What types of entry-level jobs are typically available to majors in Environmental Studies?
What types of internships are typically secured by Environmental Studies majors?
What are Environmental Studies majors doing now?
What sort of graduate study have majors in Environmental Studies pursued?
How can you learn more about careers that might interest you?
What types of entry-level jobs are typically available to majors in Environmental Studies?
The beauty of a liberal arts education is that it challenges students to develop a wide range of universally applicable and life-enriching skills, so your major is less representative of your abilities than it is of your interests. In other words, you can do just about anything with any degree. The following entry-level jobs are typical of those that majors in Environmental Studies pursue because jobs like these make use not only of the broad liberal-arts skill set, but also of the interests cultivated in the Environmental Studies curricula.
EarthWatch Institute, Maynard, MA: Communications Assistant
Earthwatch Institute is an international, non-profit organization which engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. This position will support the Director of Research and the Chief Science Officer by working to implement, coordinate and communicate both overall Earthwatch programmatic needs as well as those of the Research Department.
Clean Water Action, Boston, MA: Grassroots Organizer
Get paid to help protect our environment by: 1) Empowering and Informing New England citizens; 2) Helping pass ground-breaking environmental laws; 3) Leverage PEOPLE against wealthy special interests! Great communication skills and motivation are a must!
East Bay Conservation Corps, Oakland, CA: Crew Leader
The East Bay Conservation Corps (EBCC) is a comprehensive, nonprofit educational organization located in Oakland, California. Its mission is to promote youth development through environmental stewardship and community service and to further education reform and social change. EBCC has an immediate need for highly motivated individuals to supervise small teams of crew members (ages 17-24) in our conservation work and education program. Build cohesive teams and gain leadership skills while completing local conservation projects and facilitating educational activities for youth.
Transportation Alternatives, New York, NY: Special Events CoordinatorTransportation Alternatives, NYC's advocates for bicycling, walking and sensible transportation, is looking for a special events planner with an interest in community outreach to help organize T.A.'s annual NYC Century Bike Tour. Coordinator will work with the Events Director, learning the ins and outs of event organizing. T.A.'s NYC Century Bike Tour is a big event (5,000 participants) and generates about 25 percent of T.A.'s annual budget. Responsibilities will include preparing the route, working with City agencies, planning logistics, obtaining materials and many other details of planning and executing the ride.
- McCormick Taylor, Inc.,Baltimore, MD: GIA Analyst
Seeking a GIS Analyst with 1-5 years experience for a full time position in our Baltimore office. Work will include data translation and database development, map design and production, and execution of geoprocessing models in support of interdisciplinary transportation planning and environmental impact projects. Qualified candidates will possess strong mapping and GIS analysis skills. Previous experience with MS Access and ESRI GIS software such as ArcGIS and ArcPad is a plus. Familiarity with MDE/MSHA design standards is also helpful.
What types of internships are typically secured by Environmental Studies majors?
The following is a very short list of the types of internships typically pursued by majors in Environmental Studies:
Connecticut Farmland Trust – Interns will prepare maps and materials for meetings with landowners and CFT Board of Directors; research land records and documents related to pending conservation projects; research material for CFT's new program to encourage municipal farmland preservation; conduct stewardship monitoring visits to CFT's easement farms; and create stewardship database using Land Trust Alliance's LandSteward program.
Maine Audubon Society- Interns monitor and manage endangered piping plovers and least terns on 18 sand beaches in southern Maine, working with biologists to erect fencing around nest sites, post signs, monitor predation, and coordinate other volunteers as well as public outreach to landowners and the public.
The Wilderness Society -Interns will assist in the tracking of legislative and administrative actions affecting our national forests system and the national wilderness preservation system; gather information and write responses to questions on issues such as ancient forests, below-cost timber sales, wilderness and forest management.
Green Mountain Engineering – Interns will oordinate and assist with the marketing communication activities of the firm, which may including advertising, printing, customer events, and trade shows.
- Chesapeake Bay Foundation– Interns will conduct research for and write, edit and pubish electronic and print newsletters; provide staffing support for regional non-profit conservation partners in collaboration with CBF;act as primary point of contact to the public; conduct community outreach and
develop and maintain the Heart of the Chesapeake web page.
What are Environmental Studies majors doing now?
Here are the job titles and employers of a few Middlebury alumni who majored in Environmental Studies. If you'd like to speak with an alumnus or alumna about his or her career, or ask for advice about your own, then search MiddNet for an alumni career advisor today!
Attorney, US Department of Housing & Urban Development, Denver, CO
Biology Teacher, Alexander Dawson School, Lafayette, CO
Project Analyst, Conservation Law Foundation, Boston, MA
Stewardship Coordinator, Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, Montpelier, VT
Instructor, National Outdoor Leadership School, Lander, WY
Research Coordinator, National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration, Santa Barbara, CA
Freestyle Program Manager, US Ski and Snowboard Association, Park City, UT
Finance Assistant, The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA
Environmental Planner, EDAW, Inc. Los Angeles, CA
- Research Hydrologist, US Army Corps of Engineers, Hanover, NH
What sort of graduate study have majors in Environmental Studies pursued?
Listed below are some of the graduate schools attended, and degrees attained, by Middlebury alumni who majored in Environmental Studies:
Dartmouth College, Earth Sciences, M.S.
University of Pennsylvania, Law School, J.D.
Duke University, Water Resources, M.S.
Vermont Law School, J.D.
Harvard University, School of Education, M.Ed.
London Business School, M.B.A.
University of Vermont, School of Natural Resources, M.S.
George Washington University, Energy & Environmental Management, M.S.
- University of Michican, School of Public Policy, M.P.A.
How can you learn more about careers that might interest you?
Read a book. The following books, available for perusal in the CSO Library, may be of particular interest to Environmental Studies majors:
The Guide to Graduate Environmental Programs,The Student Conservation Association
Conservation Directory, National Wildlife Federation,
100 Jobs in the Environment, Debra Quintana
Careers for Nature Lovers & Other Outdoor Types, Louise Miller
Green At Work, Susan Cohn
- The Complete Guide to Environmental Careers in the 21st Century, The Environmental Careers Organization
Use the Web. The following Web sites may be useful:
More Resources and Services
Stop by CSO for a Drop-In, or call to make an appointment with a counselor to talk about contacting alumni, assessing your career interests/preferences, and other actions you can take to prepare yourself for the transition from Middlebury to the professional world.