<p>I'm currently a college sophomore and considering majors right now. I currently go to college near home and commute. </p>
<p>I have been accepted as a transfer to University at Buffalo. If I go, I want to major in environmental geosciences. I'd have to dorm, however, and it seems really expensive and I'm going to be taking in loans and I want to try avoid taking student loans. I also want to apply for grad school because I want to get my masters in environmental geosciences to become a professional geoscientist. </p>
<p>My current school doesn't offer environmental geosciences but they offer geography as a major. I've been considering this major so I have an option to stay at home and major in geography. I was wondering what I could do with a bachelor's in geography that could involve the particular field of environmental science. Also, could the degree lead a career that's not TOO technical but focused on performing field work? </p>
<p>I would really love a career where I get to focus on the environmental science field.</p>
<p>But I'm more interested in the environmental geosciences major more, but I'm not too sure because it's more expensive. :/</p>
<p>Does the Geography program at the college near your home give you the opportunity to go in the Physical/Science direction (as opposed to the Social/Arts direction)? That would be a better route to Environmental work in general.</p>
<p>A Geography degree can allow you to develop excellent GIS-type skills, which are often very useful in Environmental work. I work with a few Geography majors in my public sector Env. Scientist job. And they perform a mix of field and office work.</p>
<p>I took a quick look at the Environmental Geosciences degree curriculum. It looks like you have some flexibility as to which direction (Geology, Ecology, Hydrology) you would like pursue. Is there a particular area/line of work that interests you? </p>
<p>I’m not exactly sure what you mean when you say not “TOO” technical but involves field work, though you could probably find work somewhere with my present interpretation of that. But field work that isn’t too technical often becomes routine and boring, at least IMO.</p>
<p>Do you mean like minoring in a physical science? They have geology as a minor, not sure if that could lead to careers the environmental field? </p>
<p>I haven’t really thought about a specific area I’m interested in, I was hoping to maybe discovering a specific interest when taking my classes. What are certain subfields of environmental geosciences?</p>
<p>Regarding a minor and careers in Environmental Science, my experience is that that the more “hard” science coursework the better - but each position and individual is different.</p>
<p>I’m not an expert here (just basically familiar) but subfields in Geosciences can be related to Petroleum, Hydrology, Remediation, etc. You may want to search and look into these and other fields to at least gauge a level of interest in each.</p>
<p>Here’s something else to try (if you haven’t already done it): take a look a positions that interest you, then see what education is required.</p>
<p>It sounds like you are set on getting a MS degree, which will open more doors in your future line of work. The cheaper option may be to live at home and finish the Geography degree with a solid academic record while taking the coursework that will best prepare you for your future grad program. A lot of graduate science programs will provide some level of funding to good students.</p>
<p>I checked out this list of positions: ([Careers</a> in the Geosciences - Online Brochure](<a href=“http://www.agiweb.org/workforce/brochure.html]Careers”>Geoscience Careers Brochure | American Geosciences Institute)) and hydrologist and environmental geologists interest me. But these positions say they require master’s degree in geology or earth science. If I stayed at my college near home, I would only be able to minor in geology. Would this be enough for geology grad programs?</p>
<p>It depends on the program. Grad school admission is usually based on coursework completed rather than major. You may want to contact grad programs that interest you and see what they say.</p>