Your career path is determined by much more than your major. While the knowledge gained in the classroom is an important piece of the puzzle, it is often a combination of your major, unique strengths, and extracurricular experiences that prepare you for a variety of career options.
To illustrate the range of opportunities within environmental studies, I’ll outline several sample jobs directly related to this field, as well as those adjacent to it, and positions that heavily rely on the transferable skills developed through this program of study. It is important to note that each career path has its own set of requirements and no option is “better” than another, it’s all about finding work environments that align with your strengths, skills, and interests.
Careers/Industries That Are Directly Related To Environmental Studies:
- Government agencies: environmental protection, resource management, and compliance
- Environmental consulting: assessing and mitigating envrionmental risks
- Corporate sustainability: minimizing envrionmental impact, eco-friendly policy
- Climate change: research, development of policies to address climate change
- Research and academic: research, teach, contribute to the understanding of envrionmental issues
Careers/Industries That Are Adjacent To Environmental Studies:
- Environmental economics: analysing impact of environmental policies
- Design and construction: environmentally friendly infrastructure
- Environmental educators: schools, museums, outreach programs
- Public health: air/water quality, disease prevention, etc..
- Community development: economic, social, and environmental well-being
- Non-profit organizations: programs dedicated to social and environmental justice
Careers/Industries That Rely Heavily On The Transferable Skills Developed Through An Envrionmental Studies Degree Program:
- Journalism: research, communication and objectivity
- Human Resources: communication, problem solving, ethics/legal compliance
- Grant Writing: research, persuasive writing, attention to detail
- Consulting: analytical skills, communication, adaptability
- Law & Policy Advocacy: research, communication, critical thinking
- Film & Photography: technical skills, creativity, interpersonal skills
- Data Analytics: statistical analysis, data visualization, programming skills
These lists are not exhaustive, but I hope they can provide a foundation for brainstorming career options and initiating research into the skills and experiences required. If you’d like to research these job titles further, check out our explore jobs and salaries tool or schedule an appointment with a Fleishman Career Center staff member.
