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Just want to make it clear, there is also a similar title called Environmental Studies, but what I'm talking about is Environmental Science. So, has anyone gotten a degree in Environmental Science? How do you like it? Was it a good decision you made? I'm just researching about my number one future career choice. If it's bad, I want a good reason why it's a bad choice.
Yea, I do. My first degree is in Environmental Sciences, hard sciences type (requiring Calc, Physics, Bio, Chem).
It's definitely in the top quarter or majors in terms of employability.
Just a bachelors should be good for a fairly stable middle class income and decent career. You could go the way of Environmental Consulting and Engineering or nonprofit or government. The first one has the bulk of the jobs. Nonprofit jobs are scarce and pay scarce. Government jobs are hard to get and require an advanced degree usually.
For the most part, the work in consulting is not that stressful and not long hours. However, there is a lot of travel and expect to get laid off. The job goes with the economy and construction industry. If things aren't being built, there's no need for environmental assessments.
All in all, it's an OK major and industry.
You must like being outside and in the elements and doing some physical work. Otherwise, you will hate it.
Thank you for the reply. I don't mind going outside and doing physical work at all. It will be a bonus if I am able to get into the heart of nature. Now some more questions
-Where outside did you go to? Was it just going to some ordinary site to assess it or going into nature like a wildlife park?
-What's a day like in environmental consultation? What do the employers expect and ask from you when you do consultation?
-How much math and what kind of math did you do when you worked? I don't mind doing math but I'm not as strong as others who are majoring in a degree that uses a lot more math like Engineering or Physics. I like to come prepared with the right amount of knowledge and not waste my time on learning math that won't be used in the career
Thank you for the reply. I don't mind going outside and doing physical work at all. It will be a bonus if I am able to get into the heart of nature. Now some more questions
-Where outside did you go to? Was it just going to some ordinary site to assess it or going into nature like a wildlife park?
-What's a day like in environmental consultation? What do the employers expect and ask from you when you do consultation?
-How much math and what kind of math did you do when you worked? I don't mind doing math but I'm not as strong as others who are majoring in a degree that uses a lot more math like Engineering or Physics. I like to come prepared with the right amount of knowledge and not waste my time on learning math that won't be used in the career
Much more routine than you could probably imagine. Going to job sites and cleaning up gas spills or chemical spills. Sometimes gas stations, sometimes a vacant supermarket.
If you want the forest park ranger type gig, you could go that route, but you'll likely have to relocate and earn very little pay, if the gig is even full time.
Environmental Science is still really broad and I think you'd still want to specialize further. Make sure you get a good science and math background, some good naturalist skills (e.g. plant id if you want to be a wetlands biologist), and take all the GIS courses you can.
Be careful with environmental science programs. Some are good, but many are absolute garbage. If the program does not require organic chemistry, genetics, advanced statistics, and involve hands on work with modern analytical instruments, you are just wasting your time. Many schools produce graduates that are unemployable in the field and not ready for graduate work. In other words, don't take a humanities curriculum disguised as science if you expect to work as a scientist.
Be careful with environmental science programs. Some are good, but many are absolute garbage. If the program does not require organic chemistry, genetics, advanced statistics, and involve hands on work with modern analytical instruments, you are just wasting your time. Many schools produce graduates that are unemployable in the field and not ready for graduate work. In other words, don't take a humanities curriculum disguised as science if you expect to work as a scientist.
All of that means virtually nothing in the real world though.
The school I graduated from is ranked #2 in the WORLD for Environmental Sciences. I didn't know that actually I just looked it up. And the degree required O-Chem, Biology, Calc, Physics, all that jazz.
Somebody who graduated with an Environmental Studies degree (soft science option) from the local no-name college could have all of the options I'd have in terms of jobs more or less. And once they got their foot in the door and got the job, we'd be on complete equal footing.
It might matter in applying to phd programs, but I wouldn't know. I did take a grad class in ES while doing my grad studies in something else. I'd say the only thing you need from your undergrad is Chemistry and you can catch up on that pretty quickly.
CSU East Bay is where I'll be transferring to. The link shows the classes I must take. As for the specialization, I looked at the job ads in monster.com for Environmental Scientists, and all the employers are looking for someone who knows more about geological/physical science knowledge and skillset. So, I'm picking the Physical Science option. Plus I think it has more class choices and an internship. What are your comments/thoughts?
I chose CSU East Bay because it's the closest one to me, it has the quarter system, and one of the few CSU schools who has an Environmental Science major who's doing the science stuff more and not about the policies and all that, but I'm open to any suggestions. Do note that I come from a disadvantaged background so I'm not willing to go to an expensive private school just because it has a well-known name when I can get the same degree at another affordable, practical school and have the same employability.
CSU East Bay is where I'll be transferring to. The link shows the classes I must take. As for the specialization, I looked at the job ads in monster.com for Environmental Scientists, and all the employers are looking for someone who knows more about geological/physical science knowledge and skillset. So, I'm picking the Physical Science option. Plus I think it has more class choices and an internship. What are your comments/thoughts?
Looks pretty similar to the curriculum i had while at a UC.
You should be good. Again i emphasize make sure you like being out in the elements and can handle some physical work.
We used to get these girls who were fresh grads and would show up to their first day at work with nails and hair done. Then they find out theyre outside all day doing physical work and they start thinking about a career change by their second week.
I would also add ... id its possible, major in environmental engineering. It will open a lot more doors for you.
The only beef I have with Environmental Engineering is the math. I like math but some college professors makes the math incomprehensible and brutal, especially the harder math classes.
Last edited by aisaum; 07-06-2012 at 01:59 PM..
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