, horticulture, public relations, career development, and environmental science. The program also offers electives such as elephant management, animal training, advanced exhibitry techniques, primate studies and adventures in zoo design.
http://www.ppcc.cccoes.edu/
http://www.ppcc.edu/CatalogSchedule/Courses/Courses.cfm?Course=ZOO

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
http://www.cmzoo.org/
4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
(719)633-9925
info@cmzoo.org

Santa Fe Community College Teaching Zoo
A.S. in Zoo Technology
3000 N.W. 83rd Street
Gainesville, FL 32606
Linda Asbell, (352) 395-5604, linda.asbell@sfcc.edu
The Zoo Animal Technology Program at Santa Fe Community College was the first program of its kind, and the first to offer a great combination of academic classes and hands on experiences in the animal fields. Students in the program will complete a 74 credit hour course of study over five semesters, including academic classes on all animal groups, animal nutrition, animal breeding, as well as visitor education. In addition to the academic classes the students will work in the Teaching Zoo (an AZA accredited facility) for over 1800 hours. This training enables students to find employment in a variety of fields including zookeeping, park naturalist, zoo education, animal technician and a host of other animal husbandry fields. Four-year programs are also available in cooperation with State University of New York at Oswego, Friends University in Wichita, Kansas, and University of West Florida in Pensacola, Florida. Please contact Linda Asbell (above) for cooperative information.
http://inst.santafe.cc.fl.us/~zoo/index.htm

back to Zoo Keeper Training

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Please contact Susan Chan for more information about a career in zoo keeping, or contact your local zoological park and/or aquarium.

To find more information on zookeeping, go to amazon.com. If you make a purchase, AAZK will receive 5% of the sales.