Earn Your Master’s and Explore the Zoo!
Posted on Thursday, October 14th, 2021
The AIP graduate program is anything but ordinary.
When searching for graduate schools, there are many important things to consider:
What field of study do you want to pursue?
How much will the degree cost?
How many times will you get to go to the Zoo for class?
The Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) is a part-time, online degree program offered through Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with field experiences taking place at the Zoo every semester. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is one of ten AZA institutions to partner with Miami University’s Project Dragonfly to facilitate this unique degree program. Students work towards either a Master of Arts (MA) in biology or a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) biological sciences through online coursework and join in person with their peers at the Zoo to meet with experts in the field and explore the latest in conservation and scientific study design. Innovative courses and unique assignments allow students the opportunity to become catalysts for local and global change in their communities, advocate for conservation action, and develop into leaders in the field of environmental stewardship, all while earning course credit for their work.
Student projects have focused on formal education in the classroom, informal education at zoos, aquariums, and nature centers, advocating against the illegal wildlife trade, conservation action in faith-based communities, urban public health initiatives, encouraging nature play for youth, reestablishing connections between humans and nature, conservation messaging through the arts, sustainable agriculture, and much more. AIP students and their incredible work have been recognized on local and national stages and this December, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo will be celebrating their ninth cohort of students to earn their degree.
If you or someone you know has ever thought of pursuing a master’s degree but the traditional classroom setting isn’t for you, consider the Advanced Inquiry Program. This program is anything but ordinary.
Applications being accepted until February 28, 2022.
FREE virtual info sessions
Join one of our live virtual information sessions to learn more about the Advanced Inquiry Program.
Register here for one of the following sessions:
November 18, 6:00-7:00 pm
December 15, 12:00-1:00 pm
January 11, 6:00-7:00 pm
Author: Katie Corr, Education Specialist, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo