College of Arts and Sciences

Zoo and Conservation Science

Program Option

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree with a major in Zoo and Conservation Science

Environmental Science and Policy department home page

Psychology & Neuroscience department home page

The information on this page pertains to program requirements for students who matriculated in the 2024-2025 academic year.  View requirements for previous catalog years here.

Program Overview

This interdisciplinary major prepares students in a liberal arts tradition for entry level positions leading to leadership positions in zoos and conservation organizations. Coursework is strongly interdisciplinary, drawing upon biology, behavioral science, and environmental science and ecology classes to prepare them for the multi-faceted world of captive management of exotic species. Students develop technical and quantitative skills including laboratory and field methods, statistical analysis, and professional communication. Hands-on experience is a key component of this program: The program includes two internships; this provides real-world experience in zoo and conservation settings and connects students with ongoing projects at the Blank Park Zoo and the Ape Cognition and Conservation Initiative, both of which are AZA-recognized Drake partners located in Des Moines.

Drake’s Zoo and Conservation Science concentration is distinguished by its fundamental interdisciplinarity, emphasis on field experiences, opportunities for research and independent study, and service-learning approach in the internship sequence. Graduates of the program will be well prepared to work in animal-related conservation organizations such as zoos, as well as areas such as animal behavior and wildlife rehabilitation, or to pursue advanced education in veterinary school or graduate study in diverse fields of zoological and environmental sciences.

Zoo and Conservation Science MAJOR

The major must include at least 15 credit hours that are not counted toward any other major, minor, or concentration. The distribution of credits among departments varies due to cross-listing of courses.