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Herpetology as such is usually offered as a third year subject when you do BSc (at some universities). A real herpetology comes as a postgrad studies.
 
You'd need to look at biology or zoology I think. I looked at doing it but the realised how much boring stuff you have to do first because, as Michael said, there are no specific herpetology courses. You could just do the reptile handling/husbandry courses at TAFE and try to get a job at a zoo as well
 
You could just do the reptile handling/husbandry courses at TAFE and try to get a job at a zoo as well

That's true but then you are talking a "reptile keeper's" job, not herpetology. You need to get BSc and then decide which direction to take. Herpetology is a huge field; do you want to study reptilian taxonomy, ecology, physiology, behaviour, etc., etc.? You can't really be a jack of all trades.
 
thanks for the info guys whats a bsc

i just want to study reptiles and amphibians

Colt, you can't just study reptiles and amphibians. You need a basic degree (BSc) first. No one offers undergraduate courses in herpetology.
 
colt as waterrat is saying is to be a herpetologist then you will need to do a bachelor of science (3 years) which is everything from plants to soils and animals. and then do a following year of post grade studies and then ultimately phd after that. i better tafe is sounding better now... but im in 2nd year now and loving it
 
Another thing you have to remember is whatever avenue you choose, being a herpetologist doesn't mean going out every day and doing the Steve Irwin thing. Most of your time will be spent researching the mating habits of some rare skink nobody has heard of or cares about
 
I was going to do Herpetology but after what I have read now about all this stuffing around with dirt and blah blah its TAFE for me!
 
In the end, the most important thing is to decide what you want to do with your life. There are few jobs in herpetlogy and if you want to do what interests you and make decisions, you have to go all the way i.e. PhD.
TAFE course sound good but where is it going to take you? There are hundreds of very experienced and qualified people waiting to get into the Zoo industry. Just look at how many Zoo keepers have university degree in these days.
Sometimes it's best to get a read job and play with reptiles in your spare time.
 
In the end, the most important thing is to decide what you want to do with your life. There are few jobs in herpetlogy and if you want to do what interests you and make decisions, you have to go all the way i.e. PhD.
TAFE course sound good but where is it going to take you? There are hundreds of very experienced and qualified people waiting to get into the Zoo industry. Just look at how many Zoo keepers have university degree in these days.
Sometimes it's best to get a read job and play with reptiles in your spare time.

+1
Just for clarification what's a read job?

You could just do the reptile handling/husbandry courses at TAFE and try to get a job at a zoo as well

Does TAFE QLD offer it? I can't find it
 
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Just for clarification what's a read job?

One that's guaranteed when you finish your training. You don't see any unemployed plumbers, electricians, doctors or solicitors. That's what I meant.
 
I've looked into doing the same thing. I've found that the closest thing is the Bachelor of Natural Science/ Animal Science at UWS Hawkesbury in NSW ( Only place with a reptile house) course No 706380 it is 3 yrs full time, 6 yrs part time and needs an ATAR of 69.20. You could probably find a similar course in QLD. Then from memory James Cook Uni in Townsville has a course specialising in Herpetology.
 
Another way to do it is through Open Universities Australia. You do a sort of correspondence course in BSc through Melbourne Uni. Again you would still need to follow up with James Cook Uni for Herpetology. The advantage with this course is you don't need to get an ATAR score and will be accepted straight away, the disadvantage is that you have to study all sciences like building construction etc. Another thing, you would need to travel to Melbourne for 3-4 weeks a year to do your lab work. Doing a BSc is a wide ranging area of study whereas Natural Science is closer to the end result.:)
 
If your going to do a BSc best to go with a biology/animal science or conservation based one.. I have a BSc but there is no way they are going to let me do "herpetology" post grad lol.
 
Thats why I'm looking at B Natural science/ Animal Science but I was told that I could do Herp after completing BSc through Open Unis.
 
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