IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:
The Denver Zoo AIP program will no longer be accepting new students. This decision will NOT impact the pace or progression of current students’ journey through the program. We are committed to supporting all AIP students through our final cohort, as well as our alumni-and will remain active members of the AIP community.
ADVANCED INQUIRY PROGRAM
Ignite ecological & social change while earning your master’s degree
Pursue your passion with the Denver Zoo while you earn your master’s online from Miami University through the Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP). Created for working professionals, the AIP is a one-of-a-kind master’s program that immerses students in collaborative inquiry and action as they champion change. Through web-based coursework from Miami and face-to-face experiential learning and field study at Denver Zoo, you will connect with classmates, Miami University faculty, Denver Zoo experts, and community leaders locally, nationally, and globally.
The AIP is designed for students from a range of backgrounds and career stages. With professional and academic mentoring and self-designed Master Plans, students adapt their degree path to fit their interests in fields such as community-engaged conservation, inquiry-driven education, environmental justice, learning across K-12 and informal settings, animal care and welfare, green business innovation, climate change, urban ecology, human-nature relationships, environmental restoration, and public engagement in science.
An unprecedented network of premier public zoos and botanical gardens across the United States and conservation organizations worldwide have joined together to support the AIP. This extraordinary learning collaborative, the largest of its kind, fosters groundbreaking ideas, collaborations, professional connections, and study opportunities. AIP students have the option of integrating an Earth Expeditions field course at a global field site into their degree path. The AIP is overseen by Project Dragonfly, an education reform initiative located within the department of biology at Miami University.
Eligibility
Enrollment is open to applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree regardless of academic major or profession. Students should have internet access and be able to attend in-person experiential learning days at Denver Zoo. For more information, visit Miami University’s AIP overview page
Details
Students can enroll in either a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in the biological sciences for formal K-12 teachers or a Master of Arts (MA) in biology for all other professionals. The MAT does not confer a teaching license. All courses are delivered online by a Miami University instructor. Two-thirds of AIP courses also include experiential learning on grounds at Denver Zoo and in and around the Denver Metro region. Miami University is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Denver Zoo looks forward to supporting you through the AIP!
Program Contacts At Denver Zoo
Sofia Prado-IrwinGraduate and Adult Programs Coordinator
spradoirwin@denverzoo.org
720-337-1454
At Miami University
Connie MaloneProject Dragonfly, Department of Biology
AIP_Masters@MiamiOH.edu
513-529-5103 To Learn More
Flexibility, Accommodation + Inclusion in Action
The Advanced Inquiry Program prides itself on seamlessly blending distance learning with fieldwork, with the option of 100% distance learning for students who cannot attend the handful of in-person or in-the-field sessions we offer. The structure of this entire program was designed for utmost flexibility, accommodation and inclusion of learners from all walks of life-including students with families and full-time jobs.
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“I owe my career to the connections I made in AIP. Through my AIP peers, I got an animal care internship at Denver Zoo-and subsequently, a position with a local nonprofit called Wildlife Protection Solutions.”-Matt Hron, AIP Graduate
“This program changed me, including how I think about conservation. It helped me understand the importance of community involvement, and rethink how I will approach my future conservation goals.” -Nicole Babyak, AIP Graduate
“Do it! It is a manageable program that can have a real impact on you personally and professionally if you give it your all!” -Christa Dillabaugh, AIP Graduate OVERVIEW ELIGIBILITY COURSEWORK COSTS FAQs APPLICATION AIP Staff OVERVIEW
Students participating in the regional ecology course at Rio Mora Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area in Northern, New Mexico
AIP AT A GLANCE
Through the unique and experiential Advanced Inquiry Program, you can earn a Master of Arts in Teaching, or MAT, in the Biological Sciences (for licensed K-12 teachers) or a Master of Arts in biology (for non-licensed educators or other professionals) from Miami University. All AIP courses are delivered online and are taught by a Miami University instructor. Two-thirds of AIP courses also include up to five days (or equivalent) per course of experiential learning on the grounds of a AIP site such as Denver Zoo.
Becoming a Catalyst for Change
The core goal of this program is become a driver for environmental and social change in your community, whatever this means to you-whether it’s your immediate neighborhood, school district, workplace, zoo, nature center, city, faith family, or your own interpretation. We encourage critical thinking and inquiry-based learning as tools for creating strategies for change. AIP courses focus on environmental and social topics and devising strategies for communicating with your community on these topics and issues.
Flexible, Self-Styled Education
In this program, students drive their own master’s experience through projects and opportunities they design, so your area of focus will ultimately depend upon your own personal goals. In general, you can expect to develop content knowledge and skills in the realms of biodiversity threats and conservation, evolution, social science, community engagement, inquiry-based education, science writing and publishing, and conservation leadership-among others.
Through the development and exposure of these tools, you will create a framework for bringing social and ecological change to your community. Even better: the entire program is designed to accommodate…well, LIFE! It’s intentionally affordable and flexible, so you can successfully balance both tuition and coursework with other responsibilities.
Local Exploration + Global ExpertiseThis unique graduate program lives within Denver Zoo’s Conservation Department. Our goal is to support and build your capacity to successfully collaborate in conservation initiatives in your own community, and throughout Colorado. To do this, we focus on holistic conservation models that drive positive behavior change.
What’s more, this uniquely positioned graduate program not only gives you exclusive access to staff experts and opportunities to learn about the conservation projects taking place right here in your state-it also connects you to Denver Zoo’s vast network of experienced professionals filling a variety of diverse roles within conservation organizations around the world.
Program Structure
CREDITS: For both MA and MAT degrees, AIP requires that you take 35 total credit hours, including 21 hours of Web+ Courses (online with in-person Zoo experiences) and 14 hours of Core Courses (online only) taken with Project Dragonfly master’s students nationwide via web-based learning communities.
COURSE DELIVERY: All AIP courses are delivered online by a Miami University Instructor, and two-thirds of AIP courses are Web+ courses, which also include up to five days or equivalent per course of experiential learning on grounds at the Denver Zoo, at other DZ facilities, or at sites across the greater Denver area.
PACING: AIP was specifically designed to accommodate working professionals and other lifelong learners, so coursework can be constructed around your life-rather than the other way around. Our students can complete the Advanced Inquiry Program in as little as 2.5, or as long as 5 consecutive years. Flexibility is a key component of this program to ensure the success of AIP students.
PORTFOLIO: Students are required to complete a master’s portfolio-in some ways like a master’s thesis-throughout their time in the program. Subject matter and research will be based on an overarching theme or passion/interest toward which they want to apply their various course projects.
FIELDWORK: Students in this program will be immersed in numerous opportunities in field work through their W + courses. In addition, AIP students in their 3rd year in good standing are eligible to apply for an Earth Expeditions course to take your explorations further afield-providing a unique opportunity to learn firsthand about community conservation efforts around the world, with specific applications to your individual studies. The 7 credits earned through an Earth Expedition can be applied towards those 35 credit hours for program completion.
ELIGIBILITY
Foundations of Inquiry students explore nature through collaboration and play while at Denver Zoo.
Bachelor’s Degree. Enrollment is open to applicants with a bachelor’s degree, regardless of academic major. The AIP is designed for a broad range of environmental and education professionals, as well as those who have a vested, personal interest in our natural world. Our cohorts include teachers, informal educators, working professionals, retirees, stay-at-home parents, recent college graduates, and more!
GPA in Good Standing. For admission to Miami’s Graduate School as a degree candidate, you must have earned a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.75 (4.0 scale) at the institution awarding your bachelor’s degree. Undergraduate coursework taken after the completion of your bachelor’s degree will not be considered in determining your grade point average.
Biology Basics. All MA and MAT students are required to have completed (final grade of B- or better) one university-level general biology course or its equivalent prior to completion of their MA/MAT degree. If you haven’t met this requirement through your undergraduate studies, we recommend taking a qualifying course during the first two years of your MA or MAT study.
COURSEWORK
AIP Web+ Course Descriptions
The AIP curriculum encompass diverse courses, to be completed on a flexible time frame specifically designed to accommodate working professionals. All AIP courses are delivered online by a Miami University instructor. Two-thirds of AIP courses also include up to five days or equivalent per course of experiential learning and field study on grounds at Denver Zoo, at other DZ facilities, or at sites across the greater Denver area.To learn more about potential courses of study through the AIP program in collaboration with Denver Zoo, use our Program Outline (Course Sequence) and Course Descriptions found in the Downloadable Documents box below to explore our program and course structure.
Degrees
MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE (MA) IN BIOLOGY
Perfect for non-licensed educators or other professionals, our MA Degree Program enables you to drive your own experience with projects and opportunities based on your personal goals. Develop knowledge and skills in the realms of biodiversity threats and conservation, evolution, social science, community engagement, inquiry-based education, science writing/publishing, conservation leadership and more.
MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING (MAT) DEGREE IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Ideal for licensed K-12 educators who want to use their knowledge and passion to facilitate significant shifts in the communities in which they live and work, this track combines the focus areas above with additional curricula exploring how to leverage local engagement to become a driver of environmental and social change.
CONTINUING GRADUATE STATUS (CGS)
Not interested in seeking an advanced degree-but looking for something more meaningful than your sourdough starter? There are seven different courses CGS students are welcome to attend, including Biomimicry, Human Dimensions of Conservation, Climate Change, Environmental Stewardship, Graduate Book Discussion, and Environmental and Informal Education.
For details about the various courses offered through AIP, visit the Project Dragonfly website
COSTS
The combination of online coursework via Miami University and on-site fieldwork at Denver Zoo make AIP surprisingly affordable-between $395 and $520 per credit hour, thanks to Miami and the Zoo’s commitment to investing in the planet’s future. Financial aid is also available in the form of small scholarships, grants, loans and more.
Find more information about program costs at the Project Dragonfly website.
Costs
Estimated total tuition for the AIP degree is around 16,500 + graduation fees-roughly 30% less than what you’d pay for obtaining a degree with in-state tuition on Miami University’s main campus.
Additional Fees
To participate in fieldwork off-site, Denver Zoo has a Regional Ecology Lab Fee to cover the costs of travel, lodging, food and materials. Should you decide to participate in an Earth Expeditions course, those fees would be required. You do have the option of enrolling in other Web+ courses that have experiential learning at different AIP site to apply towards your 35 credit hours. However, additional tuition, travel and lodging costs may apply.
Financial Aid
With reduced fees as part of Miami University’s support for this program, each AIP course already reflects significant discounts. However, there are still a variety of ways to help offset program costs, including a variety of scholarships, grants, loans and even employer tuition reimbursement. Denver Zoo does not currently offer financial aid or scholarships, but here are some of helpful resources to help you get started:
Miami University Student Assistance
FAQs
Q: What kind of coursework can I expect from this program?
A: The core of this program is becoming a driver for environmental and social change in your community, whatever this means to you-whether it’s your immediate neighborhood, school district, workplace, zoo, nature center, city, faith family, or your own interpretation. We encourage critical thinking and inquiry-based learning as tools for creating strategies for change. AIP courses focus on environmental and social topics and devising strategies for communicating with your community on these topics and issues.
In this program, students drive their own master’s experience through projects and opportunities they design, so your area of focus will ultimately depend upon your own personal goals. In general, you can expect to develop content knowledge and skills in the realms of biodiversity threats and conservation, evolution, social science, community engagement, inquiry-based education, science writing and publishing, and conservation leadership-among others. Through the development and exposure of these tools, students will create a framework for bringing social and ecological change to their community.
Q: Do I need to live in Denver to complete this program?
A: You don’t! All courses are taught by Miami University instructors online. The program requires you to be at Denver Zoo about two to four times per semester. As long you’re willing to travel to Denver for each course’s in-person components, you can live practically anywhere. We try to do most of our in-person components on Saturdays specifically to accommodate travel and work schedules. Over the years, we have had many students in our program who lived outside the Denver metro area-coming from all over Colorado, Nebraska, Utah, Wyoming, Texas and even Alaska.
Q: Are there any major in-person experiences outside the main coursework?
A: Yes. While all courses are taught online by Miami University instructors, many of our courses are Web+courses which include immersive learning experiences at Denver Zoo and around the Denver Zoo Metro area. We require students to take at least these three specific Web+courses, but most students take more.
Q: Is it possible to pause my studies for a semester, if needed?
A: Yes! It’s not uncommon for students to take a lighter load occasionally-or even take a full semester off-while things in their personal or work lives settle. The program is designed to accommodate these pauses; you just have to plan to finish within five consecutive years from when you started the program.
Q: What is the general size and makeup of the AIP student body?
A: Miami University accepts only around 30 students per year to this online master’s degree with experiential learning at Denver Zoo. Students come from a variety of backgrounds such as: formal and informal educators, stay-at-home parents, physicians, lawyers, financial consultants, retirees, informal educators, IT specialists, recent college grads, animal care professionals, and more.
Q: What key outcomes often come from a program like this?
A: In addition to making new contacts and friends and diving into a world of environmental studies, two major themes emerge from this program: leadership and community engagement. Throughout the various courses and assignments, students are asked to tackle issues and topics they’re passionate about, and also asked to dream bigger and push themselves beyond their normal day-to-day routines.
Through our Miami University/Project Dragonfly family, students have gone on to receive grants, create brand-new events or programs in their communities, collaborate with sanctuaries and preserves, take on leadership roles at work or promotions, write books, improve husbandry practices at zoos and even start their own nonprofit organizations. This program creates opportunities for people to do and explore the things they’ve always wanted to.
Q: Can my AIP master’s degree lead to a Ph.D. program?
A: Possibly. Overall, if you are interested in a Ph.D. in a hard science field with a heavy research base like biology, chemistry, etc., it might be tougher to find a Ph.D. program that will accept an M.A./M.A.T. over an M.S. On the other hand, going into a Ph.Ed. or a Ph.D. in Environmental Studies (or other interdisciplinary-type fields like sustainability education, etc.) would be more feasible.
If you have a Ph.D. program that you’re interested in, we recommend discussing our program with your advisor. In addition, because this is a non-traditional academic program, it might require educating the Ph.D. department or university in question a bit more about what the AIP is about in order to help them understand what we accomplish, our coursework and philosophies, etc. Any Ph.D. program advisor is welcome to reach out to Project Dragonfly’s leadership team at Miami University to inquire further.
Q: Can I apply before I obtain my bachelor’s degree?
A: Yes! You can apply during the last year of your undergraduate program. During the application process, just upload the most recent version of your unofficial transcripts. Then, you will need to submit a final transcript to Miami University after your acceptance into AIP and graduating with your bachelor’s degree.
Q: Do I need to take the GRE for this program?
A: No! The GRE is not required for your application to this program.
Q: Can I get a job as a zookeeper after I graduate with this degree?
A: Not with this degree alone. Keeper positions require extensive experience in animal husbandry and animal science. These qualifications often include college degrees, but also heavily rely on hands-on, practical work experience in animal husbandry or veterinary medicine. Without this experience, there is simply no stand-alone degree that will help you qualify as an animal care specialist at Denver Zoo.
Your AIP studies will help build your conservation content, leadership skills, and networking possibilities, but our courses do not focus on “how to be a zookeeper” or put you in any direct animal care scenarios. That experience can only come from volunteer experience, internships or attending a teaching or trade school geared specifically toward animal care-like the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo in Florida.
Q: Will AIP help me “get my foot in the door” at Denver Zoo, so that I can get a job there when I’m done?
A: Potentially. You’ll definitely meet Denver Zoo staff and learn about opportunities along the way. Because we’re an internationally recognized Zoo and a center for wildlife conservation, our job openings are promoted nationally, so that the very best candidate can be found. You may hear about a job opening because of your association with AIP, but you’ll be considered along with the rest of the candidates that apply.
Q: I want to become a conservation biologist and help protect wildlife. Will AIP help me achieve this?
A: In part. As a Master of Arts program, AIP leans more towards those in the environmental studies and community engagement realm versus building your field methods skill sets. Being able to communicate conservation plans to the public requires you to know how to engage people in conservation issues. So, AIP will certainly enhance your career as a conservation biologist, but you’ll need more pure conservation research experience before you’ll be ready to find a job as a conservation biologist.
That said, the degree is open to interpretation and is often largely impacted or influenced by the projects, experiences, and new contacts you create while you’re in the program. If field conservation is your passion, and you work to leverage your community partnerships to support those goals, you could use this degree program to build the hands-on experience and the academic background you’re looking for.
Q: Can I volunteer to work with the animals?
A: Limited potential, but possible for the right candidate. In general, the AIP master’s journey does not include direct animal care or training with animals as a part of the degree. However, there are a variety of volunteer and internship opportunities available at the Zoo, and many of these could lead to opportunities to work closer with our animal ambassadors. Click this link to learn more about volunteering with us.
Can’t find the answer to your question above? Have more logistical questions about pre-requisites, the application process, or registration? Check out the program’s full FAQs
APPLICATION
Applications for the Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) open in September for the following summer. While applications are accepted through February 28, we encourage you to complete the Miami University Graduate School application portion of your AIP application by February 18. Doing so will help ensure that all materials (e.g. undergraduate transcripts, professional recommendations, etc.) will be received and processed in a timely manner by the 28th deadline. Otherwise, your application may be delayed or disqualified.
Candidate screening will begin immediately following this February 28th deadline, with acceptance decisions being made mid-March through mid-April. Applicants will be notified by April 15. Admittance is not final until you receive the official letter from the Graduate School of Miami University.
If you are interested in applying, head to the Project Dragonfly website to let us know and to get your application started!
AIP Staff |
Molly Maloy
Molly is the Graduate and Adult Programs Manager at Denver Zoo. She has overseen the AIP since it began at Denver Zoo in 2012. Molly has worked at Denver Zoo for 20 years in the fields of Conservation Education and Community Engagement. She also works with the AZA’s African Vulture SAFE program. Molly recently was invited to be a member of the IUCN Vulture Specialist Group to assist in global conservation efforts for vultures. She has a great affinity for Africa and has lived in Zambia and worked with communities impacted by tourism and human-wildlife conflict. Her favorite part of being a part of the AIP is being able to help adults harness their passion and create a path for conservation action. |
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Sofia Prado-Irwin
Sofia is the Graduate and Adult Programs Coordinator at Denver Zoo. She recently completed her Ph.D. in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, where she studied evolutionary and ecological patterns in Central American lizards. She has a B.S. in Biology from Barnard College, and an M.S. in Biology from San Francisco State University, where she studied amphibian disease and microbial ecology. She is thrilled to be able to apply her academic skills to the Advanced Inquiry Program and help students explore and achieve their personal and professional goals. Outside of work, you can find Sofia taking photos of insects and birds, learning new recipes to cook and bake, and working on her crochet skills. |
Meet Miami Instructors here
Downloadable Documents
Annual Costs
For more information about costs, please see Miami University’s AIP costs webpage.
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Interested? Get 1:1 Guidance from our Knowledgeable and Passionate Team!
The Advanced Inquiry Program thrives on the individuality of its dedicated staff and engaged cohort. That’s why our team is standing by to assist with any questions you might have-from eligibility to coursework details to where this unique program might take you! Click the button below to get personal counseling from Denver Zoo’s AIP team.
Contact AIP Staff
