Emily
What kinds of career options are available to those who study Environmental Science? Should a student choose another minor or emphasis?
As a high school senior I am discovering my passion for science and the environment. I want to study hard and earn the grades to attain a successful career, but I don't know the types of jobs to begin preparing for. I would appreciate some advice as to what I should expect when I graduate secondary school and go on to work in the field of my choice! Please help :) #science #environmental-science
4 answers
Vernon Turner
Vernon’s Answer
Good for you! Outstanding choice. Work very hard at school and take all the science and math courses you can including AP courses. Select a college or university that emphasizes environmental science. Look for internships working in the field with environmentalists. Prepare yourself for advanced degrees in your field(s). Build a network of colleagues around the world while doing all this. Start today.
When you are ready to embark on your own career path, move to Europe, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa. For the next four years - at least - the political climate in the United States will NOT be conducive to advancing a quality career in environmental science. That means it would hurt to learn at least one other foreign language too. It doesn't matter which one so much as you have one in your bag.
Good luck.
Vern Turner
Marble Falls, TX
Thank you so much, I can't wait to get started!
Emily
UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, Humboldt State in California are good places to look. Nebraska, Oklahoma and Michigan are also worth investigating. Start your search NOW. Find out what they want and how you fit in.
Vernon Turner
Anastasia M.
Anastasia’s Answer
I majored in Environmental Science in undergrad and did a Master's in Atmospheric Science. I also took a lot of policy-oriented classes. Most of the people I took classes with were interested in pursuing academia and did go on to get PhDs.
That wasn't the path for me, but I loved seeing a problem/question and using research and analysis to answer it. That led me to strategy consulting and then later to the telecommunications industry. There isn't a lot subject matter-wise that I apply on a daily basis related to my major, but the skills I learned around how to use data to tell a story, how to do analysis, how to do research, and how to critically approach a problem are essential for so many roles, from product development to strategy. Also, over time, as climate change has become a bigger topic for industry, I've been able to jump into some projects as more of a subject matter expert, which has been a lot of a fun.
Going back, I wouldn't have wanted to major in anything else. I loved the subject matter and learned a lot of valuable skills. In terms of minoring, I really like pairing political science/policy with environmental science as a way to see how that science actually shapes the world we live in, and how the world we live in actually can shape the science as well. The same goes for environmental law classes.
A few other thoughts beyond my story:
- So many companies right now are so concerned about climate change and sustainability, so there are lots of roles out there that benefit from an environmental science background, including supply chain, corporate social responsibility, and investor relations
- A lot of the people I went to grad school with and that have PhDs aren't actually in academia. Of course some are, but others are working in the oil and gas industry, weather forecasting tech start-ups, government agencies (NOAA, NASA, etc.), environmental law, and policy
Matty Alpert
Matty’s Answer
Hey Emily! I studied Environmental Science and Policy while I was in college and am now working as a Natural Resources Educator. When you get a degree in Environmental Science there are basically two tracks you can take. You either pursue science and work in a lab and/or field setting gathering data and publishing reports OR you go into a more government/policy track and advocate for different conservation policy changes. Many universities offer an Environment Science degree so going to a specialized university is not necessary. Yes going to specialized universities might open doors for you in terms of who you meet and what connections you make in the field, but those connections can be made at other universities especially when they have dedicated staff members.
Additionally, there are ways to gain experience in environmental science without going directly into higher education. There are various government run jobs that allow you to gain knowledge while also working in the field. In the U.S. there is the Student Conservation Association as well as various environment focused Americorps positions that you can apply to without any prior knowledge or college degrees. That would be a great way to see if you really want to focus on environmental science in college!
Hope this helped!
Matty recommends the following next steps:
Kaila Christensen
Kaila’s Answer
However, you should remain open to any environmental opportunities you can find. Environmental work can be hard to come by and you should remain open to new locations. A great way to try out environmental sectors is through temporary employment with programs like AmeriCorps.