Environmental Studies/Science
AREAS
PLANNING
- 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
- 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.
AREAS
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION
- 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
- 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.
AREAS
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
- Chemistry
- Engineering
- Hydrology
- Logistics
- Planning
- Recycling
- Transportation
- Compliance
EMPLOYERS
- Federal, state, and local government
- Private waste management firms
- Consulting firms
- Nonprofit organizations
STRATEGIES
- Take some scientific or engineering courses.
- Choose an unusual material and think of creative ways to recycle or reuse it.
AREAS
HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT
- Hydrogeology
- Quality Control
- Risk Assessment
- Environmental Engineering
- Public and Environmental Health
- Industrial Hygiene
- Law
- 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
- Consider double major in hard science or engineering.
- Attend public meetings on this issue.
- Get laboratory experience.
- Gain computer expertise.
- Work in government office or regulatory agency.
- Get experience with technical writing.
- Get involved with local chapters of citizen watch groups.
- Become familiar with Superfund and its activities.
AREAS
AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT
- 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
- Develop a specific skill in the areas of engineering, chemistry or laboratory work.
- Work at state and local agencies as a way to start an air quality career.
AREAS
WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT
- Aquatic Ecology
- Aquatic Toxicology
- Law
- 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
- Get a strong chemistry background.
- Become familiar with high-tech tools.
- Develop computer skills.
- Focus on a specific technical field.
- Obtain laboratory skills.
AREAS
LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION
- Biology
- Ecology
- Planning
- Geographic Information Systems
- Preserve Management
- Law
- 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
- Get 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.
AREAS
FISHERY AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
- 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
- Get 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.
- Get on government agencies' job registers.
AREAS
PARKS AND OUTDOOR RECREATION
- 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
STRATEGIES
- Get 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.
AREAS
FORESTRY
- 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
- 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).
AREAS
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
EMPLOYERS
- Private firms
- Corporations
- Federal and State government agencies such as Environmental Protection Agency,
Department of Justice and Attorney General Office
- Nonprofit organizations such as Green Action and Natural Resources Defense Council
STRATEGIES
- Law degree required.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- 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 in these areas or minor in one of these areas.
- Informally, obtain these skills through internships, co-ops, volunteer work, summer jobs or independent research projects.
- Be 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.
Prepared by the Career Planning staff of Career Services at The University
of Tennessee, Knoxville. (2005) UTK is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA
Employer
