What would I study in college for Animals?

[rmune0750]

I want to minor in something that has to do with animals (not veterinary) when I get to college but I don't know what I would minor in for that....

would it be Biology?

[Schlyne]

Biology would probably be your best bet. Specifically zoology, if you end up going to a college that doesn't offer biology as it's own major. The first college I went to didn't offer biology as a major, you had to pick microbiology, zoology, or botany.

Animal Science might be a bit to agricultural (cows, pigs, chicken, etc) for what you're looking for.

[rmune0750]

Biology would probably be your best bet. Specifically zoology, if you end up going to a college that doesn't offer biology as it's own major. The first college I went to didn't offer biology as a major, you had to pick microbiology, zoology, or botany.

Animal Science might be a bit to agricultural (cows, pigs, chicken, etc) for what you're looking for.

yeah even tho i love all animals, im not really into farm animals....

and i want it as a MINOR, not major, im majoring in Art

[tigerlily]

Biology would probably be your best bet. Specifically zoology, if you end up going to a college that doesn't offer biology as it's own major. The first college I went to didn't offer biology as a major, you had to pick microbiology, zoology, or botany.

Animal Science might be a bit to agricultural (cows, pigs, chicken, etc) for what you're looking for.

My college actually grouped micro, zoo, and many others under the umbrella of Biology. So I actually came out with a degree in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in Zoology. Although a word of warning.. before you can get into many of the good animal courses you have to take a lot of basics sciences first including chemistry, physics and basic biology courses. Take a look at the classes you might like to take and see what prerequistes are required.

[Freakie_frog]

Major in zoology with a minor in Biology with an emphasis on old world constrictors for grad school

[KittyJ]

Hmm. When I got to college Im going to stive for a major in Ornithology and all that. And a minor a bit better than a minor in zoology but mainly, what I want to do when I "get older" is breed enangered species of birds and then help repopulated them in the wild, so rehubilitating the chicks (when they are fully grown) into the wild. And I want to work with BIG cat and WILD canines... and well.. I just love animals, and LOVE marinelife like whales, and dolphins, and sharks..turtles,snakes, and the likes. lol.. gosh.. if only I had twins...wait..triplits!!

[Mendel's Balls]

Major in zoology with a minor in Biology with an emphasis on old world constrictors for grad school

Finding a school with zoology as a major is going to be hard, not impossible but hard. According to US News and World Report, here is a list of US colleges that offer a major titled zoology or animal biology for the 2006-07 school year.

The term "zoology" isn't very trendy these days in the biological sciences community (for a discussion of these trends see A General Review of Zoological Trends in the 20th century). Sometimes you need to learn the lingo. You'll increase your pool of possible schools if you also look at colleges with majors in things like Wildlife Management, Ecology & Evolution, and environmental biology. This link may help--but I'm not sure if it is a comprehensive list.

Hmm. When I got to college Im going to stive for a major in Ornithology and all that. And a minor a bit better than a minor in zoology but mainly, what I want to do when I "get older" is breed enangered species of birds and then help repopulated them in the wild, so rehubilitating the chicks (when they are fully grown) into the wild. And I want to work with BIG cat and WILD canines... and well.. I just love animals, and LOVE marinelife like whales, and dolphins, and sharks..turtles,snakes, and the likes. lol.. gosh.. if only I had twins...wait..triplits!!

I don't think you'll find a college with an undergrad degree in Ornithology or Herpetology. These are way too specialized fields for undergrad degrees. In fact, you'll have some trouble finding grad schools with programs in those.

The original poster said he was interested in art as a major. Can you draw? Are you good with programs like photoshop, CorelDraw, etc. Maybe a career in medical/biological illustration interests you? There are some colleges that offer a masters degree in this. But they are competitive and you need to know you basic sciences as tigerlilly mentioned.

[Rascal]

Demand for medical illustrations is declining. People use digital cameras now.
After taking basic lvls of chemistry, physics, and biology I took a class in evolution and morphology. (Kinda botany and zoology combined into 2 quarters of a semester) A class like that which gave an overview of our natural world sounds like what your looking for. Alittle after that you have to study things more specificly, like acouple people mentioned. Microbiology, botany, Zo, virus study, ect.

[Mendel's Balls]

Demand for medical illustrations is declining. People use digital cameras now.

Do you have any evidence to support this?

People do use digital cameras now. But you cant take digital pictures of certain molecular or physiological processes. Textbook companies, scientific journals, science magazines like Scientific American, and educational institutions will always need creative, artistic people that can depict biological processes. Whether by hand or by computer or a some combination of the two, scientists and educators will always need some people to express their ideas visually. Check out any issue of Scientific American to see what I mean.

Biological and Medical Illustration will always be needed. It is a competitive field but I am unconvinced that demand for it will be declining.

[Rascal]

Thanks for giving me -rep points Mendel >=-\ just because you disagree with me


We had a long discussion in one of my biology classes and the teacher made the point that medical and biological artists are not needed as much because we can take more accurate and detailed pictures instantly. Just as the painters job of making portraits was outsourced to the camera, medical illustrations are beginning to do the same.

There is less work (more competition) for these artists as the bulk of their work can be done with the click of a button.

I have a subscription to scientific american, and i defanitly see more photographs/scans/ect. than "medical or biological illustrations". The only illustrations I see are conceptual but all this is beside the point. Unless of coarse Rmune wants to persue uhh.. that career.