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10 careers you can have with an environmental science degree

Blog | 07.23.2020

An environmental science degree from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College offers hands-on experience. With the College’s focus on sustainability and access to study areas, you will have no problem finding an environmental science job you love upon graduation. So stop asking yourself, “what can I do with an environmental science degree?” and start pursuing your passion. We’ve got 10 careers to think about if you need a push!

1. Agricultural scientist

Working closely with farmers and processing facilities will take place during the majority of your workdays. By performing different experiments to improve food processes and quality, you must have to have a firm trust formed with each of your clients. Honesty is important in this career, along with clear communication. Many serious precautions must be taken, but forming healthy and beneficial ways to improve food will pay off to a plethora of citizens.

Job tasks can include:

  • Developing cost-effective ways of experiment performance
  • Track and record experiment findings
  • Research processes to improve food quality
  • Present conclusions and overviews of experiments to agriculture boards, company executives and members of local communities

2. Environmental consultant

As an expert, you will offer words of guidance to clients on matters that relate to environmental management concerns. It will be your responsibility to make sure that policies align with environmental laws. With constant updates given to clients, you will show your strong personable skills and build relationships that will earn you both great customer satisfaction, referrals and caring for the environment.

Job tasks can include:

  • Continue to update and communicate with clients on projects
  • Oversee environmental management systems
  • Complete environmental audit processes
  • Identify and present contaminant sources

3. Air pollution analyst

With in-depth knowledge about the environment and air pollution, your goal is to create sustainable relationships between humans and nature. As an air pollution analyst, you must keep up to date on ways air pollution is occurring, as well as ways to prevent it.

Job tasks can include:

  • Collect and interpret data
  • Perform research for historical data purposes
  • Examine surveys
  • Perform laboratory work to find solutions to air pollution

4. Natural resource manager

There is a lot of work that goes into reducing the amount of harm that is done to our environment. A lot of this work is completed on the account of natural resource managers. Tasks can range from forming sustainability plans to performing hands-on work and officer involvement.

Job tasks can include:

  • Oversee the work of employees
  • Plant seeds for programs
  • Monitor wildlife populations
  • Take part in care plans for nature

5. Recycling officer

As a recycling officer, you will develop and implement policies and help those who do recycle encourage others to recycle, too. You will organize setups at different events to make people aware of the numerous benefits of recycling. Planning community events and collaborating with other organizations and community leaders will also be part of your duties. Having enthusiasm is important for this role because your positivity and excitement will spark other’s interests.

Job tasks can include:

  • Visit local recycling centers
  • Manage contractors
  • Keep records on file
  • Monitor public facilities

6. Environmental educator

Making the public aware of environmental concerns and issues will be a part of your job every day. As an environmental educator, you will teach and interpret the natural world. Not only will you have opportunities to teach students, but you will also have the opportunity to train community members and groups involved in environmental organizations.

Job tasks can include:

  • Research and develop educational environmental programs
  • Carry out risk assessment
  • Organize community events about environmental issues
  • Manage budgets

7. Nature conservation officer

Having a reputation as, “the law enforcement of great outdoors,” nature conservation officers are valued in the workforce in many ways. Aside from managing and protecting wildfire and water resources, you also have to have skills in leadership.

Job tasks can include:

  • Investigate crimes in wildlife areas
  • Patrol parks
  • Enforce fishing and wildlife laws
  • Answer questions regarding wildlife habitats and animals

8. Environmental engineer

As an environmental engineer, you often will act as a mentor. Advising the public and policymakers to perform environment-friendly practices will be a constant part of your routine. This job requires a lot of knowledge on environmental safety and understanding what human practices harm the environment and how to minimize concerns.

Job tasks can include:

  • Research and study human impact on the environment
  • Write environment investigation reports
  • Collect and analyze environmental data
  • Design technology to help conserve the environment

9. Meteorologist

Understanding the earth’s atmosphere can sound difficult, but as a meteorologist, you will have the opportunity to study weather patterns, climate impacts, and the details of how severe weather might impact our daily lives. Being able to work under pressure is essential in this career because of the severe weather alerts that may occur. Along with a team, you will perform research and measurements of weather to keep people safe. Your calm and positive attitude will form a strong relationship of trust with the public.

Job tasks can include:

  • Predicting climate change and weather patterns
  • Research to improve weather prediction models
  • Analyze and record data from other weather stations
  • Interpret different weather fronts from the geography of the land, sea and the atmosphere

 10. Zoologist

With the drive to gain knowledge, you’ll be sure to enjoy observing animal lifestyles within their habitats. As a zoologist, you’ll complete experiment trials of overseeing animals, while also building a relationship with them from afar. You’ll also play a part in making sure animals are safe in their habitats and find ways to improve the relationship between animals and humans.

Job tasks can include:

  • Conduct study series of animals in their natural habitats
  • Develop conservation plans
  • Collect species data for research
  • Use geographic systems and various software systems

6 Comments

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Rakshita Patel | 07.04.2024 at 9:48pm
I like this site because I was a student, I like reading and learning what I have learned. New books and authors are also knowledgeable learning to me. Thank you and have fun educating
Lexie Thomas | 02.01.2024 at 6:27am
I think this is very useful to the community and for students that are working on assignments and/or the Environmental Science Merit Badge (MB)
| 03.17.2023 at 8:10am
There are plenty of other careers out there as well. This is just highlighting some of the more common ones.
Kharbino Kuel | 03.17.2023 at 6:44am
Are these, the only careers that one can work in or there are some other careers besides it
Louiso Ethane | 06.02.2022 at 8:20am
I think these are great jobs because they include learning and researching about living organisms
Safianu Aishatu | 03.10.2022 at 4:51pm
I’m offering environmental science now at knust now but I don’t know what do with the program.