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Animal Management

Milieu, Natuur, Dieren

Duration

2 years

Level

Associate DegreeLimited part-time

Outlook

Stabiel

What will you learn?

(Diermanagement) In the AD Animal Management program, you learn everything about professional care and management of animals in various settings. You develop practical skills in animal care, nutrition, behavioral assessments, and designing animal enclosures. Subjects such as animal physiology, animal behavior, nutrition science, business management, and animal welfare are central to the curriculum. You also learn about the legal aspects of animal husbandry, marketing of animal-focused businesses, and project management. What makes this AD unique compared to a full HBO bachelor's degree is the intensive practice-oriented approach and direct applicability in the job market. From the beginning, you work on concrete projects such as setting up care protocols and optimizing animal enclosures. Internship experiences at zoos, petting farms, shelters, breeding facilities, or pet stores form an essential part of your education. This program is perfect for you if you have a passion for animals, are practically minded, and want to quickly enter the job market in the growing animal care sector.

Required Education

For admission to AD Animal Management, you need an MBO level 4 diploma, preferably in a related field such as Animal Care, or a HAVO diploma. The HAVO profile Nature & Health (N&G) aligns best with this program because you will have had biology, which is essential for understanding animal physiology and animal behavior. The Nature & Technology (N&T) profile also provides a good foundation through the natural science subjects. Specifically, biology and chemistry in secondary school are very valuable, as you directly apply this knowledge to topics such as animal nutrition and health. Most programs have no additional admission requirements, but some institutions do ask for a motivation interview or portfolio where you can demonstrate your affinity with animals and practical experience. As an alternative admission pathway, you can also be admitted through an entrance exam if you don't have the right preliminary education but do have relevant work experience in the animal sector.

Core Subjects

Career Prospects

After completing the AD Animal Management, you can immediately start working as an animal caretaker in zoos, assistant manager in pet stores, employee at shelters and rescue centers, or caretaker at breeding facilities and hobby animal keeping operations. Functions such as guide at petting farms, employee at veterinary practices, or advisor at animal feed companies are also among the possibilities. The starting salary averages between €2,200 and €2,800 gross per month, depending on the sector and employer. You can advance to leadership positions such as team leader animal care, business manager of a pet store, or manager of a rescue center. For further career development, you can use your AD as a stepping stone to a full HBO bachelor's degree, for example Applied Biology or Animal Sciences, where you often receive exemptions for subjects you have already completed.

Impact of AI on this program

AI brings precision farming and smart monitoring to AD Animal Management. Drones, sensors, and data models optimize production. Subject knowledge, entrepreneurship, and hands-on experience remain the foundation.

Where can you study this?

Avans

's-HertogenboschHBO

Chr. Hoger Ber.ond. op Gereformeerde Grondslag

EdeHBO

Christel. Hogesch. Windesheim

ZwolleHBO

Fontys

HBO

HZ University of Appl. Scienc.

RoosendaalHBO

Hanzehogeschool Groningen

HBO

Hoger Beroepsonderwijs Haaglanden

's-GravenhageHBO

Hoger Onderwijs Nederland

HBO

Hogeschool Leiden

HBO

Hogeschool Rotterdam

HBO

Hogeschool Utrecht

HBO

Hogeschool van Arnhem en Nijmegen

NijmegenHBO

NHL Stenden Hogeschool

EmmenHBO

Saxion

EnschedeHBO

Stiching Breda University of Applied Sciences

HBO

Zuyd Hogeschool

HBO
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