Animal Management
FAQs
- Why should I choose Jefferson Community College?
- How much is tuition?
- What do I need to become a zoo keeper?
- What are the Animal Management clinicals?
- What are the physical requirements of the program?
- Do I have to take the courses in order?
- Can I start in the Spring?
- How many students are admitted each year?
- Would your program prepare me for other animal related careers?
- Will JCC's program help me become a veterinary technician?
- Can I visit?
- Does JCC place students in jobs when they graduate?
Why should I choose Jefferson Community College?
Jefferson
Community College’s Animal Management program is unique. There are
only a handful of schools that offer such animal and zoo related training.
JCC’s program is designed to prepare students for careers in zoos
as both zoo keepers and animal interpreters/educators.
The cost of college is a major concern to most students. JCC is proud to be the most affordable choice in the North Country and has one of te lowest tuitions among the SUNY colleges. Financial support is also available and we encourage you to apply.
Located just 30 minutes south of the Canadian Border, JCC is within hours of other AZA accredited zoos in Toronto, Montreal, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo and Binghamton. During the course of the program, students will experience many of these zoos.
Jefferson Community College is also located only minutes away from the Army's Fort Drum. This military base is home of the 10th Mountain Division(light infantry). Both Jefferson Community College and the Greater Watertown area provide a very supportive environment for military families.
SUNY Oswego offers 4-year Zoo Science and biology programs. It is located only an hour away and many JCC courses will transfer towards their degrees.
JCC’s Animal Management program provides the opportunity to work directly with not only zoo keepers, but also curators and directors. During the program, JCC’s faculty strive to develop individual relationships with each of the students and have a great desire to see students succeed. The three main faculty include two biology PhDs and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM).
How much is tuition?
Jefferson Community College offers a quality education and affordable tuition. It is proud to have one of the lowest tuitions of the SUNY colleges. The cost of attending Jefferson, including tuition, fees, and books, is approximately $3500 per year. Over 85% of our students receive financial assistance! Students are encouraged to apply.
What do I need to become a zoo keeper?
The zoo field is relatively small compared to other fields and often there are more people looking for animal-related work than there are positions available. Getting started can be challenging.
Passion is, perhaps, the most important attribute for a career working with animals. However, you will also need hands-on experience caring for exotic species and a formal education.
To gain experience, consider volunteering at your local zoo, farm, or animal shelter. It is never too early to start. Many places rely on volunteers to operate and will welcome assistance. While helping them, you are also gaining experience, building your resume, and establishing professional references.
Different zoos have different criteria for employee education when hiring. Some prefer 4-year degrees, while others prefer practical 2-year degrees, like those offered by JCC. Our program is an excellent way to gain hands-on experience and begin your education. We encourage our students to consider transfer to neighboring SUNY Oswego or other 4-year colleges for biology or zoo degrees. To get the best zoo keeping positions and progress up the zoo’s hierarchy to become curator or director, a 4-year bachelors' degree is recommended.
What are the Animal Management “clinicals”?
The
clinical portion of the program is designed to provide students with broad
practical experience and unique learning opportunities within the animal
field. The program has a special focus on zoo animal management with much
of the clinical portion being based at The New York State Zoo at Thompson
Park, Watertown’s
zoological park. Students will have the opportunity to visit and gain experience
at other animal facilities as well. Clinical courses are designed to function
as a hands-on workplace assignment in conjunction with traditional forms of
instruction. As such, these courses will require the same dedication and hard
work that would be required in other job positions. Emphasis is placed on professionalism
and teamwork.
What are the physical requirements of the program?
Animal care can be physically demanding. Students will need to work outdoors in all kinds of weather. Lifting, pulling, raking, shoveling, scrubbing, mopping, sweeping, lifting buckets of water, stacking hay bales, restraining animals, and moving full wheelbarrows are just some of the physical tasks expected of keepers. Animal management clinical courses are operated at the New York State Zoo where students work alongside zoo staff and are expected to do the same tasks.
Do I have to take the courses in order?
Some of the general courses in the Animal Management program can be taken in any order. Animal Management (AMG) specific courses and some biology courses must be taken in sequence. Of particular importance are the AMG clinicals (AMG 111, 112, 211, 212) and seminars (AMG 101, 102, 201, 202). These courses go in sequential order to provide students with proper training for their activities at our zoo and to help students unite as a team as they go through the program.
Can I start in the Spring?
The specific AMG sequence only begins in the fall semester. Students transferring to JCC for the spring semester can take courses such as English, math, and biology that will contribute to their degree requirements.
How many students are admitted each year?
JCC admits a maximum of 30 students each year to its Animal Management program.
Would JCC's program prepare me for other animal related careers?
The program’s main focus is on zoo related careers, keeping and education; however, our program can prepare you for many other careers relating to animal care and husbandry. Some of our graduates have gone on to work in veterinary clinics, farms, pet stores, and horse stables.
Will your program help me become a veterinary technician?
JCC's
program will not train you as a veterinary technician nor a veterinary
medical doctor. We do cover some veterinary related topics, but if you
choose a career in one of those fields, you need to contact a veterinary
medicine or veterinary technician college (such as SUNY
Canton, veterinary technician). If your goal is to specialize as a
zoo veterinary technician, our program may be of assistance by giving you
zoo experience and a foot-in-the-door to the zoo world. You would still
need a veterinary technician degree.
Can I visit?
Potential students are very welcome to contact JCC Admissions and arrange a visit. A student guide can show you around campus, answer your questions, and even show you around the New York State Zoo while students are working on clinical rotation.
Does JCC place students in jobs when they graduate?
Upon graduation, students are responsible for finding jobs. Jefferson Community College and the Animal Management program helps students in their job/internship search by directing them to job postings, providing resume writing workshops and career counseling services.
