I am very passionate about environmental issues, and I’m very sure that this is what I want to focus on in college. I love reading and writing and politics, so I’m leaning towards environmental STUDIES as a major (such as environmental policy). However, I have also taken APES and got a 5, and I enjoyed that class. I also like science (but am not in love with it as I am with social sciences.). My dad is a scientist and he is trying to get me to major in environmental science as opposed to environmental studies. I am not fully opposed to this idea, I’m just torn; I want to be an environmental lawyer eventually, and I want to make sure that I continue writing and reading and policy education throughout college to aid me in law school later on, which I feel like environmental studies would better prepare me for. However, what if I change my mind and decide I want to actually work as a scientist working on environmental issues? Then, environmental science would be the better major. Further, the college that is my number one choice has a full tuition scholarship that I can apply for, but they only have it for science.
What is your opinion on the major I should choose?
I’m in a similiar boat, as I want to study environmental issues as well. When I was researching this earlier, I came to the conclusion that, for me, since I want more of a background in the more science areas, taking an encironmental science major at a school that also had the opportunity to take courses involving policy would be best. For you, though, I’d say that taking an environmental science major and then going into law school feels like a more solid choice, especially if you’re not sure about which direction you’ll go in. Are you a senior rn? If so, I’d say go into the major you feel would fit and take those courses, an dswitxh if it doesn’t work. Are there any schools you know of that have a joint environments science and studies major? Or the ability to double major in polisci/environmental science or that kind of thing?
Based on your stated interests and goals, you might be well suited for an environmental studies major with a natural sciences focus. That is, in addition to the courses specifically required for the major, you could choose electives in disciplines such as geosciences, biology, chemistry and physics. Courses in data analysis (such as that involving geographic information systems) and statistics would also align with this focus.
This topic hits home for me. I’m a hiring manager for environmental career fields in the US Govt and I can tell you that’s there a BIG difference between enviro science and studies in the Govt. An enviro science degree would likely qualify you to be placed in a physical science career field. Thus, you’d be considered a “scientist”, which comes with certain career advantages over non-scientist career fields. A degree in enviro studies would not likely qualify you to be in a scientist career field and you’d most likely end up in an administrative type career field. Not only would you face more competition getting a job in the first place, but your career path and promotion opportunities would likely be more limited.
Granted, this is only my perspective working for the USG, but if are uncertain what the future holds, it may be something to consider.
@ekdad212 thank you for your insight! When you speak of an administrative type of career field in relation to an Environmental Studies degree, what kinds of jobs might these be? Also, do you think that one could double major in Environmental Studies AND Environmental Science (say, if I want to gain the credit as a scientist but would also like to receive training for, and be exposed to, environmental issues that are discussed more in-depth in Environmental Studies courses)? Would such a double major be possible even if the environmental studies and environmental science degrees are usually the two options of a college’s environmental studies department?
You could choose a scientific track within environmental studies, @bonjour1. However, this would certainly not preclude you from choosing a minor or additional major in an interrelated science field such as chemistry. In this latter scenario, you would prepare yourself to become a scientist. (E.g., see https://www.hamilton.edu/academics/departments/Home?dept=Environmental%20Studies. Note that this site shows careers entered by some environmental studies graduates. This might give you an idea of where the major could lead.)
Double majoring in Environmental Science and Environmental Studies sounds like a good plan - or Environmental Science as a major and Studies as a minor. Geography
(including GIS) and Environmental studies would be another combination. Finally, some colleges offer Environmental Science but not Studies, however you can find other ways to build a cluster with courses of interest. (Check out URochester for instance).
I’m thinking Science Conversation at St Olaf would be of interest, too.
Eckerd College has majors in Geosciences and Environmental Studies and minors in those as well as a minor in Coastal Management. They also have an articulation agreement with Stetson School of Law with a $15,000 yr. scholarship at the law school.