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Viable Careers in Environmental Sciences?
    #12740246 -

So I'm nearly 23 years old and haven't done a whole lot with my life so far. Graduated highschool (sort of, pretty sure i got all the credits needed for my diploma. never went to pick it up).

I've been working hard labour jobs for shit wages just getting by for the last 5 years and frankly I can't keep doing it much longer.

I'm very indecisive. Haven't had much of a (lasting) idea of what I want to do career wise, which is why I haven't been to college/uni at all. Recently I've decided that I'm happiest out in the woods/other "natural" areas untouched by urban sprawl.

thus, environmental science seems like it'd be a good fit to me. Especially if I were doing some type of restoration/conservation work, I think it'd give me the sense of purpose that I've desperately been lacking my whole life.

My question is, what are some viable (in terms of job availability, education requirements (i don't want to do more than 4 years of schooling), and income). I don't need to get rich, just have enough to live somewhat comfortably and travel a bit (don't plan on having kids, dunno if i can see myself ever getting married either, so this probably doesn't need to be more than 30-40k a year. I realize it's a very broad field, but I'm just collecting info to mull over. Any suggestions are welcome. I need to start figuring shit out.

I dunno where to go for career information like this. I was thinking of going to talk to the guidance counsellors at my old highschool, but I dunno how I'd be received. Especially considering I was far from a model student. They also weren't the greatest guidance counsellors IMO heh. Google isn't helping a whole lot right now. Could just be I'm too burnt to work it properly atm. Sorry :P

Not expecting much of a response on this somewhat obscure topic. But there's a wide variety of people on this site, maybe someone can give me some info/advice.

I've also considered becoming a forest ranger. But it's too close to being a cop for my taste. And I imagine drug tests are involved for that. Plus I hear there's a ton of competition for that sort of position.
thanks in advance shroomery :heart:

Edited by daiy (06/14/10 06:32 AM)

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Re: Viable Careers in Environmental Sciences? [Re: daiy]
    #12740304 -

You should not have to see your old highschool counsellor for that. Check out university websites because they have online and printed handbooks which list all of their courses and it will also explain how long the degree is and what you can expect to do with such a degree.

Universities should also have someone you can see about finding courses and they also have open days which will give you a chance to be shown around etc.

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Re: Viable Careers in Environmental Sciences? [Re: migraineur]
    #12740785 -

Be a surveyor.


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Ratings are bullshit, opt out...
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Re: Viable Careers in Environmental Sciences? [Re: stedenko]
    #12740810 -

environmental engineering... basically civil engineering cirriculum with some o chem on top. or you could be a park ranger. i'm not interested in too much else.


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People never seem to know what they least suspect is coming next.

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Re: Viable Careers in Environmental Sciences? [Re: dummy]
    #12741471 -

My father is a Marine Biologist - he was working in the field most of his life, but got his Bachelors of Science just before he turned 40.

He's done a wide variety of things; manning fish fences, counting fish stocks, blowing up beaver damns, rangering, electro fishing, counting wild game stocks from helicopters, monitoring construction crews to make sure they aren't polluting streams or causing erosion, etc....

He love's his job and is making something like $37+/hr these days working for the government, although he made good money working for alot of independent environmental consultation companies in the past.

OP - i am 24 and am feeling similar to you. I finally feel i am at a point where i am desperate and craving schooling and the stability and pride involved in having a meaningful career path...

I am moving to the city next month - going to see an advisor at a community college, start upgrading my highschool math and sciences. After which I am considering starting an Associates degree in sciences in community college and then transferring to a University for year 3 + 4...

I haven't done a ton of research into it yet, but will be looking more seriously into it over the coming months.

There were books at my library discussing the in's and outs of environmental work, so you might try looking there.


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GO OUTSIDE.

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Re: Viable Careers in Environmental Sciences? [Re: daiy]
    #12741535 -

I have a buddy of mine I used to work with got his degree in Environmental Sciences about 8 or so years ago. He's pretty damn successful nowadays. He worked for the EPA for something like 5 years as an on-site manager for chemical spill remediation. Now he is working for the government as a director for some program that is in charge of keeping the Chattahoochee River clean. I'm not sure how much he makes, but I'm guessing it to be somewhere around 80-90k a year.

Edit: His degree only took him 4 years to complete, but he did have to go to a year or so worth of law enforcement training before he started working for the EPA. Apparently people get pretty angry when you walk onto their property and tell them they're being fined hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Edited by Gumby (06/14/10 01:20 PM)

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Re: Viable Careers in Environmental Sciences? [Re: PDU]
    #12741558 -

PDU said:
My father is a Marine Biologist - he was working in the field most of his life, but got his Bachelors of Science just before he turned 40.

He's done a wide variety of things; manning fish fences, counting fish stocks, blowing up beaver damns, rangering, electro fishing, counting wild game stocks from helicopters, monitoring construction crews to make sure they aren't polluting streams or causing erosion, etc....

He love's his job and is making something like $37+/hr these days working for the government, although he made good money working for alot of independent environmental consultation companies in the past.



Whoa, what? You can do all that shit with a degree in marine bio? I had no clue. I'm planning on going for my MA or PhD in marine bio in the next 2 years. I never knew blowing up beaver dams was part of the job description. That is both bad ass and encouraging.

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Re: Viable Careers in Environmental Sciences? [Re: stedenko]
    #12741617 -

stedenko said:
Be a surveyor.


Excellent choice, it's a 3 year program in most schools to get your degree and the pay is great, especially over time.  Plus if you can keep organized and maybe take a year of some business courses you could learn to work for yourself which is a big bonus :thumbup:


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Re: Viable Careers in Environmental Sciences? [Re: Gumby]
    #12741628 -

he probably got lucky dude... times change. i think it used to be a lot easier to get a dream job with just a bs. it seems many people find their bio degrees close to useless these days and go to grad school.


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People never seem to know what they least suspect is coming next.

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Re: Viable Careers in Environmental Sciences? [Re: dummy]
    #12741733 -

Bio degrees aren't completely useless as long as you're cool with being a lab bitch and slowly working your way up. But you're definitely right, if you wanna make more than about 40-45k, you have to go to grad school for at least a masters... Which is why I'm regretting being a bio major.

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Re: Viable Careers in Environmental Sciences? [Re: dummy]
    #12741772 -

dummy said:
he probably got lucky dude... times change. i think it used to be a lot easier to get a dream job with just a bs. it seems many people find their bio degrees close to useless these days and go to grad school.


I dont know about that - as far as i know, here there is alot of field work for young folks right out of school with a BS. The government gives priorities to young women and natives though...

My dad is often bitching about the quality of people they hire on. :S


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GO OUTSIDE.

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Re: Viable Careers in Environmental Sciences? [Re: Gumby]
    #12741972 -

I'm an environmental studies major now. My concentration is in aquatics, so, I'll likely be working on surveying water quality of streams, lakes and other bodies of water. I'm not I doing it for a pay check, really, money isn't something that I find incredibly important to me at the moment, but, I've been told that you will make a fair amount. I'm also dual majoring with Ecology. I'm actually considering going to grad school, because I think it's important. I just want to learn and help the Earth.

I think once I get my degree I'm either venturing to Australia to work with their waters or to the gulf of mexico to help with their uh...well you know.


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