Environmental Science Careers
The job of building a sustainable society requires scientists, engineers, policy specialists, technicians, educators, communicators, managers, fundraisers, entrepreneurs, financial professionals, and many others.
There is no such thing as an "environmental major." The job of building a sustainable society requires the involvement of many specialized fields.
The most important first step is to begin the process of narrowing your interests. If you can identify your career goal more specifically, you can determine what kind of college education is best for you. Do you like working outside? Do you like to write? All of these things can help you picture the career you want to create.
Career Information
Environmental Careers Organization hepls you post questions and get answers from an Environmental Career Professional, as well as great tips about hot skills in demand.
Mastery of your scientific material is not enough! The EPA’s (Environment Protection Agency) Workforce Assessment Projec (PDF) determined that the agency had plenty of good engineers and scientists, but that there was a real need for people who could bring people together, and who could communicate well with the public, in addition to demonstrating a mastery of science and technology.
Of special interest in the environmental field right now is mastery of information technology, including GIS & GPS. GIS is the use of computers to generate sophisticated maps for water resources, wildlife distribution, land use planning, etc. GIS is rapidly becoming an extremely important factor in all areas of the environmental sector.
The other “hot” tool in environmental studies is molecular technology. Internships or other work where you use GIS and/or molecular tools will give you an advantage when you apply for a full-time position.
Natural Science Majors in Environmental Studies
- Environmental Zoology
- Environmental Microbiology
- Environmental Biology–Botany
- Environmental Geoscience
- Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Plant Biology
- Earth Science
- Entomology
- Environmental Science and Management Concentration
- Also check out: RISE – Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment
Additional sources of information
- A day in the life of a Forestry Service Employee
- Careers in Zoos and Aquariums from the American Zoological Society
- Careers in Water Quality (Water Environment Federation)