Zoo Management (Top-Up)

Do you dream of an exciting and rewarding career in the zoo industry? Gain the industry relevant experience and professional skills you need at UCR. This one-year course is an opportunity for zoo biologists and animal scientists to further specialise and hone their skills gained from Level 5 study (or equivalent), which includes specialist applied modules focused on species housed within zoological collections.

Teaching staff on our Zoo Management top-up degree have many years of experience working in the diversity of roles zoos can offer, and they bring this passion and knowledge to the classroom.

A core component of the course is the completion of an undergraduate dissertation, enabling you to research an area of zoological study that interests you and to develop a wide range of transferable skills.

Our on-site zoo is home to over 1,000 animals and 150 species including ring-tailed lemurs, porcupines, marmosets, otters, capybaras, owls, bearded dragons, kingsnakes, dart frogs, marine fish and much more.

Course Features

• Volunteer staff opportunities at our on-site zoo

• Exotic animal husbandry

• Zoo nutrition

• Conservation education

• ZIMS (Zoological Information Management Systems) software

• Opportunity to engage in overseas field courses to a range of localities in Africa and Europe

Career Options

• Zookeeper

• Curator

• Conservation biologist

• Registrar

• Conservation education or outreach officer

• Animal consultancy

• Scientific research

• Progress to MSc or PhD study

• Dissertation†
• Zoo Animal Enclosure Design
• Behavioural Enrichment & Training
• Conservation Education*
• Anthrozoology*
• Environmental Sustainability & Natural Resource Management*
• Biology & Conservation of Mammals*
• Biology & Conservation of Birds*
• Biology & Conservation of Herpetofauna*

• Denotes optional modules
  † Dissertation is a double-weighted module, worth 40 credits. Therefore, only five modules are selected for study on this programme

A wide variety of assessment methods are used in this programme. These are designed to develop a range of industry relevant skills and knowledge. The dissertation is assessed through a written proposal and scientific article which represents the research carried out by the student. Other assessments include a species management plan for the Biology and Conservation modules, an enclosure design portfolio, a microteach for Conservation Education, reports and case studies, seminars and an assessed workshop for Behavioural Enrichment.