what university is best for zoology/herpetology ?

[Tassie97]

hey I am currently in grade 10 in Tasmania I hope to do Zoology at Uni.

what are your guys opinions of uni's around Australia, I'm not sure if UTAS would be all that great due to it being in Tasmania (lack of reptiles, although we have lots that need more found out about them)
I have heard that James Cook uni is good but I don't really have a clue.

please input your opinions and let me look into some different options thank you

 

[eipper]

Uni of syd

 

[littlemay]

hey I am currently in grade 10 in Tasmania I hope to do Zoology at Uni.

what are your guys opinions of uni's around Australia, I'm not sure if UTAS would be all that great due to it being in Tasmania (lack of reptiles, although we have lots that need more found out about them)
I have heard that James Cook uni is good but I don't really have a clue.

please input your opinions and let me look into some different options thank you

I know that The University of Western Sydney has a newish zoology course available, which i've heard is supposed to be quite good.

Bachelor of Science (Zoology) | University of Western Sydney (UWS)

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Uni of syd

I didn't think that USYD offered Zoology...? At least not at undergrad anyway

 

[snake_lover]

My friend did her zoology degree at James Cook and loved it.

 

[eipper]

Shine lab is at uni of Syd.

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Utas has quite a long standing herpetology program in the zoology department with a fair bit of research of Pseudemoia, Niveoscincus and Acritoscincus groups. It might be not too much of a worry initially as you will have undergrad to sort through first before starting specialize. Both zoological and herpetological circles run very wide what is your aim?

 

[crocodile_dan]

I did my BSc majoring in Zoology at the University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus. It was definitely an amazing degree with some great courses on offer, with field trips to Outback QLD, Fraser Island and Stradbroke being some of the highlights.

 

[jordo]

Here is a list of herpetologist supervisors that can give you a good idea of the kind of research that goes on at the various universities around Aust. Of course you wont have much exposure to it in an undergrad but if you're really keen you should consider honours with one of these supervisors. I've heard JCU is really good for herp content in the undergrad course.
Herp Supervisors | Keogh Lab - Division of Evolution, Ecology & Genetics / Research School of Biology / The Australian National University

 

[MathewB]

I'm hoping to get into a Bachelor of Science (Ecology and Conservation Biology) at Griffith Uni, so if I completed that course could I then go onto Zoology or Herpetology at, if need be, a different University?

I don't mean to hijack your thread Tassie!

 

[Hoplophile]

Don't worry about picking a Uni for its herpetology reputation. You'll need to do a good undergraduate course in Science, Majoring in Zoology and UTAS is very good. Then consider doing Honours on a herp project if need be. To really do anything of significance in herpetology you should probably consider post graduate work (Masters or Ph.D) and you can pick any uni in the world to do that (assuming your marks are good enough). I can't stress enough the value of getting a good grounding in biological sciences before thinking about applying it to herps. Along the way you might find something else (genetics, invertebarte systematics, physiology, chemistry) takes your fancy. Don't block out other options -especially at year 10! Above all remeber to do well at secondary school. Failing to get good marks in Science and other subjects of your choice might close off your options. They might not interest you now but getting in in the first place is your next hurdle.

 

[Renenet]

Herp Supervisors | Keogh Lab - Division of Evolution, Ecology & Genetics / Research School of Biology / The Australian National University

There's actually some really good advice here. Thanks for the link.

 

[Tassie97]

Don't worry about picking a Uni for its herpetology reputation. You'll need to do a good undergraduate course in Science, Majoring in Zoology and UTAS is very good. Then consider doing Honours on a herp project if need be. To really do anything of significance in herpetology you should probably consider post graduate work (Masters or Ph.D) and you can pick any uni in the world to do that (assuming your marks are good enough). I can't stress enough the value of getting a good grounding in biological sciences before thinking about applying it to herps. Along the way you might find something else (genetics, invertebarte systematics, physiology, chemistry) takes your fancy. Don't block out other options -especially at year 10! Above all remeber to do well at secondary school. Failing to get good marks in Science and other subjects of your choice might close off your options. They might not interest you now but getting in in the first place is your next hurdle.

yes well this I what I was thinking I don't want to lock off any opportunities and doing a science degree has many options, I am currently working in pharmacy so that could also be an option continued on from the science degree (hope that makes sense)

also, who employs a zoologist in real world situations? I'm sure there would be some qualified herpetologists here, who pays your wages? haha thanks

 

[Renenet]

I can't stress enough the value of getting a good grounding in biological sciences before thinking about applying it to herps. Along the way you might find something else (genetics, invertebarte systematics, physiology, chemistry) takes your fancy. Don't block out other options -especially at year 10! Above all remeber to do well at secondary school.

One of my lecturers at JCU Cairns said something very similar and I think it is excellent advice. One of the exciting things about biology (and science in general) is that there are so many interesting topics you can pursue, if you're open to them. You don't have to be stuck specialising in the one thing for the rest of your career either, if that doesn't appeal.

I'm at JCU Cairns, Tassie. I had intended to do zoology, but they went and changed the course at the end of my first year so that it is now zoology and ecology. To do pure zoology at JCU you now need to go to the Townsville campus. I actually don't mind the combo course because I think the ecology component will give me a wider perspective and make me more employable, though I am a bit peeved that Cairns is no longer offering some of the subjects I wanted to do.

 

[BIGBANG]

Don't worry about picking a Uni for its herpetology reputation. You'll need to do a good undergraduate course in Science, Majoring in Zoology and UTAS is very good. Then consider doing Honours on a herp project if need be. To really do anything of significance in herpetology you should probably consider post graduate work (Masters or Ph.D) and you can pick any uni in the world to do that (assuming your marks are good enough). I can't stress enough the value of getting a good grounding in biological sciences before thinking about applying it to herps. Along the way you might find something else (genetics, invertebarte systematics, physiology, chemistry) takes your fancy. Don't block out other options -especially at year 10! Above all remeber to do well at secondary school. Failing to get good marks in Science and other subjects of your choice might close off your options. They might not interest you now but getting in in the first place is your next hurdle.

lol back when i was in year 10 i wanted to be a herpotoligist (spelling?????) went to the careers teacher to ask what subjects i needed to do, answer.....english, advanced maths, biology, chemistry and i did woodwork, didnt even make it through the first term of chemistry!!!!! that is far to hard for me, hated maths so dropped that to, E- in english exam, A+ in both wood work and biology exams, so became a cabinet maket and now am a general engineer........hope you have better luck than me TASSIE

 

[shea92]

I know that The University of Western Sydney has a newish zoology course available, which i've heard is supposed to be quite good.

Bachelor of Science (Zoology) | University of Western Sydney (UWS)

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I didn't think that USYD offered Zoology...? At least not at undergrad anyway

Sydney offers Biology (I am doing biology and geology at Sydney)... Zoology is a fundamental component of biology, in a similar way tectonics is to Geology. That so, all biology subjects anywhere will draw on aspects of zoology. In my opinion it is silly choose a degree in science straight away revolving around one field. It would be more sensible to choose a broad BSc degree with first year subjects in Biology and other sciences and follow which ever subjects you enjoy. If you find yourself still absorbed in biology, you will need to do extra studies as there are so many fields of biology ranging from Physiology to Epigenetics. You would need to do honours and then a masters degree or PhD to specialise with a decent career path in front of you.

 

[Xanthine]

As a biology student, don't discount doing chemistry or physics on the side. As a note, chemistry is more relevant than physics. I'm only saying this as these subjects get you equipped with better problem solving skills than some of your biological sciences. As a guy doing med, it's amazing how many students that have come through doing biomed, the courses aimed at gearing you for medicine, have bad problem solving skills, can't integrated ideas, and struggle with the course.

 

[Renenet]

Chemistry is also very relevant for biological sciences. More and more work is being done at a molecular level. I'm doing biological chemistry this semester. It is a tough course, though, so I'm not sure if I should be looking forward to it or feel terrified.

 

[bk201]

UWS made the zoology degree/major available when i am 1 space short of adding it to my degree unless i can somehow do 250/240 credits but my maths was never great...

 

[littlemay]

UWS made the zoology degree/major available when i am 1 space short of adding it to my degree unless i can somehow do 250/240 credits but my maths was never great...

At MQ you can usually add extra credit if you ask, but it it's not covered by HECS-HELP...

 

[Xanthine]

UWS made the zoology degree/major available when i am 1 space short of adding it to my degree unless i can somehow do 250/240 credits but my maths was never great...

You may be able to change your major. It has been done, even this late into a course.

 

[-Peter]

Shine lab is at uni of Syd.

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Utas has quite a long standing herpetology program in the zoology department with a fair bit of research of Pseudemoia, Niveoscincus and Acritoscincus groups. It might be not too much of a worry initially as you will have undergrad to sort through first before starting specialize. Both zoological and herpetological circles run very wide what is your aim?

Pretty much comes down to where you want this to lead. Most unis will have an undergrad course that will give you the grounding you need and it will be your choice of Post Grad placement based on what you want to achieve that should direct your choices. Really puts you back to your initial question doesn't it. So as Scott asks, "what is your aim"?