WHAT CAN I DO WITH A MAJOR IN...

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

www.sc.edu/career

en·vi·ron·men·tal

1. Of, relating to, or associated with the environment.

2. Relating to or being concerned with the ecological impact of altering the environment.

3. Medicine Of or relating to potentially harmful factors originating in the environment: environmental illness.*

* "environmental." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 27 Jul. 2009. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/environmental>.

Environmental Studies is

• Being prepared for management positions in:– Earth resources

• minerals, water, sustainable development within ecosystems

– Environmental resources• safe and effective use or remediation of man-

made materials into different ecosystems

...and more

Specializations

• Geographic data analyst • Risk assessment

specialist • Laboratory analyst • Industrial environmental

manager • Environmental scientist • Environmental activist • Meteorological analyst • Climatological specialist

• Environmental planner • Urban or regional

planner • Environmental

toxicologist • Environmental geologist • Epidemiologist • Environmental policy

manager • Geographic information

systems analyst

USC’s graduate and doctoral programs offer courses of study that prepare you for specializations that include (but are not limited to):

Environmental Studies At The University Of South Carolina

Undergraduate Degrees

Degrees: Bachelor of Science

Majors: Environmental Science

• The university also offers a minor in Environmental Studies

Environmental Studies At The University Of South Carolina

Graduate Degrees

- Master of Earth and Environmental Resources Management (MEERM)

- Earth Resources- Environmental Resources

- Master of Earth and Environmental Resources Management (MEERM) combined with a Law Degree (J.D.)

Environmental Studies Students Develop Skills In

• Summarize research findings

• Perceiving patterns & structures

• Apply concepts • Apply knowledge

creatively • Technical writing

• Use laboratory equipment

• Report results orally and in writing

• Attention to details • Applying logic to

problems • Utilizing formulas

Environmental Studies Students Develop Skills In

• Define problems • Maintain precision and

accuracy • Organize and report

data • Analyze data

• Evaluate data and    results

• Gather information • Assess risks • Computer literacy • Inform and explain

Employment

• This program educates students for employment opportunities in:

• environmental planning • consulting companies and county • state and federal environmental

agencies

Employment Settings

• Business & Commerce: Includes management and direction of for-profit organizations including the development of business plans, marketing strategies, product development, human resource management, and actuary work.

Sample Occupational Titles Associated With Business &

Commerce

• Air Population Analyst• City Planner• Consumer Safety

Inspector• Management

Consultant• Occupational Safety

Specialist• Environmental

Protection Worker• FDA Inspector

• Planner• Resource Economist• Environmental Health

Specialist• Fund Raiser• Project Manager• Urban Planner• Wildlife Manager• Air/Water Quality

Manager• Hazardous Waste

Manager

Employment Settings

• Outdoor Field Work:

Includes both studying and working with and in the outdoors. Encompasses everything from management to wildlife resources working.

Sample Occupational Titles Associated With Outdoor Field

Work

• Agricultural Scientist• Environmental Scientist• City Planner• Environmental Engineer• Geographer• Horticulturist• Inspector• Outdoor Trip Leader• Park/Forest Ranger• Seismologist• Urban Planner• Surveyor

• Soil Scientist• Water Quality Technician• Agronomist• Earth Scientist• Fisheries Conservationist• Geologist• Hydrologist• Meteorologist• Ocean Technician• Wildlife Manager• Landscape Architect

Employment Settings

• Research:

Includes technicians, researchers, and technologists. Also incorporates laboratory work and the education of peers.

Sample Occupational Titles Associated With Research

• Biochemist• City Planner• Environmental Engineer• Outdoor Trip Leader• Planner• Resource Economist• Soil Scientist• Agronomist• Ecologist• Oceanographer

• Biotechnologist• Earth Scientist• Geologist• Hydrologist• Meteorologist• Ocean Technician• Seismologist• Urban Planner• Chemist• Soil Conservationist

Employment Settings• Education:

Includes classroom instruction, curricula development, research, writing, administration, program management, and lecturing.

Teaching and research positions at colleges and universities require an advanced degree. Most other teaching positions require proper certification.

Sample Occupational Titles Associated With Education

• Administrator• Admissions Evaluator• Author/Writer• Career Counselor• College or University

Professor• Financial Aid Director• Guidance Counselor• Health Educator • Lecturer

• Primary School Teacher• Program Manager• Residence Hall Director• Secondary School

Teacher• Student Affairs

Professional • Text Writer• Medical Librarian

Other Occupational Settings For Environmental Science

Studies

• Bureau of Land Management

• Colleges/Universities• Environmental

Protection Agencies• Fish and Wildlife

Management• Government Agencies• Land & Water

Conservation

• Libraries• Map Companies• Military Branches• National and State

Parks• Oil Companies• Planning Agencies• Textbook Publishers• Travel Agencies

Strategies For Developing Skills To Get The Job You

Want• Pursue an excellent

academic record• Obtain part-time,

summer, or internship work experience

• Volunteer with service and counseling organizations

• Become fluent in a foreign language

• Obtain an advanced degree and/or certification in order to perform substantive counseling work

• Obtain a minor in an additional area of interest (i.E. Language, business, education)

• Develop strong writing and speaking skills

Strategies For Developing Skills To Get The Job You

Want

• develop strong quantitative and statistical skills

• become comfortable working with people from different backgrounds and cultures

• acquire sales experience

• become active in peer mediation groups if available

• secure leadership positions in campus or community groups

• obtain teaching certification

• shadow the work of a professional

Books And Web Resources

BooksGreat Jobs for Environmental Studies Majors - by Julie DeGalan and Bryon Middlekauff

Career Opportunities in Conservation and the Environment - by Paul R. Greenland and Annamarie L. Sheldon

Web ResourcesAmerican Society of Agricultural Engineers -http://www.asabe.org/

AG Careers -http://agcareers.com/

Cyber Sierra's Natural Resources Job Search -http://www.cyber-sierra.com/nrjobs/enviro.htm

Resources for more information

USC’s School or the Environmenthttp://www.environ.sc.edu/

Career Center libraryhttp://www.sc.edu/career/Library/library.html

Environmental Studies Related Websiteshttp://www.sc.edu/career/la/envisci.html

College of Arts and Sciences Career Development Programwww.sc.edu/career/cascdp/index.html

Career Center Contact Information

University of South Carolina Career Center6th Floor, H. William Close Building (BA Building)Columbia, SC 29208Phone: 803-777-7280On-call counseling without an appointment: M - F, 1:00 am - 4:00 pm (Summer and holiday hours may differ, please check the website at www.sc/edu/career)