A strong feature of the ENVS bachelor's program is the flexibility it offers students for career paths after graduation.

Students desiring to work immediately after graduation generally find employment as:

• Environmental advisors for state or federal government agencies, or for local public or private businesses
• Environmental consultants
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) specialists
• K-12 educators
• Research assistants at a university, institute, or other scientific agencies
• Educators at museums or other outreach settings
• Wildlife managers
• Consumer safety inspectors
• Natural resource specialists
• Outdoor trip leaders
• and many more

Students planning to further their education are prepared to enter:

• Graduate programs in environmental sciences, biology, geology, conservation, geographic information systems, microbiology, chemistry, etc.
• Medical, dental, or other professional schools, becoming an environmental-savvy professional who understands the influence of environmental conditions on human health, and can use this knowledge to enhance their service to humanity wherever they practice (a full sequence of organic chemistry is required for this option).

Salary outlook

Compensation varies depending on years of experience, specialization, and employment type.

In 2006, the beginning average salary for environmental scientists with a bachelor's degree was $38,336/year; the middle half of all environmental scientists earned between $42,840 and $74,480; the lowest 10 percent earned less than $34,590, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $94,670.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Environmental Scientists and Hydrologists , on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos050.htm (visited April 02, 2008).

What do environmental scientists do?

• Analyze and report measurements or observations of air, food, water, soil, and other resources and make recommendations on how best to clean and preserve the environment
• Study the relationships between organisms and their environments and the effects of influences such as population size, pollutants, rainfall, temperature, and altitude
• Work with philanthropic organizations such as ADRA (Adventist Development & Relief Agency International), enabling communities to manage water systems, mitigate conflict, and improve hygiene and sanitation in their immediate environments
• Advise and help businesses and government agencies comply with environmental policy, particularly with regard to ground-water decontamination and flood control
• Identify how human behavior can be modified in the future to avoid such problems as ground-water contamination, depletion of the ozone layer, and non-sustainable overuse of natural resources
• Examine the interaction of various forms of energy, such as light, radar, sound, heat, and wind, and investigate relationships among the sea, weather, and climate

If you want to know more information about a career in environmental sciences (including the above), you can visit the following websites:

U.S. Department of Labor
www.bls.gov/oco/ocos050.htm

Environmental Jobs and Careers
www.ecoemploy.com, www.ejobs.org, www.environmentalcareer.com, www.ecojobs.com