Michael Noonan, PhD, director of the animal behavior program answers common questions about the minor.
Could you tell me more about Canisius College?
Canisius College, located in Buffalo, is Western New York's premier private comprehensive university consisting of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Wehle School of Business, and the School of Education and Human Services. Founded by members of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1870, our 36-acre campus houses 50 buildings which contain the modern resources needed to give you a quality education. Click here to learn more.
What animal-focused programs does Canisius offer?
Canisius College offers two separate academic minors that focus on animals: Animal Behavior and Zoo Biology. (At Canisius, "minors" are mini concentrations of five to seven courses focused on a single theme.)
The zoo biology program is administered by the Biology Department and the animal behavior program is administered by the Psychology Department. While most students interested in animals pursue degrees in biology or psychology, either minor is open to students of any major. It is just as common for biology majors to pursue the animal behavior minor and for psychology majors to pursue the zoo biology minor as it is the other way around. In fact, one need not even be in either of those two majors. Recently, a student graduated with an English major and the animal behavior minor.
What major should a student choose?
The choice ultimately depends on the student's interests in the other requirements that each major entails. A biology major can concentrate in animal studies, and will also be required to study topics like cell biology, chemistry and physics. A psychology major can likewise concentrate on animals, but will also be required to learn about counseling, social psychology, etc.
There are pros and cons with either option, and it is not uncommon for a student who is interested in this area to be unsure of which major to pursue. If this includes you, give me a call or stop by. I will be happy to discuss it with you. (By the way, students can also pursue a biology-psychology dual major.)
I notice that the requirements for animal behavior and zoo biology overlap. Is it possible to complete both minors?
Yes. Quite a few students do exactly that.
Do you have to be a full-time student to take the courses?
No. (However, keep reading for more information related to this issue.)
What degree do you earn at Canisius?
A biology major earns a bachelor's of science; a psychology major earns a bachelor's of arts. The minors in animal behavior or zoo biology are subserved under those majors.
How many years does it take to complete a degree program?
Most students complete a bachelor's degree in four years.
Is it possible to come to Canisius solely for the animal programs and not for the full four-year degree?
Yes. Some students only want to complete an animal-focused minor, and that is possible. However, it may or may not be advisable. Consider the following:
Some students ask this question because they have already completed an undergraduate degree elsewhere. Such students sometime attend Canisius part time only to complete the animal-focused courses. That takes two years since the various animal courses come around only every other year (with one or two relevant courses per semester on a staggered schedule). If you are such a student, arrange to talk to me before you go too far down this road. As an alternative, I may advise you to consider pursuing a graduate degree elsewhere. It will depend on how much background you already have and what your precise goals are.
Other students ask this question because they want to move as rapidly as possible into animal-related employment. They are seeking job-related training and credentials, and they want to complete them in the least amount of time possible. Here, I need to point out some important factors to consider. In the first place, most employment with animals (in zoos, for example) now requires a four-year degree. (If you ultimately decide that is what you want, come to Canisius; that's what we do!) However, please recognize that the environment at Canisius College is one of liberal-arts and academics. Of course, we pay attention to career planning and preparation, but that is not our only focus. When you come here, you will recieve excellent training vis-a-vis animals, but you will also acquire a foundation in English, history, philosophy, etc. If you are a prospective student who wants to work with animals, but you are sure you do not want a four-year degree, you might be better off going to school elsewhere. (For example, here in Western New York the Niagara County Community College has a very fine two-year program in animal management.) Let me know if you want to discuss this question further, or if you need suggestions about how best to proceed.
What prerequisites, if any, exist for your courses?
Beyond general admittance to Canisius College, there are no prerequisites for the coursework. Since they are presented to students with varying backgrounds, the information in each course is self contained. Note, however, that the courses are somewhat rigorous, and I do counsel prospective students to wait until they have a sufficiently successful academic track record to be confident that they will succeed.
I am already a college student studying elsewhere. Is it possible to transfer to Canisius?
Yes, and this is a fairly common practice. If you are contemplating a transfer to Canisius (or you would like to learn about the possibility), let me know and I will have the appropriate information sent to you. My e-mail address is noonan@canisius.edu.
Do you offer graduate studies in animal-related disciplines?
I am sorry to tell you that we do not offer a graduate degree in animal behavior or zoo biology. Our programs are for undergraduates, and are associated with the pursuit of bachelor's degrees in psychology and/or biology.
Since you don't have graduate programs in animal-related fields, could you tell me how to find graduate programs elsewhere?
I suggest you contact the Animal Behavior Society. Their ABS Graduate School booklet is available electronically on the web at http://www.animalbehavior.org.
Another site, which may help you find someone who is studying a topic or species of particular interest is the Consortium of Aquariums, Universities and Zoos.
Can you provide me with information about career paths and employment prospects in the area of animal behavior and/or zoo biology?
In animal behavior specifically, the main direction is a career in academics. This means graduate school to get a PhD, leading to a job in a university or college. The career usually involves teaching combined with research.
Other animal-behavior focused careers do exist (such as marine-mammal trainer, seeing-eye dog trainer, etc.) but they are few and far between. (That doesn't mean you shouldn't try for them, just that you should expect a thin job market demanding much persistence.)
There are many other possibilities for careers with animals which don't directly focus on animal behavior specifically. Veterinary medicine is the most obvious and popular choice. Another common choice is teaching biology either at the elementary/middle or high school level.
One good choice which is often made by students here at Canisius College involves a career in the zoo world (usually as a zoo keeper). Please see the Web page that describes the Canisius College zoo biology program.
You can also go to the following two Web sites to learn more about careers in zoos: I also know of three printed publications which may help you to develop some ideas.
- Opportunities in Zoo Careers by Blythe Camenson, 1998. VGM Career Horizons, Chicago.
- Careers for Nature Lovers and Other Outdoor Types by Louise Miller, 1992. VGM Career Horizons, Chicago.
- The New Complete Guide to Environmental Careers, 1993. Island Press, Wash, DC.
Sincerely,
Dr. Noonan
noonan@canisius.edu