We’re pretty passionate people. Especially when it comes to animals or the environment. We’re not hiding it either. Wherever you are in the Department of Natural Sciences it’s clear we care about animals and biodiversity. A pig here. A turtle there. Some native plants across the hall. It’s painted all over our walls and there’s the occasional four-legged visitor too. It’s no secret: we love the natural world and want to protect it.

Auckland Zoo, the Department of Conservation (DOC), MAF Biosecurity and the Auckland SPCA are all in our address book. As are zoos in Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and other parts of New Zealand. Study animal health and welfare, or biodiversity and you’ll spend many hours with these fellow animal lovers and environmentalists during work experience placements. You’ll also see a lot of our animal behaviour centre, small animal unit and animal handling facility, and animal training facilities.

Study veterinary nursing and you’ll work on real cases at the Unitec Veterinary Hospital and Veterinary Specialist Group Hospital. Both right here on campus. But before we let you loose on real patients, there’ll be plenty of time at the Unitec Simulation Vet Clinic. It’s the first simulated veterinary teaching clinic in the country. And it’s a great place to practise, practise, practise.

Leave some time for research projects too. Our staff are experts in animal care, animal behaviour and welfare, biosecurity, canine behaviour and training, conservation, veterinary nursing and zookeeping. Go ahead, join them. Help them find better ways to protect New Zealand’s special flora and fauna.

 

Natural Sciences programmes

If you’re just getting started:

• Certificate in Animal Care

Or, our Bridgepoint foundation education programmes can get you ready to apply for certificate, diploma or degree level study. Find out more about Bridgepoint programmes on offer.

If you’re interested in animal management and welfare:

• Certificate in Animal Management
• Bachelor of Applied Science (Animal Management and Welfare)

If you want to work with dogs:

• Certificate in Animal Management (Canine Behaviour and Training)

 If you’re interested in veterinary nursing:

• Certificate in Animal Management (Animal Clinical Care)
• Diploma in Veterinary Nursing

If you’re interested in zookeeping and want to become a zookeeper:

• Certificate in Animal Management (Captive Wild Animals)

If you want to become an animal welfare investigator:

• Certificate in Animal Welfare Investigations

If you’re interested in conservation, biodiversity, and biosecurity:

• Bachelor of Applied Science (Biodiversity Management)

Other programmes

Find out about studying horticulture at Unitec's Mt Albert campus

 

Last edited: 22 April 2013