Introduction to Environmental Studies Career Paths
The now classic book, Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson, published in 1962, caught the attention of college students in the early 1960s. In it, she introduced the world to a pervasive and deadly environmental problem. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, DDT, is an effective pesticide first isolated in 1873, but used extensively worldwide after World War II. It is suggested that its application saved millions of human lives by killing lice that spread typhus and the anopheles mosquito responsible for malaria. However, in the post—World War II period, it became obvious that DDT had a dark side and was responsible for reproductive failure in raptors, such as eagles and hawks, among other animals high in the food web. Stored in fatty tissues in animals that these birds fed on, DDT was found to negatively impact eggshell formation, rendering them fragile and easily crushed during incubation. Unchecked, this reproductive failure would ultimately lead to extinction of the affected species. Students and other activists knew this was a critical issue to address, and thus the modern environmental movement began. One of the earliest successes of this movement was the ban on DDT use in the United States in 1973. Eagles and hawks are once again plentiful in their natural habitats.
Environmental Studies Emerges as a New Discipline
During this time of activism, colleges and universities began to give attention to environmental problems. As a result, many courses with environmental or ecological themes were developed and majors and minors soon followed.
Students in the1960s flocked to courses such as these in an effort to do their part to save the world from the impact of humans. Colleges and universities continue to offer degree programs focusing on the environment. A search of Peterson’s Guide reveals that more than two hundred colleges and universities in the United States and Canada offer course work in various environ mental studies fields.
Environmental studies, most academics would agree is interdisciplinary. Many subjects are drawn on to form the basis of the field. Zoology, biology, botany, engineering chemistry, geography geology soils, hydrology chemistry, health, law, economics, education, natural resources, technology, sociology anthropology, geographic information systems (GIS), forestry, and remote sensing are just some of the subjects that may be included in environmental studies degree programs.
The natural and social sciences intersect in environmental studies. Training in field and laboratory procedures along with an appreciation for ethics and societal issues, are all important aspects of this field. Within this discipline, though, the education or training emphasis can range from a heavy focus on social science to a heavy emphasis on natural science, or somewhere in between. Environmental studies are theoretical and practical technical and social. People with these degrees are prepared for the world of work; they are occupationally ready, with marketable skills; and they can fill the human resources needs of local, state, and federal governments as well as private industry. An education in environmental studies is also good preparation for an advanced professional degree, especially in environmental law, or in business when coupled with an MBA.
Skill Sets for Environmental Studies Majors
Skill sets are the “deliverables” that you will bring to an employer and can include examples such as facility with GIS, map reading, water sampling organizing a task, and writing and delivering a proposal to a client. Some environmental studies programs help their students develop technical skills, including laboratory, field data gathering sampling, mapping and instrumentation. For this group, it is now assumed that they are well versed in employing numerous types of computer software, such as those for computation, statistics, spreadsheet development, geographic information systems and word processing. If you are interested in a technically oriented job and you have not yet picked up these skills, make a strong effort to remedy that situation before graduation. If you have completed college, consider some extra training at a nearby college or technical school.
Some students have majored in a field or have developed specialized skills that are valued in environmental fields. The ability to use aerial photography and satellite images, for instance, to identify patterns and solve problems of the natural landscape, locate sites of toxic spills or storage of hazardous materials, inventory land use, and monitor habitat change over time is extremely useful. Digital image processing, which is designed to improve the utility of aerial imagery, is a commonly used technique even among relatively small environmental consulting firms. GIS and computer cartography are valuable and very employable skills. GIS involves the use of databases to create maps of various landscape elements such as streets and roads, utility lines, streams, and soils, as well as land use patterns. Data is stored, manipulated, and managed, and can be “stacked” to produce maps with many themes. Global positioning systems (GPS) provide the ability to precisely locate features in the landscape. Portable GPS units link with orbiting satellites and allow data to be gathered and stored in the field, then downloaded into a computer for further processing and linkage with a GIS. If you haven’t been trained in some mix of these techniques and you are still in school, be sure to enroll in classes where these topics are covered. If you are out of school and missed course work in these areas, consider enrolling in classes so that you can develop these sought-after skills.
However, these technical skills do not represent the full range of training needed in environmental studies. Research design skills, essential for problem solving or technical writing, which facilitates the ability to communicate, are critically important in certain jobs. You may have covered the development of environmental impact statements in one or more of your classes, and you have undoubtedly been required to write numerous reports of one type or another. This is valuable training, as the world of work requires you to call on such expertise on a daily basis. The importance of being able to communicate effectively in writing cannot be overemphasized. Frequent communication with alumni reveals that there are a number of skills that they use on a daily basis and that they wished they had paid more attention to while a student. Number one among these is writing. Memos, monographs, proposals, letters, and other documents are demanded nearly every day. Employers expect that you will have facility with writing in a technical communication format. They need clarity and accuracy in the workplace.
Additionally, your general education classes enabled you to sharpen your critical-thinking skills, allowing you to separate fact from misinformation, causing you to question and helping you learn how to probe into an issue or problem more deeply. You were probably assigned to work in groups in some classes. As a member of a working team you learned to identify the elements of an assignment, break the task into manageable units, undertake subtasks, and come together as a unit to deliver a presentation or to produce a written report. Working in teams is an essential skill for the workplace of the twenty-first century in many types of job settings including those that focus on the natural environment.
You also gained valuable skills for research. Jobs will require you to have knowledge of a vast number of environmental subjects. No one person can be an expert on them all—from diverse topics such as invertebrates as indicators of water quality to local environmental policies—but you do know how to find out more information about virtually any subject because you acquired research skills. Therefore, you have learned to learn.
Hopefully you have become comfortable, at least a little more comfort able, in front of audiences, facilitating meetings, and leading discussions. Many jobs in each of the five paths presented here require you to be able to handle such responsibilities. No employer will expect you to be an accomplished presenter, but they may look to you to build these skills over time. Alumni tell me that presenting in front of a group is another skill in which they wish they had more experience. The ability to organize, develop, and deliver a coherent presentation is a valuable skill that will be used over and over in the workplace.
Environmental Studies Majors and Potential Career Paths
An examination of many job descriptions requiring a background in envionmental studies reveals five general career paths. Here, we have grouped employment categories with similar themes, education, and experience.
• Environmental education
• Environmental policy, planning, and management
• Environmental sciences
• Environmental technology
• Environmental engineering
Each path involves different preparation, training, skills, course work, orientation, goals, and level of technical expertise. Your degree program has most likely prepared you for more than one of these paths. Read on to find out which might be the best career fit for you.
Environmental Education
Environmental education is not just classroom teaching, but it can be. The environmental education career path includes working as a docent, naturalist, recreation program leader, interpreter, or teacher. Employing organizations might include the Peace Corps; nature centers or museums; local, state, or federal parks and monuments; camps; outdoor and adventure education centers; and environmental advocacy groups such as the Audubon Society, zoos, aquariums, and botanical gardens; and schools. Presentation skills and education courses, in addition to a solid background in geology, geography, natural history, biology, botany, forestry, hydrology, and natural resources, will help to prepare a person for these careers.
Environmental Planning, Policy, and Management
The environmental planning, policy, and management career path involves natural resource policy, planning, and management, including conservation. Jobs in this area focus on interrelationships between soil, water, flora, fauna, and people. Graduates commonly secure positions with a variety of employers, including environmental consulting firms, federal resource management agencies like the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, county and state planning agencies, private consulting firms, or any number of state agencies that focus on resource development or preservation.
Environmental Sciences
Environmental sciences graduates are equipped for careers in environmental consulting, environmental monitoring for private industry, water resources, pollution regulation, environmental advocacy groups, and planning agencies. This career path is more technically oriented than the environmental education or environmental planning, policy, and management paths, but less so than the environmental technology or environmental engineering paths. This path is ideal for students who wish to work in data gathering, perhaps in an outdoor setting. A heavy measure of chemistry and biology are required to prepare for jobs in this path. Skills with computers will also be expected.
Environmental Technology
The environmental technology career path is technically oriented with an emphasis on field and laboratory data sampling, collection, classification, storage, analysis and retrieval. Statistics, computer skills, laboratory techniques, and field procedures are used on a daily basis for entry-level positions within this career path. Graduates with training for this path might seek employment as environmental technicians at water treatment plants; as hydrologic technicians; in private industry in quality assurance labs as lab scientists; or in the occupational and health safety department with environmental consulting firms or with companies that seek to remediate toxic spills.
Environmental Engineer
Environmental engineers work to provide safe drinking water; design waste disposal systems; plan cleanup procedures for contaminated sites; and develop methods, procedures and equipment for maintaining air and water quality. They design solid and hazardous waste disposal and recycling systems. Additionally, they assist in the development of environmental protection plans and in the administration of environmental regulations. Graduates may be employed by municipalities where they maintain and operate water treatment and waste disposal facilities; environmental consulting firms; the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); law firms specializing in environmental law; and local, state, and federal agencies.
Each path is explained in detail within the next five chapters. As you decide which path or paths to pursue draw on what you learned as you undertook your self-assessment, developed a résumé and cover letter, researched careers, and prepared to network and interview to achieve success in your job search.