Why Be A Geologist, Earth or Environmental Scientist

What Can I Do with a Degree in Geology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, or Environmental Studies?

The answer is–almost anything! A degree in Geology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, or Environmental Studies will prepare you for a wide variety of careers. Your choices include (but are not limited to) the environmental consulting industry, pollution remediation, environmental law or public policy, a career in research (either with an academic institution, government agency or private firm), a career in education (college/university or K-12), work in the US Foreign Service, US Air Force, NASA, National Park Service or Peace Corps, outdoor education, resource management or exploration, computer systems and remote sensing, or even medical school! Some of these options are best pursued by continuing your education in a graduate degree program.

Many occupations today require a college educated individual who can write and speak well, solve problems, learn new information quickly and work well with others on a team. This means that college graduates use their education in a wide variety of fields, and your future career may relate more to your personal career interests, work values and transferable skills than any specific academic major. However, the following list contains a representative sample of current job titles of former Geology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, or Environmental Studies majors. Use this as an idea list, and remember that it represents some, but certainly not all, of the careers you might consider.

Students obtaining employment immediately upon graduation are usually those with the best college records and a willingness to relocate to find a job. Some of these jobs also require education beyond a bachelor’s degree.

What is the difference between Geology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, or Environmental Studies Degree?

In our department, Earth and Environmental Sciences, or Environmental Studies focuses on environmental sciences. If you are interested in things like streams, soils, the atmosphere, the oceans, then you are interested in an Earth and Environmental Sciences, or Environmental Studies degree.

In our department, Geology focuses on the solid earth. If you are interested in things like rocks, rock formations, mountain building, plate tectonics, faults and earthquakes, then you are interested in Geology.