The SeaWorld Parks Externship has evolved beyond aquatic animals found in the 3 SeaWorld Parks, and now includes many more terrestrial animals in our sister park, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Florida.

The externship program in all 4 parks consists of a 3-4 week preceptorship for veterinary students wanting to augment their knowledge and experience in non-domestic animal medicine. The program is designed for fourth-year veterinary students. They will be given a full range of opportunities in aquatic and terrestrial animal husbandry and medicine which includes whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, walruses, sharks and rays, marine and freshwater fishes, penguins, and many other species of birds, amphibians, and reptiles at the SeaWorld parks; as well as gorillas, chimpanzees, lions, tigers, cheetahs, elephants, rhinoceroses, hippos, giraffes, zebras, antelope, kangaroos, wallabies, aardvarks, giant anteaters, and many other small-sized terrestrial mammals at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Within such a diverse collection, there are some unique aquatic animals only found in certain parks, such as, the polar bear and southern sea otters at SeaWorld San Diego, Pacific white-sided dolphins at SeaWorld San Antonio, and manatees at SeaWorld Orlando. Most terrestrial mammals are based at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (for more details, see curriculum for SeaWorld San Diego, SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and SeaWorld San Antonio).

The SeaWorld Parks Externship is 4 weeks and the extern is expected to complete a short research project or present a Power Point presentation of an approved research topic to the Veterinary medical staff and interested team members.

Students participate in animal husbandry practices, clinical rounds, and veterinary diagnostic and surgical procedures. Clinical case exposure will depend on the present case load. Students are encouraged to select the months of January through June for SeaWorld San Diego, in order to experience the avian breeding and the beached animal seasons, and November through April for SeaWorld San Antonio. Any month is acceptable for SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

For more information, visit our SeaWorld Externship Application page.

For more information on Requirements and Student Selection click here.