Environmental Science Major Questions

College Majors Science Majors
1

<p>Hello there! This is my first post on College Confidential, and I'd like to merely introduce myself, and pose a few questions. </p>

<p>I am currently exiting my junior year of high school, and have started my feverish search for a college (I now see that I should have started earlier!). I thought it was a logical place to start with an overall major, and search for colleges with great undergraduate programs in that particular field of study. I decided that Environmental Science would be a great combination of my love for science, as well as for my interest societal and/or humanitarian issues, and have started to single out colleges that seem to advocate sustainability, and have excellent facilities for future studies. </p>

<p>Yet, I have my concerns as to whether this is the "perfect" fit it seems to be on the surface. And thus, I have a few inquiries that I believe some of you could help me answer! </p>

<ol>
<li><p>What kind of course work, exactly, does an Environmental Science major take on? A combination of sciences, such as Physics, Chemistry, and Biology? Or is it even more general? </p></li>
<li><p>Is the major challenging, and rewarding? Or does the "combination of science/politics/humanism" leave each of the areas lesser, or weaker in terms of its academic intensity? </p></li>
<li><p>What kind of jobs are available to those who study mainly in Environmental science (i.e. with 4+ year degree)?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>For a little bit of background on me, I would say that I am an above average science student, with adequate math skills, and an intense passion for nature, and all living things. I love being outdoors (thus the interest in environmental science), and being active. I also enjoy subjects such as Biology, with an emphasis on Evolutionary science, and ecology. </p>

<p>Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you! </p>

<ul>
<li>Alex</li>
</ul>

2

<p>I think that Environmental Science would be a great fit for you.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>There is some Phys, Chem, and Bio initially. Then you move into more specific coursework, and that depends on the individual program - read the curriculum carefully.</p></li>
<li><p>Depends on the student - I think so, as far as challenge and reward. </p></li>
<li><p>Consulting, govt, activism off the top of my head.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Fire away if you have more questions and I will answer as time permits.</p>

3

<p>Thanks so much! I really appreciate the feedback.
I am currently looking at a few colleges, including Williams, Berkeley, Middlebury, UC Davis, and Swarthmore. Can anyone confirm if the colleges I listed have strong Environmental programs? </p>

<p>Are there any other colleges that have outstanding programs? I prefer colleges with a rural or suburban background, near the wilderness (so as to guarantee a real life, practical lab experience). </p>

<p>Please tell me if this question should belong somewhere else.</p>

4

<p>I do not mean to post twice, especially in the same day, but I had a few more questions, if anyone is open to answering them. </p>

<p>Are Environmental Studies programs vastly different than Environmental Science programs? Or are these majors similarly structured? </p>

<p>Are there any other majors which lead to jobs outdoors, dealing with plant/wildlife? Perhaps even majors which focus on researching the natural world?</p>

5

<p>You could try either environmental engineering if you’re into the math and physics part of environmental science, or ecology if you prefer the biology part. Be aware that the word “engineering” in your degree is worth an additional 15000 USD/year in salary. Also, a great deal of standard environmental science is just vocabulary crunching, while environmental engineering lets you learn the quantitative nature of environments.</p>

6

<p>My eldest graduated from Colgate in 2008 with an English degree and has since discovered a love for environmental science! She is taking coursework at SUNY ESF to prepare her to apply to grad programs in environmental science ([SUNY-ESF</a>, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry](<a href=“http://www.esf.edu/]SUNY-ESF”>http://www.esf.edu/)).</p>

<p>She is taking biology and chemistry. She is going up into the Adirondacks for the summer to do hands on research. Her primary interest is plants.</p>

<p>But I just wanted to say good luck! <em>hugs</em></p>

7

<p>She tells me that the Rutger’s program is one of the top programs in environmental science for her interest in plants (which you seem to share).</p>

<p>[Welcome</a> to the Department of Environmental Sciences](<a href=“http://envsci.rutgers.edu/site/index.shtml]Welcome”>http://envsci.rutgers.edu/site/index.shtml)</p>

<p>[Undergraduate</a> Program in Environmental Sciences](<a href=“http://envsci.rutgers.edu/programs/envsci_ug.shtml]Undergraduate”>http://envsci.rutgers.edu/programs/envsci_ug.shtml)</p>

8

<p>Environmental Science vs. Environmental Studies - really depends on the coursework required at the school. You need to read the curriculum carefully, since things can head in either a “science” direction or a “policy” direction.</p>

<p>Something else that you would probably like is Conservation Biology. Or some sort of Interdisciplinary Ecology program. I know virtually nothing about the five colleges that you mentioned - I’m a Community College/State Flagship guy.</p>

<p>Environmental Engineering is a different field which has a lot to do with process design. Math through Diff. Equations is required, as is two semesters of Calculus-based Physics, and then Engineering core courses (Statics, Fluids, Thermo., etc.)</p>

9

<p>Wow, I merely want to say thanks, to both of you, for all your generous help and advice! I will definitely check out Rutgers, and the other colleges you have mentioned! </p>

<p>I considered Environmental Engineering, my only concern is that it will be TOO math based. I just completed Algebra 2/Trigonometry (a one year course), in which I did exceptionally well (I had over 100 percent, due to extra credit, the entire year). I will be taking Honors Pre-Calculus next year, and going into college, will probably have a few Calculus-based skills mastered. </p>

<p>Yet, I have not taken any REAL Calculus, and I fear that if I enter into an engineering field, that colleges will, for one, be less likely to accept me with that major, and for another, I will feel inferior to those students far ahead of me in that department. Is this trepidation justified?</p>

<p>Conservation Biology sounds very interesting as well, and I will try to find more about that. I have concluded it really depends on the program/college, and that when applying, I will simply have to look closely at what I would be doing. </p>

<p>I don’t care much about money, but fifteen thousand dollars more per year is quite enticing, plus, although I may not be a math heavyweight, I am willing to learn, and definitely up for a challenge! I</p>

<p>t’s all still up in the air, but thank you again, for clarifying things up for me.</p>

10

<p>Sure, you are quite welcome for the advice. It (your choice of major) should come down to “What do I <em>really</em> want to do?” Don’t worry about feeling inferior, and if you typically do well in Math there’s no reason to think you won’t in college. My experience is that virtually every student who is admitted has the ability to make it through their program of choice - it comes down to simply doing the work needed to succeed.</p>

11

<p>I feel the same way. I know that, with enough drive, passion, and want, I can do pretty much anything (as corny as that sounds). </p>

<p>It’s a big decision, so I won’t be leaping into it. I suppose that I feel similar emotions to all high school seniors, in that, most have never experienced a life outside the school environment, and thus the only type of life that we truly have knowledge of is a life fielled with household chores, and tons of assigned homework. That is the difficulty of choosing a career path/major, at least for me - that unknown aspect of the future. </p>

<p>As of now, I am primarily choosing a major on what I like to be around, and where my favorite vacations were. I have always loved being in the woods, and have visited Hawaii (Maui, and the big island) three times in my life. All three times I had wonderful experiences with nature, I walked on a freshly cooled lava flow, I explored the rain forests, and I have snorkeled above a fantastic coral reef, with beautiful tropical fish all around (and a tiger shark!). </p>

<p>I am reluctant to go into engineering, however, because of a false stereotype I hold, which may or may not be correct. Growing up, all I ever saw engineers as were a group of men, working with machines, doing boring calculations, and being the opposite of what I would consider a romantic to be. I have interest in how our world uses its energy, and how to better channel that energy. I want to be a part of that process. Yet, I also do not want to lose any connection the “natural” part of the nature, if that makes any sense. I want to be immersed.</p>

12

<p>One of my friends who got a degree in environmental studies (BA) currently works in the Eastern Sierra tracking bighorn sheep. He’s held other jobs in conservation and ecology-related fields, working in all sorts of places in California and Montana. His job involved working outside, and he’s always lived in places great for hiking/rock climbing/swimming/etc. If you’re in to being outside, look in to that. Despite having a BA, I believe he had to take biology, physics, chemistry, math (up to calc II, I think) and policy classes in addition to environmental studies classes during his undergraduate career. If you’re above average in the sciences, something like that should be no biggie at all.</p>

13

<p>Very interesting! Yeah, I really think it would be a dream job, to be involved like that. Thank you for the input. </p>

<p>I have heard that Environmental Scientists/Engineers will be one of the “in-demand jobs” in 2018, and on, as global environmental concerns grow. Can anyone confirm this? I have also heard that, on average, these scientists make around 60 thousand a year, or more, is that true? </p>

<p>Also, I haven’t been involved heavily in any sort of environmental program thus far in my high school career, and, at the moment, would enter the field “green” (Haha), or entirely new to the subject. I am concerned that if I didn’t know a ton about the environment, and if I wasn’t entirely up to date on the subjects, I would sort of lost or out of place. Would tuning into Environmental magazines, articles, and websites help to ensure that I know what I am getting into?</p>

14

<p>I entered college as an environmental studies major. I didn’t really have any exposure to environmental studies either. Well, except for global warming, that was something I read a lot on. But as far as other things, such as ecology, I was a blank sheet. It worked out fine.</p>

<p>don’t feel too stressed if you don’t feel prepared, that’s what intro classes are for. The intro class I took was my first exposure to topics in environmental studies (other than climate change), and I still remember a lot from that class. And you won’t feel out of place. There will be a lot of other kids in a similar situation, and everyone in an env. studies/science program can connect via their love for nature (that’s what basically went down for me) :)</p>

<p>edit: I do encourage you to read on the subject in your spare time though! I read Scientific American in HS and that informed me a lot. of course, I did a lot of that for an extracurricular (academic decathlon), so it wasn’t quite ‘free time’… haha.</p>

15

<p>Great suggestions, and that comforts me a lot. I plan on subscribing to a few magazines, and perhaps receiving a few free magazine previews as well to get a feel for things. </p>

<p>Did you end up sticking with that major, or changing? If you stayed, how intense is the study? And if you switched, why is that so?</p>

16

<p>See if you can find online textbooks (or library materials - a lot of info. is relatively free) in the fields you are interested in, then skim through them and see what you think of the material covered.</p>

<p>Are there any environmental volunteer groups in your area?</p>

<p>Does your school compete in Envirothon?</p>

17

<p>Unfortunately, my school does not compete in Envriothon, at least, to my knowledge. There isn’t even an environmental club at my school, and I didn’t think to start one - until it was too late. I am sure, however, that there are volunteer groups in which I could become involved with around my city. Great suggestions!</p>

18

<p>I’m interested in environmental science/studies, too! Re. the difference between environmental science and environmental studies, I really don’t there is much of one. In both majors you will be exposed to a combination of science relating to the environment and social studies relating to the environment. The college at which I’m enrolling refers to the department as “environmental science and public policy.” The fact that colleges and universities only have environmental science or environmental studies departments but never both implies that they are more or less interchangeable. </p>

<p>I took environmental science in high school, and it was an extremely thought-provoking, informative, and enjoyable course. Biology, chemistry, and physics are usually considered the meat-and-potatoes of high school science courses, but I found environmental science equally if not more pertinent. I learned so much about the complexities of all kinds of often misunderstood environmental issues. Basically, I could not recommend this field enough! Happy exploring to both of us :)</p>

19

<p>shiny20:</p>

<p>I ended up switching to earth science. At my school, the environmental studies/science degree and the earth science degree are incredibly similar. The difference was that for a environmental studies/science degree, even a B.S., required quite a few classes in policy, IR, etc. Our earth science track doesn’t require any of that and has a lot more research-based classes. I switched because I’m really in to research and looking at climate change from a geological perspective. Thematically, the degrees at my school are very similar, but the approaches are different.</p>

<p>The E.S. program was a bit intense when I was in it. The degree had more required classes than any other degree of the non-engineering majors (except for biophysics). While the degree had required a lot of stuff, the classes themselves weren’t killer. (Sometime after I joined, however, they changed the curriculum to make it a little more appealing to people who were intimidated by a year of physics, biology, chemistry, +other science classes.)</p>

20

<p>Eliana: Thanks for the feedback! I wish you the best of luck on your search as well, and appreciate your information greatly. I never was able to take an environmental science course, but your opinion seems very valid, and informative. </p>

<p>khm11: Very interesting! I see why you took the science track, and I think I would be more or less the same. I have several interests, but I believe, if I took the Environmental science route, I would enjoy focusing on the biological side of things, and perhaps not the geological (although that can be quite interesting as well!). This biological interest stems from my love of animals, and general curiosity to natural processes. Immunology was also a consideration when I started looking for a major, but of course, that is a very different field. It is a pleasure to hear that the difficulty of the courses is usually rigorous, because I do wish to learn concrete, applicable skills, and to expand my overall intellect in a field. I am unsure as to whether you can answer me this: Is there a better type of school for science based majors? I am currently looking at several liberal arts colleges, but I am concerned that their programs may be insufficient in my eyes. However, I have also heard, that research at a liberal arts college can be greater than a university, at the undergraduate level, due to the lack of competition from graduate students. Is that true?</p>