
This intensive class provides an introduction to herpetology and equips participants with amphibian and reptile identification skills and general knowledge of frogs, salamanders, turtles, lizards and snakes — their life histories, habitat requirements and biodiversity. Course content includes classification and identification of amphibians and reptiles, 'herping' equipment, frog calls, attracting amphibians/reptiles and backyard wildlife habitat, anatomy and physiology, ecology, behavior, breeding migration, and conservation. This course is a deep dive into the world of amphibians and reptiles, intended to create a foundation of herpetological knowledge upon which students can build.
The course fee includes lectures, handouts, exam, and certificate. The class is intended for adults. Please contact us before registering someone under the age of 18

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Online | Master Herpetologist Program
The 100% online class is asynchronous — meaning there is no required time to meet, is designed for students to go at their own pace with the material, and from any time zone. The scope of the course is much broader than the in-person class as well, in order to highlight the global biodiversity of the animals, the students, and the instructors. We will meet optionally every other Wednesday from 6 - 7 pm (EST = UTC -5:00) as 'office hours' on the first day of a new section — if anyone has questions or would like to communicate directly with the instructor (not required). The course will work through any web browser on PC, Mac, and also on the Moodle app on phones/tablets: iPhone, and Android.
Summer 2021 The schedule below is a guide for the class, as well as the days of the optional office hours. A given chapter (eg. Frogs) will be made available on the date listed below and will remain available for the duration of the course. Students have 2 weeks to absorb the material, before the next topic is introduced, but can go at their own pace and refer back to earlier topics throughout the course.The Final Exam will be made available after the (optional) Office Hours on September 8, which will serve as a review session for the final. Jun 02 - Section 1: Introduction
Jun 16 - Section 2: Caecilians
Jun 30 - Section 3: Salamanders
Jul 14 - Section 4: Frogs
Jul 28 - Section 5: Lizards + Tuatara
Aug 11 - Section 6: Snakes
Aug 25 - Section 7: Turtles + Crocodilians
Sep 08 - Section 8: Final Exam
The Master Herpetologist Program Online is $300 for the 8 session program. It includes ~50 lectures, a certificate, and final exam.Registration for Summer 2021 is open! Class begins June 2nd.
Click the button above to register for the course
Once registration is completed successfully through PayPal, you will be asked to read and sign the Code of Conduct form. Submitting that form will complete your registration. You will be emailed a copy of the signed form, and a receipt from PayPal. The instructor will reach out to students before class starts with login info, and questions can be directed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Course Instructors
Affiliation and Twitter Handle Adam Bland, Chester Zoo | @adamwbland
Amanda Duffus, Gordon State College | @DrRanidae
Andy Coleman, Urban Turtle Project & Talladega College | @AlabamaTurtles
Anthony Herrell, Bâtiment d'Anatomie Comparée- National Museum of Natural History | @AnthonyHerrel
Arik Hartmann, University of Florida | @AmphibiArik
Brooke Talley, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission | @Br00keT
Carla Bardua, Natural History Museum, London | @CarlaBardua
Chris Jenkins, The Orianne Society | @OrianneSociety
David Bickford, University of La Verne
David Blackburn, Florida Museum of Natural History | @davidcblackburn
David Steen, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission | @AlongsideWild
Duncan Irschick, University of Massachusetts | @duncanirschick
Ed Stanley, Florida Museum of Natural History | @DrScanley
Grover Brown, University of Southern Mississippi | @GroverJBrown
Henry Astley, University of Akron
Houston Chandler, Virginia Tech & The Orianne Society | @TheSnakeDude
Jen Lamb, St Cloud State University | @jenylamb
Jodi Rowley, University of New South Wales | @jodirowley
John Measey, Stellenbosch University | @AfriHerp
Jonathan Losos, Washington University at St Louis | @JLosos
Katy Greenwald, Eastern Michigan University | @amphibs
Laura Kojima, Odum School of Ecology/Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia | @LauraKojima
Mark Mandica, Amphibian Foundation & Agnes Scott College | @markmandica
Matthew Niemiller, University of Alabama in Huntsville | @cavemander17
Mark Scherz, University of Konstanz | @MarkScherz
Max Lambert, UC Berkeley | @MaxRLambert
Robert Sprackland, Smithsonian Institution, Museum of Natural History | @RSprackland
Ryan Kerney, Gettysburg College | @ryankerney
Sarah Lamar, Victoria University of Wellington | @SphenodonSarah
Sarah McGrath-Blaser, University of Florida | @BlasinAmphibs
Simon Maddock, University of Wolverhampton; Natural History Museum, London & University of Seychelles | @Simon_Maddock
Sneha Dharwadkar, Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises Foundation | @Herpomania
Steve Allain, Save the Snakes | @stevoallain
Steven David Johnson, Eastern Mennonite University, International League of Conservation Photographers
Taylor West, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. University of Michigan | @WildWildTWest
Tobias Landberg, Amphibian Foundation | @TobiasLandberg
Tony Daly-Crews, The Rattlesnake Conservancy
Vladimir Dinets, University of Tennessee, Knoxville | @VladimirDinets
Walter E. Meshaka, Jr., State Museum of Pennsylvania | @ToadWally
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Atlanta | Southeastern Master Herpetologist
Southeastern Master Herpetologist
The Fall 2020 in-person class at AF has been cancelled due to COVID-19 guidance and restrictions. The in-person class in Atlanta is instructed jointly between the Foundation, GA DNR, the Orianne Society. Class meets Wednesdays from 10 am - 3 pm (with an hour break for lunch) at the Amphibian Foundation.For the in-person courses at the Amphibian Foundation, the fee also includes 2 field trips, a copy of Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia (Jensen, et al), and a graduation luncheon. Throughout the year, Master Herpetologists may be offered early bird or discounted registration for workshops and other reptile and amphibian events, including opportunities for field work in research studies.
Fall 2020 Aug 26: Introduction
Sep 9: Salamanders
Sep 23: Frogs
Oct 7: Amphibian Field Trip
Oct 21: Turtles
Nov 4: Snakes
Nov 18: Reptile Field Trip
Dec 2: Final Exam & Graduate LuncheonCourse instructors: Mark Mandica of the Amphibian Foundation and Agnes Scott College; Daniel Sollenberger of Georgia DNR; Chris Jenkins of the Orianne Society; and Grover Brown of University of Southern Mississippi
The Master Herpetologist Program is offered at a price of $400 for the 8 session program. It includes lectures, guided field trips, Reptiles and Amphibians of Georgia (Jensen, et al.), a certificate, and graduate luncheon.The Fall 2020 in-person class at AF has been cancelled due to COVID-19 guidance and restrictions. Dr. Chris Jenkins of the Orianne Society teaching the snake portion of the Master Herpetologist program.
The Amphibian Foundation is located at the beautiful, 30 acre, Blue Heron Nature Preserve in Buckhead (Atlanta, GA). The main building on the grounds holds 3 of the Foundation's research labs, office space and classrooms, as well as Atlanta Audubon Society, and the Blue Heron Nature Preserve's administration offices and classrooms. It is a hub for urban ecology and conservation right in Atlanta. The course will be held in the Amphibious AF Meeting Room, which is unfortunately, not wheelchair accessible.