Online Course Brochure
- The Course
- Course Structure
- About Distance Education
- Admission Requirements
- Cost of Study
- How to Apply
- About the School
- CSU Contacts
Graduate Certificate in Captive Vertebrate Management GradCertCaptVertMgt
CSU’s Graduate Certificate in Captive Vertebrate Management is developed in co-operation with Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo and the Adelaide Zoo. This comprehensive course has a large practical component.
The Master of Captive Vertebrate Management and Graduate Diploma of Captive Vertebrate Management are being phased out and are not available for new enrolments. Prospective students should contact info.csu for further information. Continuing students in these courses should consult the Handbook from the year of their enrolment for information about these courses.
About the course
This is the first tertiary course in Australia to offer specialisation in Captive Vertebrate Management.
The major objectives of the course are:
- to provide an opportunity for staff in the zoo and wildlife park industry and natural resource agencies to upgrade their qualifications, or for those not presently in these industries to undertake a relevant course of study
- provide the knowledge, understanding and skills for implementing best practices in the management of zoos and wildlife parks based on a thorough understanding of animal behaviour, the requirements of captive reptiles or birds, preventative medicine, reproduction biology, and zoo and exhibit design principles
- to provide an integrated framework for assessing and implementing appropriate management strategies and technologies
- to further develop the problem solving/thinking/research skills of graduates to enhance their leadership potential in the zoo and wildlife park industry
Students must have access to a computer and be competent computer users as they will be required to undertake online literature searches to complete assignments.
Professional recognition
The Graduate Certificate has been recognised by the Australian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria (ARAZPA) and Australasian Society of Zoo Keeping (ASZK) as meeting the advanced training needs of their members.
Residential schools
The Graduate Certificate is structured to incorporate residential schools for each subject, where students come together with lecturers to not only discuss the course material, but to discuss a wider range of issues affecting the industry. The residential school for BIO489 (Zoo Curatorship) is held at Adelaide Zoo. This provides an opportunity to network with like-minded colleagues, liaise with staff of the Adelaide Zoo and gain an appreciation of the structure and workings of the Zoo as well as have valuable time with lecturers to discuss issues relevant to the area of study. The residential school for BIO327 (Wildlife Ecology and Management) is held in Albury, NSW, and gives students practical experience in various wildlife survey techniques and the application of scientific principles to wildlife ecology and management. The activities undertaken revolve around the trapping and recording of various fauna groups in a local conservation reserve.
Ask a question about this course.
For answers to common inquiries, please read the Frequently Asked Questions page.
This online course brochure is for prospective students. If you are a currently enrolled student, please consult the Charles Sturt University handbook