Herpetologist

[Dirty]

I'm a high school graduate who wants to be a herpetologist. What college classes should I take? How much money would I make being a herpetologist?

[Stockwell]

You'll starve! Find a trade! There are about as few actual courses to become a bona-fide herpetologist, as there would be jobs for graduates.
Now if you're simply interested in keeping and breeding herps, then captive breeding can be done by non academic "herpetoculturists", with no specific schooling. It should start as a hobby, but can easily build into a business, with time, luck, and a good reputation.
But my advice would be to find something else to do as your primary source of revenue.
"Herpetologists" are generally academics, and not necessarily even interested in captive husbandry.
I've only met one, and he collected books.., which of course is fine, but you should research the goal before heading down the path.
It's a very specialized area of biology with few long term employment opportunities.

[Cake]

There are few schools out there that offer herpetology as a undergraduate degree. Some Universities offer a herpetology class and then oppertunities to study herps at the graduate level.

I agree with Stockwell, that it is more of a acedemic program than a breeding or general husbandry degree. If however you are interested in conservation and protecting species in their natural habitats, studying a biochemical pathway/phsiological response, behavioural respeonse, or a genetics question (such as the ambystomatidae complex), then it might be for you.

[DeadlyDose]

I to wanted to be a herpitologist i am graduating this year and i also have the same problem with finding out what i have to do .

[HeatherRose]

What does a 'herpetologist' even do anyway :p They're defined as one who studies herptiles. But...

Do you want to work in the field? Breed things for a living? Become a veterinarian that specializes in reptiles?

A lot of people who work in the field, studying things for research purposes don't make a ton of money, it's something they do because they are passionate about it and want to make a difference...

[Dirty]

well what other (more common) careers are there that involve exotic animals?

[CDN-Cresties]

I just checked to see if my uni offered a course in herpetology and to my surprise they do. The only problem is that I cant take it because I dont have any of the prerequisents, I think that ill still go to lectures just to learn more.

[snakehunter]

This should be made into a sticky, evry month or so there is one of these posts.

[csolis]

I would suggest taking zoology. Its a great course and although the jobs are'nt high paying, if you really love working with animals nothing beats working in a zoo. You could even work in zoos that specialize in reptiles,I think there are a few in the states and throughout the world. Then theres being a vet that specializes in exotics but this involves many years of education but the payoffs are great if thats what your intrested in. If you really want to be a herpatologist (which is a biologist that specilizes in reptiles and amphibians) you can study wildlife biology and still get a job at a zoo, as a field biologist for the gov, or as a teacher at a university/college. For any of these you have to concentrate on your sciences in high school. But if you really are just intrested in herptoculture,get a good paying job,like a trade and start it off as hobby and eventually it can become a sucessful business.

[Dirty]

Sorry if this is a dumb question...what's a trade?

[concept3]

a tradesman? carpenter, plumber, electrition to name a few/

[Bartman]

But if you really are just intrested in herptoculture,get a good paying job,like a trade and start it off as hobby and eventually it can become a sucessful business.

Well said, that was my plan before you even said that :D Anyone need a toilet unclogged :p

[spidergecko]

Even better, work for the government. That way you will get paid lots but you won't have to do anything. AND you can spend more waking hours at home than at work so you will have more time for herpetology.

I wouldn't suggest veterinary medicine though. You seem to have a hatred towards cats.

[katev17]

I think someone mentioned this already, but as to my knowledge, any of the "herpetologists" I actually know of are university professors that use their herpetology background to conduct research in their area of interest...

There are a couple of schools (ie Guelph University) that do offer a COURSE in herpetology, but I was never able to find any PROGRAMS... Except of course at a couple of Australian Universities, which would cost more than a pretty penny...

My advice is that since you obviously do have somewhat of a passion for animals, take a broader program, such as zoology or ;) animal behaviour ;) (like meee), and just try and get into those courses that they do offer. U of T doesn't have a herpetology course/program.. just to let you know =P .. but after getting through your 4 yr (or whatever) program, I'd suggest getting out there and getting experience... cuz that's what's really gonna count (if you're looking into research jobs or zoo/wildlife park jobs)!!!

Good luck =)
(Come to UTM! =))
Kate

PS - You should also contact some of the more major wildlife parks, as many of them do have education programs. You're able to work at the park, while at the same time attending specialized schooling!! It might cost more because you'll be travelling, but you're working at the same time. I can't remember the name of the place (I don't know why)... it wasn't Animal Kingdom... but it was in Florida... where I spoke to a woman that helped to run their program there.

[Dirty]

spidergecko...what are htese gov. jobs you speak of? How do i get hired for one of those?

[spidergecko]

Either you need to get to know someone on the inside or you need to work your way up. You can work for Immigration but you will need to be bilingual in at least one additional language. There are many jobs out there. You can be a letter carrier then work your way into the higher paying positions. You can be a bus driver. These last two are unions so you can't get fired unless you really mess up.

Through college I knew a few people who worked with the government. They just "applied". You need to go to your local civic centre and see what types of jobs are available for students. They always offer something - it's all a matter of whether you are qualified. I worked in the post office (federal job, not necessarily a "government" job) and I worked inside the depot. I wasn't a carrier who were paid about $3 less per hour. I worked 4 hours a day and made just under what I made as an entry-level employee at my subsequent "career" job (the one I went to school for).

[Dirty]

Nice, that sounds like it might be worth checkin out...

[snakegal12345]

I heard thst the University of Victoria which I live near by has a herptology course thats pretty good.

[BoAddict]

what determines if a course is good?

if your paying to go to school for something that there are no jobs then your wasting your time and money, now if your doing it just to learn then by all means do it but as everyone has said there are not many jobs out there

if your going to school so you can apply what you've learned i would suggest a vet that specializes in reptiles or zoology

just my $0.02

Mike

[wetlander]

Wow, I can't believe how negative many of the comments on this subject are.

I had a similar question when I was in elementary school and of course, none of the school staff had any clue even for career day. When I finally got to the graduate level, I decided to study wetland ecology instead, but went to a university with a faculty that was striong on the herp side of things. So here's some suggestions I can give you from my experiences.

First, a herpetologist is simply a person who specializes in Reptiles and amphibians. Chances are you are not sure exactly what you want to do in this field, but you obviously are interested in general terms. The first thing you need to decide is if you are interested as in just a hobby, or can you see yourself working in herpetology in the scientific field. If you are interested in sciences then university is the way to go.

There are many specific studies in herpetology (after you complete your PhD) such as evolution and ecology, teaching, nomenclature, phisiology, genetics etc. These are a few specializations but the list is probably as long as your imagination. If this is way you want to go then look for a university with a strong biological sciences cirriculum. Take lots of sciences and do well. Don't limit yourself, take anything and everything you can in biology including herpetology, evolution, ecology, statistics, microbiology (this is important to learn DNA analysis) etc.

Look for graduate schools preferably away from where you live (unless there is a great program in your home town) It seems that many schools prefer their graduate students to have diversity in where they live as it broadens your persective. When looking for a graduate school research the professors. You can easily do this on line now. Search for herpetologists, scientific papers, books by PhDs, then trace them back to where they are working. The only way to specialize is go get a graduate committee that specializes in your selected field.

What many people in this thread have said is true. You may be able to make more money as a plumber...but so what. If this is truly what you want to do then do it. With a masters degree in biology there are jobs out there that may not relate directly to herpetology, the the job market is not dry and your education will not necessarily go to waste, Federal and Provincial governments, Non Government Agencies, Consultants, zoos, museums all hire biologists and this is why it is important to take as many courses as possible. At the PhD level you can go on to research and teach at a university, or work at a higher level in a museum, zoo etc.

Good Luck! Just remember that researching this now is the most important thing to do. You don't want to complete 7 - 10 years of school just to decide this really isn't what I want to do, or get yourself into a program, then realize that you should have gone to a different school because your graduate committee doesn't have the background to sufficiently support you in your area of expertise.

[ChurleR]

I'm in my 3rd year of college and an undergraduate. My current major is Biology and I'm going for my BS (Bachelor of Science). Generally you don't start focusing on a field (ie. Herpetology or Ophiology) until after you're done with your core Biology degree. However, there are some undergrad classes that help you along the way.

Here's what I plan on taking within the next few semesters:
Vertebrate Zoology
Vertebrate Anatomy
Conservation Ecology
Evolution
Herpetology


Of course as I find the niche that I'm most interested in I'll slowly work towards that when I start graduate level studies... even though I'm pretty sure that conservation ecology is the path for me. If I can get a research job, that's great. For graduate work I plan on going to UGA and studying at the Savannah River Ecology Lab with Dr. Whit Gibbons and associates. I'm currently at GSU, where we have a decent Biology program but no real focus in herps. The only prof here that is a herp specialist focuses on Gopher tortoise behavior and ecology, rather than the ophidians that I'm interested in.

[wetlander]

Good luck on the SREL gig. There are some great research programs there! Oh and happy herping... there is no shortage at that site