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Swara
Student
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
1
Question
Asked
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Does any job available after studying environmental studies provide the chance of working with animals/doing field work in general AND pays well? what are some other good jobs available?
As someone who loves animals and hopes to work with them, I am considering pursuing environmental studies. I am aware that environmental science/engineering tend to be more reliable when it comes to jobs, but environmental studies interests me the most, so does working outside and actually doing field work instead of a standard desk job. Are there such opportunities, realistically, for environmental studies students that also have reasonable pay?
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1 answer
Simon Bird
Environmental Educator & Undergraduate Advisor
8
Answers
Washington, Washington
Updated
Simon’s Answer
Hi Swara,
Great that you are pursuing your primary academic interest. Environmental Studies will serve you well as a starting point to gain relevant knowledge and skills. As a multi- and interdisciplinary field, ES not only includes zoological and ecological aspects, but also sustainability and sustainable development, sociology, economics, politics, chemistry and biochemistry, physics, and applied management. As such, graduates have many options for which career path they subsequently follow. There are jobs in many sectors that may include both work with animals and fieldwork: private companies and consultants, government and public agencies, academic and research institutions, NGOs and non-profits.
Two related things that one has to be realistic about, however: first, the majority of people who want to work directly with animals and/or outdoors in the field are less motivated by personal material gain and more by the nature and privilege of that work, and its positive impact on society and wildlife. One has to accept that this type of career is not going to lead to extreme financial gain, but with focus and a bit of luck, one can end up in a career that is financially comfortable and also highly rewarding in non-financial ways. Second, the reality is that dominant national and global societal norms generally do not consider aspects of a career working with animals as 'important' as potentially highly paid positions in for example, finance, business, medicine, law, etc. One could argue that this is something that should be addressed and relates to broader issues of wealth distribution (which you will meet in your studies in various contexts, particularly in regard to equity, environmental justice, and sustainability).
I hope that's of use to you.
Great that you are pursuing your primary academic interest. Environmental Studies will serve you well as a starting point to gain relevant knowledge and skills. As a multi- and interdisciplinary field, ES not only includes zoological and ecological aspects, but also sustainability and sustainable development, sociology, economics, politics, chemistry and biochemistry, physics, and applied management. As such, graduates have many options for which career path they subsequently follow. There are jobs in many sectors that may include both work with animals and fieldwork: private companies and consultants, government and public agencies, academic and research institutions, NGOs and non-profits.
Two related things that one has to be realistic about, however: first, the majority of people who want to work directly with animals and/or outdoors in the field are less motivated by personal material gain and more by the nature and privilege of that work, and its positive impact on society and wildlife. One has to accept that this type of career is not going to lead to extreme financial gain, but with focus and a bit of luck, one can end up in a career that is financially comfortable and also highly rewarding in non-financial ways. Second, the reality is that dominant national and global societal norms generally do not consider aspects of a career working with animals as 'important' as potentially highly paid positions in for example, finance, business, medicine, law, etc. One could argue that this is something that should be addressed and relates to broader issues of wealth distribution (which you will meet in your studies in various contexts, particularly in regard to equity, environmental justice, and sustainability).
I hope that's of use to you.