<p>I am currently a senior set to graduate in December. My major is Political Science which is a subject I love and always will love. However, I have decided that I would rather pursue a career researching/observing animals as a zoologist or possibly working in the area of conservation (huge difference...I know). That being said...I have zero background in the natural sciences which is required for entrance into a graduate program in zoology. Can I just enroll in a post-baccalaureate program and complete those courses?? Or are this programs mainly geared towards pre-med students? Also does it matter if I take the courses at one college and go to grad school at another college? I am just really sort of lost as to how post-bacc programs actually work!</p>
<p>A post-bac program for aspiring med students would not likely suit a student interested in wildlife conservation work. You don’t need to know human anatomy to work as a fisheries biologist, for example.</p>
<p>Before you go whole-hog into another set of education, I would strongly suggest that you pursue internships in the field first, whether through the Student Conservation Association, public lands agencies, state fish and game departments, etc. Make sure you know what you really want. That sort of experience would also make your eventual application to related graduate programs that much stronger.</p>
<p>You can be a post-bac student without being in a post-bac program. Being a post-bac can simply mean pursing additional coursework beyond your UG degree.</p>
<p>You don’t need to attend grad school at the same college where you took post-bac classes, they are two completely different things. Post-bacs are part of the UG school, and the graduate school is a separate entity.</p>
<p>Read up on the admission requirements for the grad programs you are interested in, then look around for a cheap way to get the classes you are missing. Many will be available at community colleges. Others you might need to take as a special or non-degree student at a 4-year institution. </p>
<p>Be aware that the only aid that will be available is in the form of unsubsidized federal loans. You may need to work full-time and study part-time in order to swing it.</p>
<p>Thank you guys SO much!</p>
<p>The pre-med post-bacc programs at four year schools exist because medical schools frown on applicants taking all of their pre-med courses at community colleges (where they are available, since they are mostly just the freshman and sophomore level courses that biology majors have to take to transfer as juniors to four year schools).</p>
<p>Because the introductory level course work you are looking for is available at community colleges and you are not pre-med, the community colleges are obvious low cost places to start. However, you may have to go to a four year school as either a second bachelor’s degree student or non-degree-seeking student to complete the more advanced courses that may be needed.</p>