Area
Employer
Information/Strategies
Area:
Soil Science
Sub-Area:
- Soil and Water Conservation
- Land Use Planning
- Waste Disposal
- Environmental Compliance
- Reclamation of Contaminated Lands
- Landfill Operation and Monitoring
- Agrichemical Management
- Fertilizer Technology
- Agricultural Production
- Research
- Education
Employers:
- Government agencies including:
- US Environmental Protection Agency
- Natural Resource Conservation Services
- USDA Forest Service
- US Department of Health and Human Services
- State farm bureaus
- Environmental research laboratories
- Agricultural or environmental consultant firms
- Privately owned farms and ranches
- Universities
Strategies & Information:
- Maintain knowledge of current environmental issues including policy, conservation, and industry trends.
- Develop acute observational skills.
- Stay current on technology used in natural resource management including software, geographical information systems, and global positioning systems.
- Seek related experience through co-ops, internships, or part-time jobs in area of interest.
- Gain extensive laboratory and research experience to prepare for research positions.
- Participate in related clubs, organizations, and soil judging teams to build contacts and cultivate academic interests.
- Learn about certification programs offered by the Soil Science Society of America including soil science and agronomy.
- Become familiar with the federal job application procedure for government employment.
- Obtain Ph.D. for optimal research and university teaching careers.
Area:
Solid Waste Management
Sub-Area:
- Chemistry
- Engineering
- Hydrology
- Logistics
- Planning
- Recycling
- Transportation
- Compliance
Employers:
- Federal, state, and local government
- Private waste management firms
- Consulting firms
- Nonprofit organizations
Strategies & Information:
- Develop strong communication skills, both written and oral.
- Develop decision-making and problem-solving skills, diplomacy, and the ability to work under pressure.
- Gain familiarity with current technologies, regulations, and statutes.
- Join community groups or service organizations that focus on environmental awareness; attend public meetings about waste management.
- Become flexible and learn to look at issues from various perspectives.
Area:
Hazardous Waste Management
Sub-Area:
- Hydrogeology
- Quality Control
- Risk Assessment
- Environmental Engineering
- Public and Environmental Health
- Industrial Hygiene
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Geology
- Chemical Engineering
- Planning
- Compliance
Employers:
- Federal, state, and local government
- Private companies that generate hazardous waste in production
- Hazardous waste management firms
- Consulting firms
- Nonprofit organizations
Strategies & Information:
- Consider a double major in hard science or engineering.
- Attend public meetings on hazardous waste issues.
- Gain laboratory experience and computer expertise.
- Complete an internship in a government office or regulatory agency.
- Gain experience with technical writing.
- Get involved with local chapters of citizen watch groups.
- Become familiar with Superfund and its activities.
Area:
Air Quality Management
Sub-Area:
- Engineering
- Planning
- Analytical Chemistry
- Environmental Quality Analysis
- Meteorology
- Risk Assessment
- Safety and Health Management
- Toxicology
- Project Development
- Compliance
Employers:
- Federal, state, and local government
- Private industry
- Consulting firms
- Nonprofit organizations
Strategies & Information:
- Stay up-to-date with federal regulations and both industry and regional standards.
- Additional training in economics and policy is desirable.
- Develop strong oral communication and technical writing skills.
- Learn to work well under pressure and develop negotiation skills.
- Seek volunteer or paid positions within area environmental groups.
Area:
Water Quality Management
Sub-Area:
- Aquatic Ecology
- Aquatic Toxicology
- Biology
- Civil/Environmental Engineering
- Hydrogeology and Hydrology
- Drinking Water Supply and Treatment
- Waste Water Treatment
- Groundwater Protection
- Surface Water Management
- Estuary Management
- Wetlands Protection
- Compliance
- Industrial Engineering
Employers:
- Federal, state, and local government
- Corporations
- Consulting firms
- Nonprofit organizations
- Treatment plants
Strategies & Information:
- Develop a strong chemistry background by taking additional courses.
- Obtain laboratory skills by assisting faculty with research projects.
- Maintain current knowledge of industry trends and regulations.
- Develop interpersonal, oral communication, and technical writing skills.
- Seek an advanced degree in policy for increased marketability.
- Learn about certification programs offered by the American Institute of Hydrology.
- Learn to use the tools and software associated with watershed modeling.
Area:
Land and Water Conservation
Sub-Area:
- Biology
- Ecology
- Planning
- Law
- Geographic Information Systems
- Preserve Management
- Natural Resource Management
- Soil Conservation
- Land Acquisition
Employers:
- Federal, state, and local government
- Indian nations
- Utilities and timber companies
- Consulting firms
- Nonprofit organizations
- Land trust organizations such as The Nature Conservancy or Trust for Public Land
Strategies & Information:
- Gain a solid background in the basic sciences while obtaining a broad-based education.
- Obtain legal, real estate, and financial skills through coursework, internships or part-time jobs.
- Volunteer through the Student Conservation Association (SCA) and hold an office.
- Keep up with new funding sources.
- Consider law school for careers as counsel to environmental organizations.
Area:
Fishery and Wildlife Management
Sub-Area:
- Aquaculture
- Botany
- Data Management
- Biology
- Hatchery Management
- Marine Biology
- Ecology
- Education
- Research
- Planning
Employers:
- Federal, state, and local government
- Marine sport fisheries
- Utility companies
- Developers
- Timber companies
- Wildlife ranges
- Scientific foundations
- Zoological parks
- Hunting and fishing clubs
- Consulting firms
- Nonprofit organizations
Strategies & Information:
- Develop a broad scientific education.
- Obtain skills in areas such as planning, administration, communications, and negotiation through coursework, internships, or part-time jobs.
- Get experience and skills in computers, statistics and computer modeling.
- Join the Peace Corps as a segue way into federal government positions.
- Learn about the federal job application process.
Area:
Parks and Outdoor Recreation
Sub-Area:
- Administration and Management
- Law Enforcement
- Recreation Planning
- Natural Resource Management
- Research
- Site Operations and Maintenance
- Ecotourism
- Direct Mail Merchandising
Employers:
- National Park Service
- Federal agencies
- State, county, or city parks
- Resorts
- Marinas
- Privately owned facilities
- Nonprofit organizations
- Tourism agencies
Strategies & Information:
- Develop a broad-based education that will develop both technical and interpersonal skills.
- Gain expertise in additional areas such as communications, writing, fund-raising, negotiation, and computer applications.
- Obtain working knowledge of a foreign language such as Spanish.
- Learn to work well with and communicate with all types of people.
- Participate in travel and recreation programs.
- Join related organizations and seek leadership roles to gain experience planning trips and other programs.
Area:
Forestry
Sub-Area:
- Consulting
- Entomology
- Hydrology
- Natural Resource Management
- Planning
- Research
- International Forestry
- Urban Forestry
Employers:
- Federal, state, and local government
- Consulting firms
- Timber companies
- Nonprofit organizations
Strategies & Information:
- Obtain skills with computers, statistics, and accounting through coursework, internships or part-time jobs.
- Develop good communication and public relations skills.
- Get a minor or double major in a technical area (soil science, wildlife or surveying) or in an arts and science area (business, economics, political science or computer science).
Area:
Environmental Education and Communication
Sub-Area:
- Teaching
- Journalism
- Tourism
- Law Regulation
- Compliance
- Political Action/Lobbying
Employers:
- Federal, state, and local government
- Public and private elementary, middle, and high schools
- Two-year community colleges
- Four-year institutions
- Corporations
- Consulting firms
- Media
- Nonprofit organizations
- Political Action Committees
Strategies & Information:
- Master public speaking skills.
- Learn certification/licensure requirements for teaching public K-12 schools.
- Develop creative hands-on strategies for teaching/learning.
- Publish articles in newsletters or newspapers.
- Learn environmental laws and regulations.
- Join professional associations and environmental groups as ways to network.
- Become active in environmental political organizations.
Area:
Planning
Sub-Area:
- Air Quality
- Aviation
- Building/Zoning
- Land-Use
- Consulting
- Recreation
- Transportation
- Water Resources
Employers:
- Federal, state, regional, and local government
- Corporations
- Consulting firms
- Banks
- Real estate development companies
- Law firms
- Architectural firms
- Market research companies
- Colleges and universities
- Nonprofit groups
Strategies & Information:
- Get on planning boards, commissions, and committees.
- Have a planning specialty (transportation, water resources, air quality, etc.).
- Master communication, mediation and writing skills.
- Network in the community and get to know "who's who" in your specialty area.
- Develop a strong scientific or technical background.
- Diversify your knowledge base. For example, in areas of law, economics, politics, historical preservation, or architecture.
Area:
Environmental Law
Employers:
- Law firms
- Large corporations
- Federal and State government agencies including:
- US Environmental Protection Agency
- Department of Justice
- Attorney General Office
- Nonprofit organizations, e.g. Green Action and Natural Resources Defense Council
Strategies & Information:
- Earn a law degree. Prepare for law school by maintaining a high GPA and studying for the LSAT.
- Build strong recommendations from faculty.
- Work a part-time or summer job in a law firm.
- Develop strong written and oral communication skills.
- Participate in pre-law honor societies, debate teams, or moot court.
General Information and Strategies
- Environmental studies and environmental science differ from each other in the amount of science course work needed.
- Environmental studies provides a broad base of hard sciences as well as liberal arts or social science coursework.
- Environmental science incorporates hard sciences and environmental sciences.
- Choice depends upon career focus, for example, administration or policy-making versus technical areas or research.
- Combine liberal arts skills with analytical skills to increase employability. Formally, obtain a double major or minor in one of these areas. Informally, obtain these skills through internships, co-ops, volunteer work, summer jobs, or independent research projects.
- Become familiar with current environmental laws and regulations. Stay up-to-date with changing environmental legislation.
- Join related professional associations; read related literature and journals to keep up with new developments.
- Attend seminars, conferences and workshops sponsored by professional associations or public interest groups.
- Network and get to know people who are working in area of interest.
- Research agencies/organizations of interest before applying for a position.
- Learn local, state and federal government job application procedures.
- Obtain graduate degree for job security/advancement.