Career Guide: ENVIRONMENTAL AND STUDIES

Environmental and Sustainability Studies majors develop skills to implement practical solutions to environmental problems and create strategies for using the earth’s resources more responsibly for the benefit of future generations.

INDUSTRY GROWTH IS TIED TO: JOB GROWTH • Increasing need for efficient water use and a 11% THROUGH 2024 clean water supply.

• Requirements for businesses to clean up contaminated sites and prevent future 2016 MEDIAN SALARIES contamination. • Environmental engineers $84,890 • New federal and state environmental regulations. • Environmental scientists $68,910 • Developing need for alternative energy sources. • Sustainability coordinators $45,000

POTENTIAL CAREERS JOB TASKS AND DUTIES WHO HIRES ENVIRONMENTAL • Energy analyst • Prepare and review environmental AND SUSTAINABILITY MAJORS investigation reports. • Ecotourism manager • Science and technical • Environmental writer • Design projects that lead to consulting firms . • Environmental scientist • and • Provide technical support for firms • designer environmental remediation. • Government • Petroleum engineer • Monitor the progress of • Resource manager environmental improvement • Conservation agencies • Sustainability planner and analyst programs. • Colleges and universities • Urban farmer • Inspect industrial and municipal • Land-use organizations facilities to ensure compliance. • Water resource engineer • farms • Develop strategies for sustainability and organizations • Wetland specialist in a variety of settings. • Wind energy engineer

Sources: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/environmental-engineers.htm WHAT TO EXPECT IN AN ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY STUDIES PROGRAM A degree in environmental and sustainability studies will prepare you to take a cross-disciplinary approach to solving environmental problems and seeking solutions to local and global sustainability issues.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY STUDIES Before you declare your MAY BE A GOOD FIT IF YOU… major in Environmental and • Have an interest in nature and the environment. Sustainability Studies: • Want to find solutions that benefit ecosystems, human communities and • Take classes in chemistry, geology, the economy. biology, physics and geophysics in high school to ensure you like them • Enjoy hands-on learning and working in diverse academic fields. and get a solid scientific background • Learn quickly. for your college courses. • Have physical stamina for fieldwork. • Interview a current environmental • Enjoy being outside. and sustainability professional to learn everything you can about your CLASSES MAY INCLUDE: potential career. • Business • Volunteer or intern with an • Public policy organization or company that focuses on sustainability efforts • Conservation like agriculture, and green • Applied math energy as a summer job to gain • and ecosystems industry experience. • Food and agriculture • Natural sciences “ is the • Research methodologies pathway to the future we want for all. It offers a framework to generate • economic growth, achieve social justice, • Statistics exercise environmental • Sustainability and strengthen governance.” • Sustainable practices and problem solving —Ban Ki-moon, South Korean diplomat and former Secretary-General, United Nations LOOK FOR A PROGRAM THAT OFFERS: • Opportunities to gain hands-on experience through internships and field experience. • On-campus organizations, events and initiatives that promote sustainability and environmental stewardship. • Opportunities to network with companies or government agencies. • Entrepreneurial opportunities in sustainability. • State-of-the-art labs and opportunities to conduct research as an undergraduate.

To learn about the Environmental and Sustainability Studies program at the University of Northern Colorado, visit us at UNCO.EDU/PROGRAMS/ENVIRONMENTAL-SUSTAINABILITY-STUDIES