A Guide To Career Opportunities In Ecology And Environmental Studies

         This guide was put together to answer some of the questions commonly asked by students concerning their career options. Students majoring in environmental studies must be aware that job opportunities fluctuate with the economy, the public's awareness of environmental problems, and the current political administration, none of which are noted for stability. The job market for environmental studies graduates will probably increase for some time to come, but do not expect to walk out of graduation ceremonies and into a company car.
         Thousands of jobs exist in a variety of environmental fields throughout the United States. The sheer size of the World Environmental Directory (965 pages) illustrates the number of potential positions in industry, government, universities, and the private sector. The job search will not be easy. After spending four or more years preparing yourself for a career, be prepared to spend some time searching for a job. This time, of course, can be reduced by starting your job or graduate school search at the beginning of your senior year rather than at the end. Hopefully, this guide will be of some help. Advisers, professors, graduate students, and the College Placement Office will all offer assistance, but the final responsibility is yours.
Q: What Kind Of Job Can One Apply For With A Degree In Environmental Studies?
         The field of Environmental Studies is by nature very broad and diversified. Indeed, this is part of the reason for the interdisciplinary scope of the Department's degree programs in Ecology (B.S.) and Environmental Biology (M.S. and Ph.D.) Job possibilities range from soil and water conservation and environmental consulting to waste water management, wildlife ecology, and remote sensing. For this reason one should not limit his/her search to those jobs that have a key work such as "environmental" in their titles. Keep an open mind and look on a broader scale for potential job opportunities where principles of environmental science can be or have been applied. By pursuing coursework in the Ecology track or an advanced degree in Environmental Biology you can prepare yourself for jobs that become available in the sample areas listed below (this is by no means an exhaustive listing).
1. Applied Ecology And Field Biology
Forestry
Range Management
Wildlife Biology
Biological Control
Natural Resource Management
Economic Entomology
Biology of Captive Animals
Agriculture
Environmental Education
Botany/Horticulture
2. Environmental Impact Analysis and Assessment
Land Use Planning
Waste Management
Environmental Law
Environmental Consulting
Environmental Lobbying
Environmental Engineering
Remote Sensing
Environmental Planning
Environmental Protection
Air Quality Control
3. Environmental Geology And Meteorology
Soil Conservation
Air Quality Analysis
Ground water Management
4. Water Resources
Aquatic Biology
Geochemistry
Hydrology
Mineral Resources
Fisheries Management
Exploration Geology
Aqua culture
Oceanography
Lake and Reservoir Management
5. Environmental Policy And Planning
Landscape Architecture
Urban and Regional Planning
Soil and Water Conservation
Environmental Policy Analysis
Alternate Energy Development
Energy Conservation
Energy Planning
Energy Policy Analysis
Risk Analysis
Mining Reclamation
Q: What Are The Best Courses To Take To Prepare Oneself For A Career In Environmental Studies?
         Graduate and undergraduate degrees offered by the Department of Biology are designed to provide coursework in a broad number of areas with ample opportunity for concentrated coursework in specialized fields. Graduates of the department have been employed by many universities, private companies and governmental agencies. Some are employed in environmental consulting and engineering firms working on environmental impact assessments as technicians and field personnel.
         Others are employed in state, local and regional governmental agencies as resource specialists or planners. Graduates have been employed by various Federal agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture, etc. The key to the selection of coursework that will lead to a job in one of these firms or agencies is to first decide what interests you the most. If you select an area that interests you, you are likely to be more enthusiastic about your coursework, spend more time studying and achieve better grades. As a result you will be more competitive in the job market. It is a serious mistake to select a career direction on the basis of present job availability without serious consideration to what really interests you the most. Hands-on experience (summer job, part-time volunteer) is probably the best way to determine if this may be a career for you.
Q: What About Jobs With State Governments?
         Many state departments employ environmental scientists: State Highway Department, Department of Health, Department of Fish and Game, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water, Soil and Water conservation Service and others. The availability of jobs varies with the political administration that is in power and the economic condition of the State. A civil service exam usually is required. Job listings are available at the Campus Career Center (SAC) and the State Employment Agency (Downtown Louisville). Representatives of state agencies often participate in the Campus Career Fair held in October.
Q: What About Jobs With Municipal Governments?
         Most cities advertise their job openings in the major newspapers of that city, and sometimes in the surrounding cities as well. The City of Louisville has a jobs hotline (574-3355). Jobs vary from environmental specialist in the city or county Department of Health to water quality specialist with the water treatment plant or Metropolitan Sanitary District to specialist in the biology of captive animals at the city zoo.
Q: What About Jobs With The Federal Government?
         The Federal Government is certainly the largest employer in the United States and therefore seems to attract the most applications for positions. Unfortunately, most job opportunities in Environmental Studies exist outside the government (i.e., in private industry). The availability of jobs within the Federal Government varies from one political administration to the next; therefore the job picture at this time could be radically different than the job picture in four years. For most Federal Government competitive service jobs, you must apply through a local branch of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The OPM maintains Federal Job Information Centers in many cities across the United States (Dayton, OH is the closest office to Louisville). The OPM accepts applications for federal employment based on the number of jobs governmental agencies estimate they will fill in various locations over a period of time. Therefore, for some jobs, and for some regions of the country, the OPM may not accept applications for a period of time. The OPM evaluates the applications and furnishes them to the particular agency with the job vacancy. Your chances of being hired depend on your qualifications, the number of vacancies, and the number of people applying. Veterans are given preference, as are those individuals who are presently employed by a federal government agency and request a transfer to the agency with the job vacancy. By law, agency hiring officials may choose from among the top three applicants. The campus Career Center receives monthly listings of jobs available with the Federal Government.
Q: What About Jobs In The Private Sector?
         There are literally hundreds of jobs in the private sector with a diversified list of different employers and positions. Prospective employers include energy firms, construction businesses, consultants, retail firms, agribusiness, and law firms. Generally, any corporation or enterprise which makes use of the environment or may potentially have some type of environmental impact may consider employees or environmental science-related positions. Most of the "job hunting" literature you will find in local bookstores is oriented towards giving advice on how best to obtain a job in the private sector. We suggest you consult the listing of such publications in the local bookstore. There are professional job searching agencies which usually have some type of set fee or percentage of the salary of the job they find for you, should you finally take it. Most job search agencies only charge you if they are successful in obtaining a job for you. Many businesses come to college campuses to interview for available positions; others place advertisements in local newspapers and journals.
Q: What Kind Of Jobs Are Available With Conservation Organizations ?
         Private conservation organizations are becoming larger, more sophisticated and more powerful as public awareness of environmental problems increases. Only a few years ago, conservation organizations limited themselves to the publication of magazines and newsletters and education of the public about environmental issues. Now many are involved in the active management of both species and habitats, acquisition of land, environmental consulting, research, monitoring of environmental problems, lobbying, public education and environmental law.
         Some of the major organizations include: The Audubon Society; The Izaak Walton League, Ducks Unlimited; The National Wildlife Federation; The Sierra Club; The Conservation Foundation; The Wilderness Society; The Nature Conservancy; National Geographic Society; and many more. A complete listing can be found in the Conservation Directory, published on a yearly basis by the National Wildlife Federation.
Q: What Kind Of University Related Jobs Are Available?
         As with state and federal jobs, the number and kind of university jobs is usually a reflection of the current economic situation. Most permanent positions at universities require a Ph.D. and involve both teaching and research. These jobs are advertised in the leading research journals (e.g. Science ) and the Chronicle of Higher Education. Some smaller colleges and junior colleges employ students with a master's degree for teaching in various departments. Many temporary positions (1-3 years) are filled by graduate students, but occasionally a staff member is hired as a technician with either a bachelor's or master's degree. Part-time jobs are also available for undergraduates in Biology and other departments, usually to assist with particular research projects. These jobs provide valuable work experience which will improve your chances of getting into the graduate school of your choice or a permanent position outside the University. Jobs are advertised on the bulletin board inside the Biology Department office.
Q: What Does The University Career Center Offer?
         The Career Center, located at W310 Student Activities Center (6927), has many resources that may be of valuable assistance in your job hunt. The services offered are as follows:
(1) Campus interviews:  many potential Environmental Studies employers contact this office to set up interviews on campus.
(2) Job Bulletin Board:   a continually updated bulletin board listing jobs within and outside the University. It is advisable to check this source frequently.
(3) Workshops:  examples of the types of workshops held in the past include: Preparing for the Interview, Writing Effective Resume's and Government Jobs.
(4) Literature:  the office keeps a small library of materials, books, and periodicals that may be of assistance.
(5) Advice:  although they are not specialists at finding Environmental Studies jobs, they do have a variety of special contacts, and sources of information and are always willing to offer assistance.
Q: Are There Jobs Available With The Peace Corps?
         The Peace Corps has many positions for which students with a bachelor's or master's level degree would be well qualified. Of course, they do not promise high salaries, but rather provide valuable experience, travel, and cultural opportunities. Former Peace Corps workers also receive job hunting help at the end of their term. For more information call, toll free (800) 424-8580 or contact: Peace Corps, McNamara Federal Building, 477 Michigan Avenue, Suite M74, Detroit, MI, 48226.
Q: How Does One Prepare A Resume?
         Carefully. There are hundreds of guides now available on how to write a resume. Many of these are available in local bookstores. The Career Center offers workshops on writing resume's and letters and also has software available (Resume Expert; cost $20) to assist you. It is important to have an up-to-date version of your resume. With word processing it's easy to keep it correct and print out copies as needed.
Q: Is It Necessary For One To Go To Graduate School In Order To Get A Job In Environment Studies?
         One must realize that in any scientific field, whether it be Biology, Chemistry, or Geology, it is desirable to have more specialized training than the general liberal arts background provides. This does not mean that a bachelor-level degree is meaningless, but that the number of jobs will be more limited and the competition from master's level people will be considerable. Graduate school gives one a more specialized training, usually some job-related experience, and the acquisition of some special skills. For this reason, a double major usually is not as advantageous as a master's degree (two general backgrounds are not equal to one more specialized degree). In most cases students would be better off concentrating their coursework in a specific environmental area or track and on getting into graduate school rather than spending extra time obtaining two degrees.
Q: How Does One Apply For Graduate School?
         The types of graduate schools one can apply for with a degree in Environmental Science are as varied as the job opportunities. Again, as with job possibilities, one need not seek out only those schools with the word "environmental" in the title. You can find information on schools by looking through Graduate School Catalogs available in the Graduate Student Office Jouett Hall). When looking through a catalog, ask yourself the following:
(1) What kind of graduate level courses do they have?
(2) Who are their faculty? What are their specialties? What do they research?
(3) What are their entrance requirements? GRE? GPA? Application fees?
(4) What kinds of financial support are available?
(5) What kind of special facilities does that department have?
(6) When is the deadline for applying?
Remember: The program the school offers and the faculty advisor with whom you will be working with is more important than where the school is located. Information about various programs can also be obtained by talking to faculty and graduate students who have had contact with the program.
Q: What Does One Need To Do To Get Into Graduate School?
         The following factors usually weigh heavily in the determination of who is accepted into graduate schools.
(1) Letters of recommendation - The more relevant they are, the more help they will be. A letter from a professional about your working experience will carry more weight than a letter from a teacher who gave you an "A" in a course.
(2) Experience - This category includes experience relating to your potential career goal. For example, volunteer work as a research assistant for a biologist or other scientist will be more valuable than the paid work experience you had at a restaurant.
(3) Personal Appearance - Meeting the department chairperson and faculty in person and finding out what they are like will help you decide if you want to go there, if accepted. It will also help the department find out more about you and your career objectives.
(4) Course Background - Straight A's mean little if you avoid all hard or relevant courses that would benefit your career goals. A more impressive transcript may have a lower GPA but a higher quality of coursework.
(5) GPA - Grade point average often carries a certain hypersensitivity. Most graduate schools require a 3.0 GPA for admission to regular status. If your GPA is lower than 3.0, you may in some instances be accepted on probationary or provisional status, especially if you have strong letters of recommendation and other credentials. Unfortunately, GPA is the main indicator of a student's performance in coursework, but don't lose sight of the importance of other criteria.
(6) GRE- The Graduate Record Exam is given a few times a year for all those students who need it for entrance into graduate school. Almost all graduate schools require this exam and like the GPA, use it to assess your potential for success in a graduate program. Inquire with the potential school as to whether or not they require the exam and also as to what part of the exam (General and/or Advanced) they wish you to take. GRE application forms and related information are available at the Graduate Student Office in Jouett Hall as well as the University Testing Service in Davidson Hall.
JOB HUNTING LITERATURE
1. ANON. 1982. The Environmental Jobs Handbook. Prospect Press.
2. Uleck, R.B., ed. 1982. Life Sciences lob Handbook. Prospect Press.
3. Anon. 1992. The College Placement Annual. The College Placement Council, Inc.
4. Cleppter, H. 1979. Careers in Conservation, 2nd ed. J. Wiley & Sons.
5. Basta, Nicholas. 1991. Environmental Career Guide. J. Wiley & Sons.
6. CIEP Fund. 1989. Complete Guide to Environmental Careers. Island Press.
7. Gough, B.E. 1990. World Environmental Directory. Business Publishers.
PUBLICATIONS THAT REGULARLY LIST ENVIRONMENTAL JOBS
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
Science
The Wildlife Society Newsletter
American Institute of Biological Sciences Employment Newsletter
Journal of Environmental Health
American Scientist
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Environmental Science and Technology
The Federal Job Letter
The Federal Register
Environmental Opportunities
Earth Work
Ecological Society of American Newsletter