A joint program in zoo technology is offered by the Department of Biological Sciences at Oswego and the Teaching Zoo at Santa Fe Community College at Gainesville, Florida. The Zoo Animal Technology Program offers a wide range of practical instruction and clinical experience. Santa Fe Community College has set aside a natural wooded area of fourteen acres which has been developed into a functioning zoological garden known as the Santa Fe Community College Teaching Zoo. The Teaching Zoo is accredited by the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums. Here, students put classroom and laboratory knowledge into practice by participating in the daily maintenance of the Teaching Zoo. The joint program leads to the Associate of Science (A.S.) degree at Santa Fe and the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree at Oswego and prepares students for such positions as zookeepers, park naturalists, game farm managers and animal technicians.

The joint program requires a minimum of ten semesters of full-time study. A minimum of five semesters at Oswego provides a foundation in animal science, related fields and general education. Five semesters of study at Santa Fe provide students with courses specifically related to animal care, breeding and management. Students must enter the Santa Fe Program in January or August of even years and May of odd years, because the program is a series of sequential courses. An additional semester at Oswego or another four-year college may be necessary and may precede or follow the required five semesters at Gainesville. The A.S. degree is awarded to students who successfully complete the Santa Fe portion of the program. The B.S. degree is awarded by Oswego to those who successfully complete all requirements for the B.S. in Zoology.

Because the program is highly structured and leaves little opportunity for electives and variation in course sequence, it is important that interested students express such interest as entering freshman at Oswego and carefully follow the advising sheet. The program at Gainesville is open and competitive and there is no guarantee of automatic acceptance into the Santa Fe portion of the program. However, students who show academic success at Oswego will likely be accepted at Santa Fe and also be successful there.

Students may also complete the program in reverse by transferring to Oswego from Santa Fe. It is recommended that those students take a full year of general chemistry before transferring.

Graduates of the Santa Fe program at Gainesville currently occupy positions in zoos, parks, and related facilities throughout the United States.