Top 4 Jobs for Environmental Science Majors
Studying environmental science equips you with a deep understanding of the natural world and the different means by which human activities impact the environment. With this knowledge, you can spot and mitigate climate change effects while managing natural resources more responsibly and sustainably.
Undertaking an environmental science course enables you to build a comprehensive set of transferable skills, which can be rewarding in your professional and personal life. As an environmental science graduate, you have access to multiple career opportunities. Discussed below are the top four jobs for environmental science majors.
Environmental Specialist
An environmental specialist is a natural science expert who utilizes their knowledge and skills to safeguard and better the environment while positively impacting human well-being and health. An environmental specialist’s duties include:
- Identifying environmental pollution issues
- Collecting and examining air, water, and soil samples
- Observing a population’s influence on the environment
- Coming up with strategies and plans to resolve, control, or stop environmental issues
As an environmental specialist, you’ll mainly work in offices and labs. You can also work in the field to gather data and make direct environmental observations. Acquiring an environmental science degree can help you contribute to the rising demand for environmental specialists.
Environmental health practitioner
Environmental health practitioners/ inspectors/ officers significantly contribute to the public and private sectors by ascertaining health standards. They implement standards for safeguarding public health while regulating and executing environmental health-related legislation to minimize health and safety hazards. As an environmental health practitioner, your primary objective is protecting public interests and ensuring a pollution-free environment. To become a qualified environmental health officer, you must:
- Earn a master’s or bachelor’s degree in environmental health from a certified institution
- Gain work experience to build the skills you require to succeed in your career
- Earning certifications to showcase your knowledge, expertise, and experience
- As an environmental health officer, you can specialize in a particular area or become a generalist.
Environmental Consultant
An environmental consultant combines scientific knowledge and various technical skills to analyze environmental conditions to help organizations learn how to attain a balance between minimizing negative environmental effects and remaining efficient and profitable. They usually have a background in engineering, environmental science, or other related fields, which equips them with the understanding to evaluate the environmental effects of human activities and suggest techniques for managing and conserving the environment.
As an environmental consultant, you’ll work closely with your customers to understand their particular objectives and needs and provide tailored solutions to resolve environmental difficulties. You may also help companies:
- Obtain permits
- Ensure regulatory compliance
- Get a valuable understanding of sustainable practices that match with business goals and environmental conservation objectives
To work as an environmental consultant, you need a postgraduate qualification or degree in environmental studies, environmental science, or environmental sustainability.
Environmental Engineer
Becoming a qualified environmental engineer requires a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering or related fields like general, chemical, or civil engineering. Around 3400 environmental engineering positions are expected each year from 2022 to 2032. Studying environmental engineering can help contribute to the increasing demand for environmental engineers. As an environmental engineer, your duties involve the following:
- Overseeing waste management and pollution control tasks
- Producing environmental reports
- Conducting site assessments
- Evaluating how sites comply with environmental regulations
- Analyzing data
You can work in government agencies, private consulting organizations, and non-profit companies.
Endnote
Environmental science majors have multiple career opportunities. Familiarize yourself with the top jobs for environmental science majors.