 |
Career
Opportunities for Majors in Environmental
Sciences
Introduction
The environmental
sciences major provides an understanding of the biological and
physical sciences and their application to environmental problems.
Options emphasize the chemical, physical, or biological aspects,
and electives allow specialization in the study of air, water,
or soils, as well as pollution and treatment sciences, and environmental
or occupational health studies.
An environmental
sciences degree can prepare students for a wide range of careers
in industry, government, consulting, and education. Many labor
market experts predict that environmental industries will be
a major source of new jobs in the next decade. Some technical
specialties will require further graduate training either for
career entry or advancement. Some students choose to combine
their undergraduate degree with an MBA or law degree. Since
environmental issues will impact most sectors of the job market,
an educational background in this field will be attractive to
a wide range of employers.
Although
most graduates work in a related field, some may choose a career
which does not require this specific major, but rather a wide
range of demonstrated skills and accomplishments. Regardless
of your career choice, increase your marketability to employers
through internships, responsible work experience, good grades,
and involvement in college activities.
A
Sample of Related Occupations
| Air
Quality Engineer |
Biostatistician |
Chemist |
| Community
Relations Manager |
Contract
Administrator |
Ecologist |
| Environmental
Affairs Manager |
Environmental
Educator |
Environmental
Engineer |
| Environmental
Impact Analyst |
Environmental
Lawyer |
Environmental
Manager |
| Environmental
Protection Specialist |
Fund
Raiser |
Grass
Roots Coordinator |
| Hazardous
Materials Specialist |
Hydrogeologist |
Industrial
Hygienist |
| Lobbyist |
Natural
Resources Manager |
Naturalist |
| Physician |
Planner |
Photojournalist |
| Public
Health Educator |
Public
Health Inspector |
Publisher |
| Research
Assistant |
Risk
Manager |
Safety
Engineer |
| Science
Librarian |
Soil
Scientist |
Technical
Sales Representative |
| Technical
Writer |
Toxicologist |
Water
Quality Specialist |
Types of Employers
| Private
and Non-profit Organizations |
|
Chemical Manufacturers
|
Insurance Industry
|
|
Environmental Advocacy Groups
|
Pharmaceutical Industry
|
|
Environmental Consulting Firms
|
Recycling Centers
|
|
Environmental Education Centers
|
Scientific Journals
|
|
Environmental Public Relations Firms
|
Testing Labs
|
|
Environmental Research Organizations
|
Travel/Tourism (Ecotourism Companies)
|
|
Food Manufacturers
|
Waste Management Companies
|
| Government
Agencies |
|
Bureau
of Land Management
|
Occupational
Safety & Health Admin.
|
|
Bureau
of Reclamation
|
Peace
Corps
|
|
Food
and Drug Administration
|
Public
Health Service
|
|
Forest
Service
|
Soil
Conservation Service
|
|
Department
of Commerce
|
U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
|
|
National
Science Foundation
|
U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service
|
|
NJ
Dept. of Environmental Protection
|
|
Jobs
Obtained by Rutgers Graduates
| First
Jobs of Recent Graduates |
| Admin.
Assistant, Small Business Devel. Center |
Environmental
Protection Specialist, U.S. Army |
| Analytical
Chemist, York Labs |
Environmental
Scientist, Sadat Associates Inc. |
| Assistant
Analyst, RW Beck & Associates |
Environmental
Specialist, S&W Waste Inc. |
| Associate
Chemist, Con Edison |
Environmental
Specialist Trainee, NJ DEP |
| Biology
Teacher, Somerville Board of Education |
Health
Inspector, Edison Health Dept. |
| Compliance
Mgr., Environment Management Ltd. |
Industrial
Hygienist, US Department of Labor, OSHA |
| Drum
Removal Manager, Environmental Professionals |
Radiation
Specialist, NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection |
| Environmental
Coordinator, Manville Sales Corp. |
Water
Resource Specialist, Storch Engineers |
| Jobs
of Experienced Alumni |
| Associate
Manager-Environmental Affairs, Hoffmann-La Roche (MS
Environmental Science) |
Hazardous
Waste Coordinator, Lancaster County Solid Waste Management |
| Chief
of Environmental Health, US Army |
Industrial
Hygienist, Vineland Dept. of Health (MS Indus. Hygiene) |
| Deputy
Attorney General, NJ Attorney Generals Office (JD) |
Laboratory
Director, EMA (MS Chemistry) |
| Detective,
NJ State Police |
Manager,
Waste Treatment, Photocircuits Corp. |
| Director-Strategic
Planning, American Express (MBA) |
Physical
Therapist, private practice (MS Physical Therapy) |
| Earth
Science Teacher, Middle School (MS Education) |
Physician-Orthopaedics,
private practice (MD) |
| Environmental
Consultant, Ecology & Environment Inc. |
Plant
Ecologist, NYC Parks (MS Ecology) |
| Envir.
Engineer, Roche Carolina (MS Envir. Engr.) |
President,
ECRACOM Inc. (MS Resource Mgt.) |
| Environmental
Engineer, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics |
Project
Manager, Indiana Dept. of Envir. Mgmt. (MS Public Affairs/Policy
Studies) |
| Environmental
Scientist, NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection (MS
Zoology) |
Regional
Manager, Hydro Environmental Technologies |
| Environmental
Scientist, NY State Dept. of Law & Public Safety (MS
Public Health) |
Section
Chief, NJ DEP Site Remediation (MS Envir. Sci.) |
| Environmental
Scientist, US EPA (MS Environ. Science) |
Senior
Environmental Engineer, American Cyanamid |
Environmental
Specialist, US Army Test & Evaluation Command (MS Envir.
Sci.)
|
Senior
Manager, Environ Int'l. Corp. (MS Envir. Engr.) |
| Environmental
Trainer, Advanced Environmental Tech. |
Senior
Planner, Hackensack Meadowlands Devel. Corp. |
| Field
Technician, Accutest Laboratories |
Senior
Sanitarian, Middletown Health Department |
| Health
Officer, Maplewood Health Department (MPA) |
Worldwide
Clinical Research Mgr., Schering-Plough (DVM) |
| Graduate
Schools Attended |
| Indiana
University, MS, Environmental Sciences |
Rutgers
University, MS, Environmental Sciences |
| Indiana
University, MS, Public Affairs & Policy Studies |
Stevens
Institute of Technology, MS, Envir. Engineering |
| NJ
Institute of Technology, MS, Environ. Sciences |
Univ.
of California - Santa Cruz, PhD, Earth Science |
| Rutgers
University, MS, Ecology |
Univ.
of Virginia, PhD, Microbial Ecology |
Updated
9/26/06
Still
have questions?
Ask
the Director
Send comments
to: 
Rutgers
University - CAREER SERVICES - New Brunswick
|
