Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am strongly considering becoming a herpetologist. Those that are I would love to know the answers to these questions. When going to college, do you have to major in some form of biology like biology, zoology, ecology, or is there a certain one you must major in? After the bachelor degree, then what? Thanks so much.

>>I am strongly considering becoming a herpetologist. Those that are I would love to know the answers to these questions. When going to college, do you have to major in some form of biology like biology, zoology, ecology, or is there a certain one you must major in? After the bachelor degree, then what? Thanks so much.

Yes, you will major in Biology/Zoology. After you receive your B.S., there are several schools that have Herpetology programs where you can continue to work on your Masters with an emphasis on Herpetology and do your thesis work and Post Grad work in that discipline.
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We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thanks so much. Everyone else is still welcome to tell me their tips.

Oldherper is right. You will have to major in some form of life science such as biology, but if you can find a college with a zoology program that will be better because it will be less general than a simple bio degree. You'll really choose your direction when you go to grad school as that will be where you will actually concentrate on research and will take courses that more closely follow the field you will want to study. However, it all depends on what you think a herpetologist does. Do you just want to do hardcore research at the university level, maybe with some field work? Beware that being an academic herpetologist will mean you will be tied into the various problems of life in academia such as having to regularly publish scientific articles and such and the sad thing is that much of your work will probably be done by grad students while you teach classes and don't get much time in the field. There are other ways to apply a 'herpetology' type degree to the workplace though. Working a zoo or nature center such as I do is a viable career. There are even some zoo and aquarium science programs available at a couple universities. Decide what you want to do with a herpetology degree and that will dictate where you go career-wise. Oh yeah, and if you go to work at a zoo, be aware that the higher you would go [ie. curator] the less contact you have with animals and the more time you spend in front of a computer.
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Matt Campbell
Animal Keeper, Small Mammal/Reptile House
Lincoln Park Zoo Chicago, Illinois

Assistant Curator
Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, Illinois

So, the higher up you are, the less contact with animals you get. However, isn't the same true with salary? The higher you are the more you'd get right?

Kind of a rude choice in my opinion. Is there a happy medium there somewhere?