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Frequently
Asked Questions
Below are many of the frequently asked questions we receive.
They will help you to understand more about Moorpark College and
the EATM Program.
- Tell me about Moorpark College.
- Moorpark College is a Public 2-year Community College, one
of the 109 Public
 Community
Colleges in California. The California Community Colleges
is the largest higher educational system in the nation comprised
of 109 colleges with an enrollment of well over 2.5 million
students per year. Community colleges supply workforce training,
prepare students for transfer to four-year institutions and
offer opportunities for personal enrichment and lifelong learning.
- Located in Southern California, Moorpark College is part
of the Ventura County Community College District. There are
3 Colleges (Moorpark College, Ventura College, and Oxnard
College) that make up this district.
- Ventura County is located on the coast, just north of Los
Angeles County, and south of Santa Barbara County. Ventura
County is mostly a rural, agricultural area. Ventura County
has a population of about 800,000.
- Moorpark College has a total enrollment of about 15,000
students; the majority attend part-time. About 200 international
students each year enhance the cultural diversity of the college.
55% of Moorpark College students are women: 45% are men.
- Moorpark College is located about 14 miles from the ocean
(as a crow flies), and has cool winters, and warm summers.
Temperature range is from a low in the 40's (ocassionally
in the 30's) (F) in the winter, up into the 80's or even 90's
and 100's (F) in the summer.
- There are no dorms, and most students are from the local
area. Any out-of-the-area students can find housing in the
local communities of Moorpark, Simi Valley, or Thousand Oaks.
- Tuition for California residents is the same at all California
Community Colleges - currently at $20 per unit.
- Non-California residents pay about $181 per unit.
- International Students pay about $195 per unit.
View
a fact sheet about Moorpark College here
- Moorpark College is a fully accredited public community
college (Accredited by the Western Association of Schools
and Colleges) providing quality academic and career programs
since 1967.
- Set on 150 rolling green acres on the city of Moorpark's
northeast boundary.
- Hundreds of outstanding faculty, most with master's degrees
or doctorates, provide academic excellence and innovative
instruction. An equal number of classified staff provides
support for students and programs, providing optimal customer
service.
- Admission is open to any adult capable of profiting from
instruction. More than 1,500 classes in 100 areas of study
are offered each semester.
- Moorpark College ranks consistently as one of the top transfer
and associate degree producing institutions in California.
In fact, Moorpark College is number 1 in transfer among similar
sized community colleges in California.
View
a list of publications you can print, about Moorpark College
here.
- The city of Moorpark became Ventura County's tenth city
in July 1983.
- Moorpark is 12.44 square miles in size and is located in
the southwest part of Ventura County, just 50 miles northwest
of downtown Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Airport is 50 miles,
the Burbank Airport is 35 miles, Disneyland is 75 miles, Santa
Barbara is 65 miles, UCLA is 40 miles away.
- The City Hall elevation is 580 feet above sea level.
- The average annual rainfall is 15.85 inches.
- The city of Moorpark has a population of 34,887.
- The median household income is $84,000.
- Tell me about the Certificates and Degrees offered by Moorpark
College in the EATM program.
First, let's discuss what Moorpark College (a California Public
Community College) can offer. Community Colleges, by definition,
are able to offer only the first 2 years of courses leading toward
a Bachelor (or 4-year) degree. All courses offered at Community
Colleges are lower division (Freshman and Sophomore level). Community
Colleges in general are able to award the Associate Degree, which
is a 2-year college degree. This degree may be:
- Associate of Arts Degree (AA Degree)
- Associate of Science Degree (AS Degree)
- Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS Degree)
- or any of several other Associate Degrees.
Moorpark College only offers programs leading to the Associate
of Arts Degree (AA), and the Associate of Science Degree (AS).
In order to receive an Associate Degree, the student must complete
General Education courses (English, Math, Science, Social Sciences,
Arts, etc.) and also some specific courses in a major (the EATM
major, for example).
- What is the difference between a Certificate and a degree?
The Certificate is the first College level piece of paper you
can receive for completing a specific set of course-work. By completing
just the required courses in a certain program (or major), the
student is awarded a Certificate.
If the student has completed the required courses in the program
AND the general education requirements of the College, they are
awarded an Associate Degree.
Students in the EATM program, can earn Certificates - by completing
the required EATM courses only, and/or they can earn Degrees,
by completing the required EATM courses AND some general education
courses. Most students get both certificates and degrees at the
same time! Then they have plenty of diplomas to hang on their
walls at home.
Students who have completed the general education courses at other
colleges are awarded transfer credit - see Chuck
Brinkman, the EATM Counselor for more information about transfer
credit.
- Does the EATM program have any options or specializations?
What kinds of certificates and/or degrees can I get?
 There
are 3 options available in the EATM program. Students can do one,
two, or all three options at the same time. There are a few different/extra
courses required for each option. These options are explained
in the new Moorpark College catalog. The options are:
- General EATM option - no specialization. By completing all
the minimum required EATM courses, the student will earn this
certificate and/or degree.
- Animal Behavior Management option (Training option) - This
is awarded to students who take a few extra animal training
courses during their second year in the program.
- Wildlife Education option. This is awarded to students who
take an extra wildlife education course, also during their
second year of the program.
- Are there other college programs elsewhere, similar to the
Exotic Animal Training and Management Program?
No. The EATM program at Moorpark College is really the only "hands-on"
program that teaches you how to train exotic (and domestic) animals.
There are other college programs elsewhere in the United States
that have some type of animal-related programs. And, there are
private companies (non-college) that do animal-training programs
on a short-term basis. Click here
to get a list of some of these programs.
- I am interested in Veterinary School... is EATM a good place
to get started?
Yes and No. We usually have 1-2 students each year who have completed
the EATM program enter Vet school. But, the EATM program is not
the most direct route to Vet school. Students whose immediate
goal is Veterinary School, should pursue a transfer program, usually
in Biology or Zoology. To be eligible for Vet school, you should/must
have a Bachelor's Degree (usually in a science-related major).
If your primary goal is Vet school, it would be best for you to
attend a 4-year college as soon as possible. Look at the link
to other animal-related programs above, for more info about Vet
school.
The EATM program does give students excellent hands-on experience
with animals - something that many vet schools look for in the
selection process. As mentioned, several students each year from
the EATM Program go on to Vet school in the future.
Los Angeles Pierce College, in Woodland Hills, California - has
an EXCELLENT program at preparing students for Veterinary School
- click the "Other Programs" link to the left.
- What options are available to me, after I complete the EATM
program?
There are many things you can do after completion of the EATM
program. I will lump them into 2 broad categories:
- Seek employment in the animal industry
(Movie/TV work, Zoos, Theme Parks, Wildlife Education/Outreach,
plus more)
- Continue your education
Now, let's explore these in more depth.
- Seek employment in the animal industry
 Students
who are interested in finding work in the animal industry
(and by animal industry I mean any situation where there are
animals present) after graduation, will find there are many
options available to them. The Moorpark College EATM Program
has excellent relations with many zoos and private animal
companies. There are always jobs available for the graduates,
as long as they are willing to relocate. Graduates work as
animal trainers, zoo keepers, and wildlife educators at zoos
and other animal facilities.
One drawback is that usually the starting salary for new hires
is not very high.
Here is a partial listing of places where EATM graduates have
been employed: Universal Studios (California, Florida, and
Japan), Sea World (San Diego, Ohio, & Florida), San Diego
Wild Animal Park, San Diego Zoo, Los Angeles Zoo, Brookfield
Zoo (Chicago), Folsom Zoo (CA), Sacramento Zoo (CA), Chaffee
Zoo (CA) State Fish and Wildlife Departments, American Humane
Association, Guide Dogs for the Blind (San Rafael, California),
Animal Actors of Hollywood, Studio Animal Services, Steve
Martin's Working Wildlife, the United States Navy - as civilian
contractors training marine mammals (Dolphins, Sea Lions,
Beluga Whales), Dolphin Quest - a Dolphin interaction program
- (Hawaii, Bermuda, & Tahiti), Woburn Safari Park (Great
Britain), the Six Flags Amusement Parks (especially Six Flags
Vallejo & Six Flags Magic Mountain, California,), Disney's
Animal Kingdom (Florida), Siegfried & Roy (Las Vegas),
Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach, California), Zoo-to-You
(Paso Robles, CA), Wild Things (Auburn, California), Wild
About Cats (Auburn, California), Ringling Brothers Barnum
and Bailey Circus, plus many, many other zoos, aquariums,
and animal companies all over the world. EATM graduates also
find employment with Veterinarians, at animal hospitals, wildlife
rescue organizations, animal shelters, animal control positions,
and other governmental and private organizations. Quite a
few EATM graduates have started their own animal companies
as well.
Many EATM graduates also train animals for movies and television
work. Graduates have worked on many of the shows on "Animal
Planet", the TV series "7th Heaven" and "Dharma
and Greg", numerous commercials with animals (the AFLAC
duck, Petsmart dogs and cats, GEICO squirrels), movies such
as "Hidalgo", "Doctor Doolittle", "Harry
Potter" (all 5 movies), "101 & 102 Dalmations",
"Sled Dogs", "Evan Almighty", "Pirates
of the Caribbean" (all 3 movies) and many other movies,
television shows and commercials. In fact, almost any time
you see an animal on TV or in film, one of our EATM graduates
is working behind the scenes.
- Continue your education
Moorpark College has several programs in place to assist EATM
graduates with furthering their education.
We have agreements in place with:
- California State University Bakersfield - for their
Bachelor of Science program in Environmental resource
Management. This is an "on-line" program. So
students can enroll and complete this Bachelor Degree
from anywhere on the planet, as long as they have internet
access.
Click on this link for more information about this program
at CSU Bakersfield.
CSU Bakersfield - Environmental
Resource Management Program
- We also have a great arrangement in place with Southwestern
Missouri State University (SMSU), located in Springfield,
Missouri. This program is for our students who already
have a Bachelor Degree in a science area. This is a Masters
of Science Program in Reproductive Physiology, through
the College of Agriculture at SMSU. The advisor of our
alumni in this program is Dr. Dennis Schmidt, perhaps
one of the formost authorities in the world on elephants.
We just had one of our EATM alumni graduate with her Masters
Degree this May (2001). During the course of this program,
she is now one of only 6 people in the world who has ever
performed artificial insemination on an elephant !! She
did her thesis on some of the Cheetahs they also worked
with.
Transfer Programs:
- Moorpark College has a reputation of being one of the
best colleges at Transfering students to 4-year institutions.
We have Articulation Agreements in place with all the
Universities of California (UCLA, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara,
etc.) and all the California State Univerisities (Cal
Poly San Luis Obispo, San Diego State, etc.). Moorpark
College also has Guarantee Transfer Agreements in place
with many of these Universities (specifically UC Davis,
UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, and others). If the EATM
student is interested in furthering their education, they
should speak to the EATM Counselor early.
- We are currently working toward an agreement for students
to transfer directly after the EATM Program, into Cal
Poly San Luis Obispo as a Animal Science major.
- What is involved in performing the jobs (animal trainers,
zoo keepers, and wildlife educators) listed above?
Trainers train animals for live-animal shows, movies and TV, and
in zoos and research facilities. Zoo keepers maintain animals
in zoos. Wildlife Educators present animals in educational presentations
such as school assemblies.
- What is the demand for people with an Associate Degree in
Exotic Animal Training?
We typically graduate 35-50 people each year. About 80%+ of them
find work in the field within 6 months of graduation. Many of
the rest continue their education.
- What is the average income for the different positions the
program prepares people for?
The range is very wide, but in general, starting salary is not
very high... maybe $18,000 - $24,000 per year. Many companies
may start people at from $10.00 - $17.00 per hour. This is not
a great occupation to enter if you want to become rich. You should
do this line of work because of your love for animals. Although,
once you find your "niche," many graduates earn upwards
of $50,000 per year...a few earn over $100,000 per year.
- How long is the EATM Program?
The program is actually 22 months long. The program begins in
August. Graduation is in May.
There are no days off - the students are responsible for caring
for the collection of animals 365 days a year.
- What is the cost of the EATM program?
We estimate the total cost at about $13,000 - $17,000 per year
for California residents. Non-residents and international students
pay about $4,000 more per year - (about $17,000 - $21,000 total
per year).
Most of this cost will be housing and associated expenses (rent,
food, utilities, etc).
(Reminder - Moorpark College does not offer housing. We do not
have dorms. Students are responsible for finding their own living
arrangements, although we do offer assistance.)
If you are applying from outside California, you need to be aware
that tuition at California Community Colleges is SIGNIFICANTLY
higher for non-residents. You should make sure you will have adequate
funds available if you will be coming here from other States or
Countries. Look into sources of funding early...!!!!!
As a comparison -
For 2007-2008 the fees per year for full-time undergraduate
resident students are;
-- At California Community Colleges --- $600
-- At California State Universities ----- $2772
-- At the University of California ------ $7446
These numbers above are just the tuition fees - housing, books,
etc will add significantly to this cost..
- Can I work while attending the EATM program? Work
and Studying......
It is possible, but difficult and is not recommended for most
students. The program will keep you busy during the days. Some
students do have evening or night jobs. But your hours at the
zoo may vary every week, so it is tough to hold down a regular
work schedule. And don't forget - you also need time to study
and write papers! This is college, after all! You must maintain
"C" grades or better in ALL your EATM & ANSC classes,
or you are dismissed from the program.
While not required, it is also good to have your own computer,
as there are papers to write and many notes to take and organize.
The college has MANY computer labs available for student use (free)
but it is still nice to have your own computer at home.
 So
how am I expected to pay for the program, if I really can't work?
Several ways.... we encourage all our students who even think
they might need help paying for the program to look into Financial
Aid. The FAFSA form is the free Federal Financial Aid
form - available at all high schools and colleges (and on-line
as well). This is one possibility.
It also helps to save as much of your money now as possible, or
to have supportive parents, spouses, relatives, boyfriends, girlfriends
- find anyone who has money!
Bottom line - you will want to make sure your finances are in
order before you begin the program. Almost 75% of the students
who do not complete the program, leave due to financial reasons.
If you think you may need financial aid while attending the EATM
program, it is EXTREMELY important that you apply for financial
aid early. You want to complete the FAFSA well BEFORE the
March 2 deadline, to have a chance at receiving the most financial
aid, when you begin the program in the Fall.
You can also search for Scholarships yourself (again, look on-line).
Entering "college scholarships" on any search engine
will yield hundreds of sites. Some good web sites to start include;
www.fastweb.com and www.finaid.org -- Good luck.
- How do I become a California Resident?
To be considered a California Resident for tuition purposes, you
must prove you have been living in California for 366 continuous
days prior to the beginning of the term. Proof that you will need
to show our Admissions Office would be such things as: California
Driver's License, car registration, car insurance, utility bills,
rent receipts, etc. Contact our Admissions Office here at Moorpark
College for a complete list.
- Will the EATM program give me an advantage over any other
schools or programs?
YES! There are facilities which contact us first when they have
openings, because they prefer to hire our graduates. We have a
job board at the EATM office, and also a posting on-line for graduates
of the program.
For example, in March of 2001, the San Diego Zoo had openings
for 7 summer positions. They received over 200 applications. All
7 of the people they hired were from the EATM graduating class
of May 2001. 
Many of our students want to train marine mammals - we send graduates
all over the world to do this. Especially to the Caribbean - a
new Dolphin Program hired 4 graduates in the summer of 2001, and
more in 2002, 2003 & 2004.
The May 2003 graduates currently have many wonderful jobs. One
is working in Shamu Stadium at Sea World Orlando, training the
Killer Whales! (His photo is to the right) Several others are
with Universal Studios - both in Orlando and Hollywood. Others
are with various Marine Mammal facilities in the U.S. and abroad.
Graduates from the class of 2004 are working training Guide Dogs
in California, with marine mammals at Sea World Orlando, Sea Life
Marine Park in Hawaii, Six Flags Marine World in Vallejo, California
- and many other facilities. EATM graduates get jobs everywhere.
We also receive many job listings each week, from companies and
organizations who want to hire our graduates, and we maintain
an on-line listing of jobs - available to graduates of the program.
- What are some of the strong points of the EATM program?
The main focus of the EATM program is Animal Training. This program
teaches students the principles and techniques of animal training,
using a "hands-on" approach with the animals at America's
Teaching Zoo, located on the campus of Moorpark College. Just
about every animal in the collection (of almost 200 animals) on
the 5 acre zoo is "assigned" to one or several students.
The students are responsible for the care of their assigned animals,
and for training their animals to do new behaviors. There are
specific "Animal Training" classes we offer, where the
students receive individual instruction from our "animal
training" faculty members. The students receive a grade,
based on how well their animal performs. The knowledge the student
gains from our training classes can be applied to most every species
of animal. So, if you want to be a marine mammal trainer, we can
teach you how to reach your goal, using many other types of animals
(we currently have one marine mammal - a California Sea Lion).
The secondary focus of the EATM program is on Wildlife Education.
While both animal training and wildlife education often go hand-in-hand,
Wildlife Education is a big part of any type of work in the animal
industry these days. This part of the program teaches students
how to do educational shows in front of an audience. Public speaking
skills, knowledge of animal facts, and the ability to improvise,
or as the staff likes to say - the "F" word - "Flexibility"
- is one of the key points learned in this program.
Finally, by the time the students have completed the program,
they are able to combine all the skills they have learned, and
apply the techniques to any type of situation where animals are
present, and to almost any species of animal.
- What are some other things I should be aware of in the EATM
program?
 You
must be able to get along with people. Often times, people want
to go to work with animals, because they do not want to be around,
or deal with other people. This is definitely not the case here
at the EATM program. You will be around people all day. You must
be able to get along with fellow students, faculty, your co-trainers,
and the public, in order to take care of the animals at our zoo.
If you are unable or unwilling to do this, you will not last long
at the EATM program. In fact, do not even apply!
You will also be doing educational presentations to school groups
of pre-school through high-school aged students, and also giving
tours of the zoo to these same groups. This is a requirement of
the program. If you are not ready to do this, do not apply to
the EATM program.
There are long, hard days associated with the EATM program. You
will be arriving at the zoo most mornings at 6am to clean and
feed. Then on weekdays you will have classes much of the day from
8am until 5pm. Then you will be feeding again in the evening.
Saturday and Sunday, when the zoo is open to the public, you will
be doing Wildlife Education shows, interacting with the public,
as well as the cleaning and feeding again. This program will keep
you very busy. Remember - "The Animals Always Come First".
- Do I really have to euthanize some animals during the program?
YES. This is a requirement of the program. In order to feed some
of the carnivores, snakes, birds-of-prey and other animals we
have in the collection, it is necessary to euthanize their prey
items (rats, rabbits, pigeons and others). All students must perform
these tasks, regardless of any personal or religious beliefs.
You are instructed in the humane ways of euthanization.
- What is the dress code of the EATM Program?
Students in the EATM Program are required to be in their EATM
uniform, anytime they are on zoo grounds, on field trips, and
at all other times they are representing America's Teaching Zoo.
Students are expected to be role models, are always on duty, and
are expected to present a responsible and respectable image to
the public. To this end, the EATM Program has strict policies
regarding appearance and dress, for two reasons: 1) for safety
2) to follow animal industry standards.
As stated in America's Teaching Zoo Procedure Manual, which all
EATM students must adhere to: "Jewelry should be kept to
a minimum and should be conservative. No dangling earrings over
one inch in length, no more than two earrings per ear, and no
other visible body piercings (other than the ear) are allowed."
Moorpark College is a non smoking campus.
- Tell me about the students in the EATM program.
The students in the program come from very diverse backgrounds.
The age range is approximately 18 - 50.
The average age is about 24. We have people right out of high
school enter the program (they were able to complete the prerequisites
at a college while still attending high school - afternoons or
nights), and also people over 60 years old go through the program.
Approximately 25% or more of the students have Bachelor Degrees
(or higher). EVERYONE (no matter your age or background) must
have the 5 prerequisite college courses complete and on a college
transcript at the time you apply.
Moorpark College and the EATM program does not discriminate on
the basis of race, age, sex, sexual orientation, physical disabilities,
or any other factors. As long as you can do the work (both physically
and academically), all students are encouraged to apply.
In the past, we have found that sometimes students right out of
high school have a tough time with many of our science-related
courses. You should have a very strong science background, as
well as very good English writing skills, otherwise you may not
succeed in the EATM program academically.
- What are the differences between the EATM courses, and the
Animal Science courses?
Several years ago, the EATM program split some of their courses
off into a different area - the Animal Science (ANSC) area. As
it is now, the Animal Science courses are open for enrollment
to ANYONE registered at Moorpark College. The EATM courses are
only available to students who have applied and been admitted
specifically to the EATM major. Most of the Animal Science courses
are also required as part of the EATM program.
In the near future, we plan to develop an Animal Science major
with a Degree as well. This new major would be available to anyone,
with no special application process necessary.
- I am from a foreign country - an International Student -
how do I apply?
One of the first steps is to get in contact with our International
Student Office here at Moorpark College. The International Student
Specialist here at Moorpark will send you a Moorpark College International
Student application package. This package will tell you the required
process you must follow to become a student here in this country,
such as obtaining a Visa, and other steps. You may need to take
the TOEFL Test, and will have to provide documentation to the
College of certain funds available for your education.
You can contact the office at:
International Student Office, attn: Maureen Rauchfuss
Moorpark College
7075 Campus Road, Rm A-166
Moorpark, CA 93021-1695 USA
e-mail --- mrauchfuss@vcccd.edu
phone (805) 378-1414
or click on the web site - International
Student Info at Moorpark College
You should contact the International Student Office a minimum
of 9-12 months before you plan to attend Moorpark College. It
takes time to process the visa and other governmental paperwork.
Attention International Students .... The cost to attend college
here is higher than you may think. The tuition will be about
$6,000+ per year, plus you need to figure on housing, living,
transportation and eating expenses. Financial aid IS NOT
available for non-US citizens, so you you better look into aid
from your home country.
- I want to come to Moorpark, but I live far away and will
need to relocate. How easy is it to find a place to live?
 Moorpark
College does not have any dormitories or other type of on-campus
or off-campus housing. The students are responsible for setting
up their own living arrangements, and finding their own accomodations.
We do provide admitted students with a list of their fellow classmates,
and also a listing of realtors in the area. As a student, you
want to live as close to the campus as possible, since you will
need to be here most mornings very early (6 am). There are apartments,
condos, and houses to rent in the town of Moorpark (where the
College is located) and also in the nearby cities of Simi Valley
and Thousand Oaks (5 - 10 minutes away). It typically costs about
$500 per month for your own room in a house or apartment, in the
area.
You will really need to have a car. Since you will be required
to be at America's Teaching Zoo many early mornings and late evenings,
a car is essential. Also, you will be doing internships at the
Los Angeles and Santa Barbara Zoos. Students must provide their
own transportation for these and other internships.
- Do I need the SAT or ACT tests to apply?
No. Moorpark College is a public Community College. No standardized
tests are necessary for admission to any California Community
College. The College will admit anyone who is 18 years of age
or older, or who has graduated from High School. So anyone who
meets these criteria can attend Moorpark College. You can get
an application for Moorpark College online at this link.
Moorpark College
Application
IMPORTANT NOTICE: the EATM program has separate admission
requirements - different than the application to Moorpark College.
In addition to the criteria above, to be eligible for the EATM
program, the student must submit a separate EATM application,
and must show completion of the required prerequisites, to be
considered for admission to the EATM program. See the link to
the right or below, for more EATM admission information.
EATM
Admission Information
- I have a learning or other type of disability - can I still
be in the EATM program?
Yes. Usually several students in each class at the EATM program
have some type of verified disability. Moorpark College has an
excellent program for students with disabilities - the ACCESS
services. You can call them at (805) 378-1461. The EATM program
is very demanding, both physically and mentally. Students must
be able to handle the rigors of the program. Verification of this
ability may be required by a physician, and the Moorpark College
Health Center.
Students with disabilities, whether physical, learning, or psychological,
who believe that they may need accommodations in this class, are
encouraged to contact ACCESS as soon as possible to arrange for
these accommodations. Authorization, based on verification of
disability, is required in the form of a "Confidential Memo"
before any disability accommodation will be made in this class.
The phone number for ACCESS is (805) 378-1461 and their office
is located in the building just to the right of the Campus Center.
Drop-in hours are available.
- Can I visit America's Teaching Zoo and the EATM Program?
YES. America's Teaching Zoo is open to the public on weekends
only. Every Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 5pm. We have Wildlife
Education Shows at 12noon, 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm. The students are
in classes during the week, so the zoo is closed to the public
on week days.
Weekend
admission is $5 for adults, $4 for children and seniors.
The zoo is also available for special events. We do special birthday
shows, shows for school and other groups during the week, and
outreach shows, where we load animals in the van and come to your
location! Call our zoo at (805) 378-1441 for info about scheduling
a special group event.
- What are some helpful hints if I want to work with animals?
Do some research and explore the type of position you want. Some
positions may need specialized training in certain areas. For
example, if you want to work at Sea World, they will need you
to pass a swim test, and be SCUBA certified. Anyone who wants
to work with marine mammals, should plan on getting SCUBA certified.
Most marine mammal facilities will not hire you unless you show
them a SCUBA certification card (and be a decent swimmer).
This is a good example of something you need to explore and think
about......
Smoking - if you do smoke, you are strongly encouraged to quit.
The EATM Program and Moorpark College strongly discourage smoking.
Plus, many animal facilities will not hire you if you smoke.
Also, quite a few animal companies will not hire you if you have
visible tattoos....
- How should I prepare for admission into the EATM Program?
If you are a high school student, you want to have a very strong
background in the Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, etc), as well
as strong skills in Math and English. We recommend you take as
much Science, Math, and English as possible while still in high
school.
If you are out of high school, and are attending College, first
of all, make sure you finish the 5 prerequisite classes. We accept
students from all over the United States and abroad, who major
in many different subjects. If you are seriously interested in
Animal Training, the most popular college majors are Psychology
and Biology, although we have students in the program with a wide
variety of majors such as: Art, Business, Dance - and many others.
Perhaps the most important information we can tell any prospective
applicant to the EATM Program is - If you don't do well in High
School, you probably won't do well in College (or on the job).
You must develop the skills, motivation, critical reasoning, and
many other abilities to be successful in any endeavor.
Some of the books we use in this program are;
"Don't Shoot the Dog" by Karen Pryor
"Animal Training: Successful Animal Management through Positive
Reinforcement" by Ken Ramirez
"Wild Mammals in Captivity" by D. G. Kleiman, et al
- Health Info - From the Moorpark College Health Center...
Since the EATM Program is very physically (and mentally) demanding,
potential students should be healthy, physically fit and able
to undertake the challenges of the program. Below is some info
from the Health Center - concerning vaccinations and immunizations
that are required and recommended for the EATM Program.
Documented proof of the following immunizations required
for entry into EATM:
TD vaccination - tetanus/diphtheria done within the last 10 years
2 MMR vaccinations - measles, mumps, rubella vaccine
TB skin test - to be done during the summer before admission
Hepatitis B vaccination (3 doses) - highly recommended, not required
Hepatitis A vaccination (2 doses) - highly recommended, not required
- Will my Certificates and/or Degrees in Exotic Animal Training
be all that I need?
These days, it will really help if you have the most education
possible. While students coming out of the EATM Program with Certificates
and Associate of Science Degrees are able to find jobs, it would
really be advantageous to have a higher degree. A Bachelor degree
(4-year college degree) is fast becoming required for many jobs
or positions....especially with city or State agencies. If you
want to move up into higher levels of management or greater areas
of responsibility within the animal industry, we strongly encourage
students to set their sights on attaining a Bachelor degree. EATM
and the Animal Science Program at Moorpark College is developing
a transfer pathway, for students who desire to go on for their
Bachelor degree, after the EATM program.
Students who enter the EATM program already having Bachelor degrees,
may have an advantage afterwards, when prospective employers are
hiring.
Here is a recent news article - concerning the earning potential
of college graduates....
"College Degree Worth Extra $23,000/year"
How much is a bachelor's degree worth? About $23,000 a year, according
to data from the Census Bureau. That is the average gap in earnings
between adults with bachelor's degrees and those with high school
diplomas. College graduates made an average of $51,554 in 2004,
the most recent figures available, compared with $28,645 for adults
with a high school diploma. High school dropouts earned an average
of $19,169 and those with advanced college degrees made an average
of $78,093. But the differences remained significant for men and
women of every racial and ethnic group. Eighty-five percent of
people 25 and older had at least a high school diploma or the
equivalent in 2005, according to the Census Bureau's 2005 Current
Population Survey. In 2000, 80% had a high school diploma or the
equivalent, and a little more than half did in 1970. Twenty-eight
percent had at least a bachelor's degree, compared with about
24% in 2000 and 11% in 1970.
- Do you take Volunteers at America's Teaching Zoo...???
No, we do not take Volunteers. Unfortunately we do not have the
resources (staff) to supervise Volunteers. The students enrolled
in the program do most of the work to keep the zoo running. There
are many places a person can volunteer to get animal experience.
Try your local Veterinary office, or an Animal Rescue facility
might be another good place to try.
- It all sounds really cool to me! How do I apply?
Read the material carefully on the Information Page. Apply to
the EATM program.
Pay careful attention to the 5 prerequisite courses needed, and
the application deadlines.
(EATM applications are only accepted from November 1 through January
31)
In order to apply for Fall 2008, you must have all 5 college prerequisite
classes complete and on your college transcript (with grades)
by January 31, 2008.
- How do I order a Moorpark College course catalog?
The catalog is available to view on the internet at www.moorparkcollege.edu/catalog.
To order a catalog, include your name, address, city, State, zip
code, and phone number, and send a check or money order payable
to Moorpark College for $9.00 to:
Leanne Colvin
c/o Auxillary Services
attn: Catalog request
Moorpark College
7075 Campus Road
Moorpark, Ca 93021
Revised
1/08 c4 |
