Skip to main content
  • Information for
    • Students
    • Alumni & Friends
    • Faculty
    • Staff
    • Community
  • QUICK LINKS
  • DIRECTORY
  • APPLY
  • GIVE
  • RENT
Hunter College
About
  • Overview
  • Mission
  • Strategic Plan
  • Accreditation
  • Fast Facts
  • Office of the President
  • Capital Projects & Planning
  • Sustainability
  • Campus Information
  • Contact Us
Academics
  • Approach
  • Provost
  • Schools
  • Departments & Programs
  • Majors
  • Honors & Scholars
  • Education Abroad
  • Advising
  • Research & Creative Works
  • Course Catalogs
Admissions
  • Overview
  • Undergraduate
  • Graduate
  • Course Catalogs
Student Life
  • Clubs & Organizations
  • Residence Life
  • Athletics
  • Dining On Campus
  • Community
  • Events
  • News
  • Libraries
Hunter College Schools
  • School of Arts & Sciences
  • School of Education
  • School of Health Professions
  • Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing
  • Silberman School of Social Work
More Schools
  • Hunter College Campus Schools
  • Hunter College Continuing Education
  • Libraries
  • Students
  • Alumni & Friends
  • Faculty
  • Staff
  • Community
  • Events
  • News
  • APPLY
  • GIVE
  • RENT
  • QUICK LINKS
  • DIRECTORY
Admissions /
Graduate Admissions
  • How to Apply
    • Degree Admission
    • Non-Degree Admission
    • Readmission
    • International Applicants
  • Application Deadlines
  • Admitted Students
  • Academic Programs
  • Arts and Sciences
    • Fine and Performing Arts
    • Humanities
    • Science and Mathematics
    • Social Sciences
  • Education
    • Adolescent Education
    • Bilingual Education
    • Childhood Education
    • Computer Science, Math & STEM Education
    • Counseling Programs
    • Creative Arts Education
    • Dual Certification Programs
    • Early Childhood
    • Educational Psychology
    • Leadership Programs
    • Special Education
    • Teaching English (TESOL)
  • Health Professions
    • Speech Language Pathology
    • Physical Therapy
    • Nutrition
  • Nursing
    • Master's Program Specializations
    • Post-Graduate Advanced Certificates
    • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
    • PhD in Nursing
  • Social Work
    • Master of Social Work (MSW)
    • Dual-Degree Programs
  • Student Stories
    • Tatiana, Art History
    • Tom, Integrated Media Arts
    • Reva, Childhood Special Education
    • Julia, Geography
    • Lorendo, Childhood Special Education
    • Muhammad, Accounting
    • Diya, Art History
    • Chris, EdD Instructional Leadership
    • Kristen, Art History
    • Eileen, Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing
    • Irini, Art History
    • Kate, Clinically Rich, Childhood Ed
    • Cathleen, Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing
    • Dina, Childhood Special Education
  • Tuition and Aid
  • Our Campus
  • Contact Us

Animal Behavior and Conservation Adv. Cert,

red panda in lush greenery

Program Overview

The Animal Behavior & Conservation Advanced Certificate program provides formal recognition of the training in Animal Behavior & Conservation for students who already possess a baccalaureate or graduate degree in another area, and, by virtue of prior educational or practical experience.

  • Animal Behavior and Conservation Advanced Certificate
  • 15 Credits, 5 courses

The Adv. Cert. program curriculum consists of the following.

Required Coursework
6 credits, 2 courses
  • PSYCH 71700 - Animal Behavior and Conservation in Captivity and the Wild
  • PSYCH 64100 - Comparative Psychology
Elective Coursework
9 credits, 3 courses

Animal Behavior Electives

  • PSYCH 64100 - Comparative Psychology
  • PSYCH 68066 - Urban Animals
  • PSYCH 71600 - Animal Behavior I: Mechanisms of Behavior
  • PSYCH 71700 - Animal Behavior and Conservation in Captivity and the Wild
  • PSYCH 71751 - Field Study in Animal Behavior and Conservation
  • PSYCH 71800 - Ethology (Animal Behavior II – Behavioral Ecology)
  • PSYCH 73900 - Research Methods in Animal Behavior
  • PSYCH 75048 - Behavioral Ecology: Applications to Wildlife Conservation in our Changing World
  • PSYCH 75096 - Cultural Conflicts in Conservation
  • PSYCH 75400 - Applied Animal Welfare & Behavior
  • PSYCH 75700 - Animal Thinking and Communication
  • PSYCH 75800 - Conservation Biology/Psychology

 

Read More About Coursework

Students must demonstrate research skills, either through relevant work outside of the program or by the successful completion of an independent research or field project.

Applicants will be ranked according to grade point average, two letters of recommendation, personal statement, as well as course work and experience relevant to animal behavior and conservation.

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
  • Two letters of recommendation from appropriate academic or professional references
  • A statement of purpose of approximately 500 words or fewer
More About Admission Requirements

Please note: Certificate programs are not eligible for Federal Financial Aid.

The Hunter Value

Providing an exceptional academic value is what we do best. See how Hunter compares against other top ABC graduate programs in NYC.

Tuition and Fees
$11K
Hunter College
$52K
New York University
$68K
Columbia University

Career Paths

While specific career paths and salaries can vary based on factors such as experience, location, and industry demand, here are ten potential career paths for individuals with a Master's in Animal Behavior and Conservation in New York City (NYC), along with approximate average salaries:

Working with animals in settings like zoos, sanctuaries, or training facilities.

Salary Range: $30,000 - $50,000

Working with government agencies or nonprofits to shape policies and advocate for wildlife conservation. S

Salary Range: $50,000 - $80,000

Working on projects that assess and mitigate the impact of human activities on wildlife and ecosystems.

Salary Range: Highly variable; $50,000 - $90,000

Managing programs or initiatives that aim to protect wildlife and their habitats.

Salary Range: $40,000 - $60,000

Educating visitors about wildlife, habitats, and conservation in parks or natural reserves.

Salary Range: $30,000 - $60,000

Conducting research on animal behavior and ecology in academic or research institutions.

Salary Range: 50,000-80,000

Studying animal behavior, habitats, and populations to inform conservation efforts.

Salary Range: $50,000 - $80,000

Capturing images and videos of wildlife for educational or conservation purposes. Income can vary widely based on freelance opportunities, sales, and reputation.

Salary Range: Highly variable

Providing care and rehabilitation for injured or orphaned wildlife. Salaries may vary widely but might start around $30,000 to $50,000 per year, often working for nonprofits or animal care facilities.

Salary Range: $30,000 - $50,000

Educating the public about animal behavior, conservation, and environmental issues.

Salary Range: Varies, typically $40,000 - $60,000

Application Deadline

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Hunter College may consider late applications on a rolling basis pending space is still available in the program.

Fall
February 1

Some programs may extend their application deadlines beyond those listed above. Please contact Graduate Admissions for specific information. For information on how to apply, click the link below.

How to Apply

Students Educated Outside the US

Applicants whose native language is not English and who have taken all or part of their undergraduate education in a country where English is not the native language are required to submit scores on the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The following minimum scores must be obtained:

  • TOEFL iBT: 80/ Paper Based Test: 550/ Computer Based Test: 213
  • IELTS: 6.5 Overall Band Score
Info for Students Educated Outside US

Ready to Apply?

Get started on your application now or visit the academic department's website to learn more about this graduate program.

APPLY
for graduate admission
VISIT
the program website

Contact the Program

Psychology
Nicolina Steinhoff
Graduate Advisor
Animal Behavior & Conservation MA and Advanced Certificate
Department of Psychology
(212) 772-5550
gr_psych@hunter.cuny.edu

HUNTER

Hunter College
695 Park Ave NY, NY 10065
(212) 772-4000

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Flickr
  • ABOUT
  • ACADEMICS
  • ADMISSIONS
  • EVENTS
  • NEWS
Hunter College Schools
  • School of Arts & Sciences
  • School of Education
  • School of Health Professions
  • Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing
  • Silberman School of Social Work
  • School of Arts & Sciences
  • School of Education
  • School of Health Professions
  • Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing
  • Silberman School of Social Work
Our Other Schools
  • Hunter College Campus Schools
  • Hunter College Continuing Education
  • Hunter College Campus Schools
  • Hunter College Continuing Education
Hunter College Libraries
More Info
  • Bookstore
  • Contact Us & Feedback
  • Jobs
  • Public Safety
  • Roosevelt House
  • Student Housing
  • Space Rentals
  • Bookstore
  • Contact Us & Feedback
  • Jobs
  • Public Safety
  • Roosevelt House
  • Student Housing
  • Space Rentals
Public Information
  • Annual Security & Fire Safety Report
  • Consumer Information
  • CUNY Tobacco Policy
  • Enough is Enough
  • Focus on Campus
  • Annual Security & Fire Safety Report
  • Consumer Information
  • CUNY Tobacco Policy
  • Enough is Enough
  • Focus on Campus
CUNY
  • © 2025 Hunter College
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Terms