Academy Courses

The courses available to Academy members cover a wide variety of topics. While geared towards professionals in the zoological industry, they are also relevant and effective for students, volunteers and individuals seeking to begin a career in the zoology, veterinary or conservation fields.

INDIVIDUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS

$190 per year Includes access to all Academy courses and Animal Species Courses (Safe Capture not included).

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Please note: if you have previously registered for any Academy sites, use your existing email and password to retain course transcripts/credits.

TEAM AND ORGANIZATION SUBSCRIPTIONS

Please email us for rates and options at sdzwaacademysales@sdzwa.org. Our team of dedicated representatives will get back to you ASAP!

FREE COURSE

Animal Welfare Short Course

This fast-paced, 20-minute course is designed to equip non-animal care staff with key information on the subject of animal welfare.

COURSE LENGTH: 20 minutes

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ANIMAL WELFARE

Animal Welfare General

Adapted from the two-hour Animal Welfare – Professional Series course, this one-hour course presents general information about four important animal welfare topics.

COURSE LENGTH: up to 1 hour

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Animal Welfare Professional

Students will learn the basics of animal welfare as a science, including its definition, some of the history of animal welfare law, and the significant differences between animal welfare and animal rights.

COURSE LENGTH: 1–2 hours

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Animal Care FundamentalS: Series One

Complete the 13 courses in this section to earn the Animal Care Fundamentals Series Certificate.

Animal Care Course Prerequisites

Fundamentals of Animal Learning

Working with San Diego Zoo experts, you will learn about animal behavior and how to apply this knowledge to improve animal care and management in a way that standardizes recording and management of this behavior.

COURSE LENGTH: 1–2 hours

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Regulations and Inspection Readiness

Be a part of ensuring that your zoological organization meets the rigorous government standards necessary for its operations by learning basic regulations and inspection-readiness practices.

COURSE LENGTH: 1–2 hours

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Working Safely with Dangerous Animals

You will discover the industry standards for keeper training and safety when working with dangerous species.

COURSE LENGTH: 1–2 hours

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Zoonotic Disease

West Nile virus, swine flu, avian flu: zoonotic diseases are a real and present danger whose spread can be prevented through the application of basic disease prevention skills.

COURSE LENGTH: 1–2 hours

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Enfermedades Zoonoticas

El virus de West Nile, swine flu, influenza aviaría: enfermedades zoonoticas son un peligro verdadero donde la contaminación se puede prevenir a travez de la aplicación de conocimientos básicos de la prevención de enfermedades.

DURACIÓN: 1–2 horas

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Animal Care Courses

Disaster Preparedness

Is your park prepared for the next disaster?  This course will help you be better prepared for an emergency situation including the most common catastrophes, fires and floods.

COURSE LENGTH: 1–2 hours

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Trust-Based Animal Training-Elephants

Learn from San Diego Zoo Global animal behavior experts how to manage elephants in a modern trust- based system.

COURSE LENGTH: 1–2 hours

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The Ethics of Animal Care

This course is designed to help animal care workers and others to better understand the role of ethics in their daily professional activity.

COURSE LENGTH: 1–2 hours

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Introduction to Enrichment

The class establishes the components of an enrichment program, the approval process, and questions that should be considered before the provision of any enrichment.  

COURSE LENGTH: 1–2 hours

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Animal Nutrition

You will learn about animal nutrition and apply the knowledge gained to solve a dietary challenge facing a San Diego Zoo elephant.

COURSE LENGTH: 1–2 hours

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Environmental Systems

Many of the animals exhibited in zoos and aquariums have very specific environmental requirements that must be met. The course will explore the unique requirements of several types of animals.

COURSE LENGTH: 1–2 hours

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Operant Conditioning and Behavior Management

You will learn how behavior-management techniques can improve care of animals. 

COURSE LENGTH: 1–2 hours

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Safe Handling and Restraint

The class focuses on standard techniques for the safe handling and restraint of small mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates, that are most often encountered by animal care workers in their first few years.

COURSE LENGTH: 1–2 hours

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Zoological Record Keeping

You will learn the best practices in animal care record keeping including standard abbreviations, animal identification systems, report generation, and a list of record types every accredited facility should maintain.

COURSE LENGTH: 1–2 hours

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Animal Care INTERMEDIATE: Series TWO

Wildlife Ambassador Management

This course explores the special roles wildlife ambassadors play in zoos and aquariums. The course will help students better understand the considerations for successfully managing the organization's wildlife ambassadors.

COURSE LENGTH: 1–2 hours

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Animal Welfare Professional

Students will learn the basics of animal welfare as a science, including its definition, some of the history of animal welfare law, and the significant differences between animal welfare and animal rights.

COURSE LENGTH: 1–2 hours

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Habitat Design

This course was designed by two experienced zoo architects with a single goal of familarizing the student with the planning, design and construction steps that are common in the building of a new habitat.

COURSE LENGTH: 2 hours

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Exploring Taxonomy and Systematics

This is the companion course to the Population Biology course. It is an important resource for any animal care professional interested in conservation and participating in a Species Survival Plan (SSP) or for maintaining a Stud Book.

COURSE LENGTH: 2 hours

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Neonate Mammal Care

Discover the importance and value of developing a Birth Management Plan pre-birth. Post-birth, a Feeding Plan will help you understand how to make the many daily calculations required by every assisted care neonatal mammal.

COURSE LENGTH: 2 hours

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The Science Supporting Breeding and Transfer Plans

Participants will learn the structure of an AZA Breeding and Transfer Plan, the science behind the management of cooperative breeding programs, as well as the reasoning behind recommended breeding pairs and animal transfers.

COURSE LENGTH: 2 hours

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Emergency Recall

Polar bears responsing to an emergency recall alarm

Emergency Recall

An emergency recall response must produce the desired behavior of an animal exiting their habitat immediately, 100% of the time. This series will provide a broad review, including an overview, and five successful case studies.

 

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Animal Behavior

Module 1: Why Study Animal Behavior?

The first course in the series will give an overview of behavior, highlight the many reasons to study animal behavior, the history behavioral research, and highlight the many different fields that study animal behavior.

COURSE LENGTH: 1–2 hours

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Module 2: Application of Animal Behavior Research in Zoos and Aquariums

This course will provide an overview of many different uses of animal behavior in a zoological setting including the ability to examine indicators of animal welfare.

COURSE LENGTH: 1–2 hours

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Module 3: Experimenter, Observer, and Sampling Bias

This course will give an overview of different types of bias that can impact a study on animal behavior. 

COURSE LENGTH: 2 hours

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Module 4: Reliability and Validity

This course will help ensure that the data you collect in animal behavior research is repeatable, consistent, and actually measures the features of a target behavior.  

COURSE LENGTH: 2 hours

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CONSERVATION Series

Ending Extinction Basics: Module 1

Participants will discover what defines extinction, the causes of extinction, and why species become vulnerable to extinction, as well as learn about conservation strategies that can help slow and, it is hoped, stop the extinction crisis.

COURSE LENGTH: 2 hours

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Ending Extinction Basics: Module 2

Participants will discover how the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List identifies and monitors the status of species; the role of governmental regulations and AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, and more.

COURSE LENGTH: 2 hours

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Rhino Tissue Preservation

Field Conservation Training: Using the supplies in a kit provided by the Institute for Conservation Research, in-country field workers will learn the step-by-step process for the collection, preparation and preservation of rhinoceros oocytes.

 

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Plant Conservation

This course will feature a variety of current efforts to protect and conserve plants around the world and how San Diego Zoo Global, the Center for Plant Conservation, and individuals like you are helping to end plant extinction.

COURSE LENGTH: 2 hours

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South African Vulture

Saving South African Vultures

Learn how San Diego Zoo Global Safari Park bird keepers contribute to vulture conservation fieldwork in South Africa, how the program started, and future conservation possibilities for AZA institutions.

COURSE LENGTH: 0.5 hours

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INTERPRETATION

Interpretation Basics: Module 1

For guides, rangers, docents, naturalists, and interpreters. Whatever your job title, Interpretation Module 1 will show you how to apply the interpretive techniques that are most effective for each member of your audience.

COURSE LENGTH: 2 hours

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Interpretation Basics: Module 2

Interpretation Basics: Module II explores the artistic side of interpretation—the development steps and creative delivery techniques that make interpretive tours, presentations, and visitor interactions relevant, meaningful, and fun.

COURSE LENGTH: 2 hours

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Interpretation Basics Module 3: Storytelling

Powerful stories are the heart of interpretation. The skills presented in this course will help you select, develop, and deliver message-driven stories that are compelling, enjoyable, meaningful, and memorable.

COURSE LENGTH: 2 hours

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