<p>If I want to pursue a career in environmental journalism, what would be the best college major and minor to study? Considering I'm against animal experimentation and dissection, and can't bring myself to participate in any of that? Being an Indian national, if I'd like to work in the United States or in other places outside India, would it be best for me to get my undergraduate degree outside India as well?</p>
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What does dissecting animals (or not wanting to) have anything to do with environmental journalism?
There are hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of people of Indian origin, working all over the world (incl USA) with just undergraduate degrees from India.</p>
<p>brutallyhonest, that point is completely relevant because the science aspect of the field may require some form of practical animal study. Whether I’ll have to partake in any of that depends on what program I take up in college, which is the first thing I need to decide. Science and environmental writing? Environmental science and policy? Biology? Environmental journalism? There are so many options, many that I haven’t even listed; hence the confusion!
And about the Indian undergraduate degree… According to what I’ve heard, it’s not very well-respected globally, so I’m wondering if it would be better for my future if I pursued my bachelor’s education abroad. Isn’t the U.S. higher education system generally considered the best? I mean, Indians are flocking over there for college; it’s not like many Americans are coming over here.</p>
<p>Your major may depend on your deficits. Do you write clearly and succinctly. Then perhaps you’ll want to study environmental policy, science or law. Do you have a strong background in those topics, then perhaps you’ll want to go to a strong journalism school to polish up your ability to communicate complex environmental issues to the public.
Consider Michigan State Univesity’s Knight Center for Environmental Journalism. I teach there. And we offer the opportunity to write, broadcast and learn about the environment. We have graduate and undergraduate programs.
And the university has a large and supportive Indian population.</p>
<p>David Poulson
associate director
Knight Center for Environmental Journalism
Michigan State University</p>