if i do my research in environmental source water protection and planning, does that mean i will only get a job in that area, or can i get a job in a related area. I am interested in site remediation and soil and groundwater contamination, this only thing is that my school has a limited choice of research areas (smaller school) and I don’t want to move due to my family being here. i think I can take a few classes from another university a few hours away, but i don’t want to move there full time for two years, thus i think it would be better to complete my masters/research here. easier to commute.
Why don’t you want to move? Is it for their sake, ie, is there a family member you help take care of that couldn’t get by without you? Unless that’s the case, it’s silly to shortchange yourself by placing an arbitrary restriction on your options. A graduate degree won’t necessarily lock you in to a specific area, but the point of graduate school is specialization, and it may narrow the scope of your job options afterward. This is your graduate education and career we’re talking about; if the best option requires moving, don’t be afraid to do it.
Are you talking about a Ph.D. or M.S.? It makes a significant difference. The basic answer is that your area of research is not restrictive because a job in industry is not generally research-based and what employers are looking for is the general skill set you have and your ability to take a project to its conclusion.
That being said, staying at the same university for a graduate degree is not necessarily the best thing.