Employment for an Environmental Studies degree?

[geecee]

I've got a cousin graduating soon with a degree in environmental studies. Any idea what one can do for employment within this degree field? Anyone actually study or work in a field related or close to this? He actually wants to pursue a career in this field (as opposed to just being someone with a college degree trying to get into a training program somewhere). I believe that he's fired his resume off to a few state/local environmental agencies. Would he have more prospects if he got a graduate degree? My joke to him is that he's pretty much taken a vow of poverty majoring in this but I'm hoping that the reality shows that I am only kidding. TIA.

 

[K1052]

The only person I know with that degree works for an environmental company that does surveys/studies/consulting for the government and private industry. Everything from telling you how laden with toxins your property is to consulting on green roof construction.

 

[Queasy]

Let me get this straight...he picked a degree in a field in which he has no idea what one can do with that degree? And, he's close to graduation and still hasn't consulted with job placement services that his school likely provides or his professors?

 

[sygyzy]

1. Marry a rich wife or husband.

 

[DeadByDawn]

Look in the phone book under hazardous waste cleanup or remediation. Don't kid yourself, some people in that industry make $$$. Although he'll probably start out collecting water samples out of test wells or something similar.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: geecee
I've got a cousin graduating soon with a degree in environmental studies. Any idea what one can do for employment within this degree field? Anyone actually study or work in a field related or close to this? He actually wants to pursue a career in this field (as opposed to just being someone with a college degree trying to get into a training program somewhere). I believe that he's fired his resume off to a few state/local environmental agencies. Would he have more prospects if he got a graduate degree? My joke to him is that he's pretty much taken a vow of poverty majoring in this but I'm hoping that the reality shows that I am only kidding. TIA.

I will be graduating in May with the same degree. Your cousin is welcome to get in contact with me. My e-mail is (contact either by e-mail or facebook) jeffes13@(u.w.o.s.h).edu (obfuscated).

The ES field is a really strange one. It is basically divided into two areas:

1) Fieldwork - This includes park rangers, some business positions, DNR, EPA, etc
2) Business work - this is largely nonprofit work

Both areas are very small fields that are hard to get into. The first often requires a second major/degree (such as in Forestry Management, Business Management, etc).

 

[thepd7]

I would imagine he could teach scienec without too many extra classes.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: thepd7
I would imagine he could teach scienec without too many extra classes.

um, teaching requires a teaching certificate, which is generally a good two years of work.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: thepd7
I would imagine he could teach scienec without too many extra classes.

um, teaching requires a teaching certificate, which is generally a good two years of work.

Most private schools do not require teaching certificates.

 

[Maximilian]

Im in 3rd year of environmental management and planning, also the class rep for two years Im gonna be a copper.... Sod being a consultant or somthing environmental related, so boring.

 

[geecee]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: geecee
I've got a cousin graduating soon with a degree in environmental studies. Any idea what one can do for employment within this degree field? Anyone actually study or work in a field related or close to this? He actually wants to pursue a career in this field (as opposed to just being someone with a college degree trying to get into a training program somewhere). I believe that he's fired his resume off to a few state/local environmental agencies. Would he have more prospects if he got a graduate degree? My joke to him is that he's pretty much taken a vow of poverty majoring in this but I'm hoping that the reality shows that I am only kidding. TIA.

I will be graduating in May with the same degree. Your cousin is welcome to get in contact with me. My e-mail is (contact either by e-mail or facebook) jeffes13@(u.w.o.s.h).edu (obfuscated).

The ES field is a really strange one. It is basically divided into two areas:

1) Fieldwork - This includes park rangers, some business positions, DNR, EPA, etc
2) Business work - this is largely nonprofit work

Both areas are very small fields that are hard to get into. The first often requires a second major/degree (such as in Forestry Management, Business Management, etc).

Many thanks for the offer/info. I will forward it on to him. I think it's his parents who are more worried about his opportunities than he is. I've only talked to him in passing about it and he doesn't seem that worried so he might have a better idea of what's going on than his parents give him credit for. Also, I think he's in the process of applying to a graduate program but might defer if he finds something interesting in the job market.

 

[Caesar]

I am an environmental engineer and I work as Surface water modeler with ERM Inc. Ask him to check it out for job openings. There are a bunch of Environmental consulting companies (see here). If you are good then you can make good money (not at all at par with Finance/ CS majors) but good enough.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: geecee

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: geecee
I've got a cousin graduating soon with a degree in environmental studies. Any idea what one can do for employment within this degree field? Anyone actually study or work in a field related or close to this? He actually wants to pursue a career in this field (as opposed to just being someone with a college degree trying to get into a training program somewhere). I believe that he's fired his resume off to a few state/local environmental agencies. Would he have more prospects if he got a graduate degree? My joke to him is that he's pretty much taken a vow of poverty majoring in this but I'm hoping that the reality shows that I am only kidding. TIA.

I will be graduating in May with the same degree. Your cousin is welcome to get in contact with me. My e-mail is (contact either by e-mail or facebook) jeffes13@(u.w.o.s.h).edu (obfuscated).

The ES field is a really strange one. It is basically divided into two areas:

1) Fieldwork - This includes park rangers, some business positions, DNR, EPA, etc
2) Business work - this is largely nonprofit work

Both areas are very small fields that are hard to get into. The first often requires a second major/degree (such as in Forestry Management, Business Management, etc).

Many thanks for the offer/info. I will forward it on to him. I think it's his parents who are more worried about his opportunities than he is. I've only talked to him in passing about it and he doesn't seem that worried so he might have a better idea of what's going on than his parents give him credit for. Also, I think he's in the process of applying to a graduate program but might defer if he finds something interesting in the job market.

Well damnit, if he is so sure he can find a job then have him contact me and tell me how