The problems of the environment are so complex and far reaching that many different occupations are involved in finding solutions. The Environmental Science major gives you a basic understanding of the physical, geological and social sciences and how they apply to environmental processes and issues.
Representative Job Titles and Area of Specialization
- Agricultural Chemicals Inspector
- Air Pollution Control Analyst *
- Biological Control Specialist
- Coastal Zone Planner *
- Community Health Inspector
- Demographic Specialist
- Energy Conservation Economist
- Environmental Biochemist
- Environmental Designer
- Environmental Economist
- Environmental Educator
- Environmental Engineer
- Environmental Impact Analyst *
- Environmental Lawyer
- Environmental Lobbyist *
- Fish And Game Warden *
- Fisheries Scientist
- Forester *
- Geodesist
- Geothermal Analyst
- Hazardous Waste Specialist *
- Hydrographer *
- Hydrologist *
- Industrial Hygienist *
- Interpretive Naturalist *
- Irrigation Water Manager *
- Land Use Planner *
- Natural Resources Assistant *
- Noise Pollution Specialist
- Oceanographer/Marine Ecologist
- Park Ranger *
- Parks And Recreation Specialist *
- Power Engineer
- Radiation Protection Specialist *
- Radiological Programs Engineer
- Range Management Scientist
- Resources Policy Analyst *
- Sanitary Engineer *
- Sedimentologist
- Soil Conservationist *
- Solid Waste Manager
- Toxicologist
- Transportation Planner *
- Urban Or Regional Planner *
- Utility Corridor Planner *
- Water Pollution Technician *
- Water Resources Engineer
- Wildlife Biologist
- Wildlife Preserve Manager
* See Training section
Nature of the Work
The type of work done by environmentalists is generalized here under a few major classifications:
- Ecologists study of the relations of organisms, or of whole local ecosystems, to their environments. Their work frequently involves pure research in a university of government agency setting.
- Conservationists devote their careers to the protection and wise use of our natural resources: soil, water, forests, minerals, wildlife, and grazing lands.
- Environmental design, architecture, planning and urban development have to do with land use and buildings.
Places of Employment
- Universities and colleges
- Hospitals
- Environmental consulting firms
- Manufacturing firms
- Oil companies
- Public utilities
- Independent research laboratories
- Consulting engineering firms
- City, county and state agencies including:
- Departments of public health
- Planning departments
- Coastal agencies
- Water treatment facilities
- Water authorities
- Departments of conservation
- Departments of agriculture
- Departments of community development
- Departments of public works
- Federal agencies including:
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Bureau of Land Management
- Forest Service
- National Parks Service
- Geological Survey
- Department of Agriculture
- Rural Development Services
- Soil Conservation Service
- Department of the Interior
- Federal Power Commission
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Federal Highway Administration
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Agricultural Research Service
- Bureau of Mines
- Fish and Wildlife Service
Training
Check out the jobs with asterisks. They may be obtained with a bachelor's degree depending on the type of coursework you completed and experience you gained as an undergrad.
Many jobs at the professional level require a master's or Ph.D. If you want to teach and conduct research at a university, a Ph.D. is a must.
For further information and/or career counseling contact the UCR Career Center, (951) 827-3631.
Supplemental Material
The following documents may provide further ideas for exploration.
- Agricultural Science
- Biochemistry
- Biological Sciences
- Economics
- Engineering
- Environmental Science
- Forestry
- Plant Science
- Wildlife and Fisheries
