What Can You Do With a Degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences?
There are many career paths and green jobs in earth and environmental sciences including aquatic scientist, climate scientist, conservation scientist, environmental scientist, geoscientist, sustainability scientist, and science education to name a few. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the occupation-dependent annual median wage for employment in earth and environmental sciences ranged from $61,310 to $92,270 with a projected growth in various sectors ranging from 3% to 8% between 2018 and 2028. Most career paths within the earth and environmental science fields require you to have a minimum degree of a bachelor's degree. Within the earth and environmental sciences programs at Brooklyn College, you develop skills and abilities that make you very marketable in a wide variety of jobs. Additionally, depending on your career goals, there are many opportunities for crossover and integration with many other non-science disciplines (i.e. anthropology, art, business and economics, communication, political science) which can broaden your marketability even further.
Brooklyn College alumni with a degree in earth and environmental sciences work in local/state/federal governmental agencies, consulting firms, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), education, hospitals, labs, and many more. A full listing NY job titles for Earth and Environmental Scientists can be found at the New York State Department of Labor Career Zone and the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
Top Employers for Brooklyn College Earth and Environmental Sciences Internships and Full-Time Jobs for Alumni (Based on LinkedIn)
- American Red Cross
- Athenica Environmental Services
- CivicPlus
- Gateway National Recreation Area
- LifeSci NYC
- Memory and Cognition Lab
- Mount Sinai Hospital
- National Parks Conservation Association
- New York City Department of Education
- New York City Department of Environmental Protection
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- New York Methodist Hospital
- North American Youth Parliament for Water
- Prospect Park Zoo
- SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- The Surfrider Foundation
- UnifyImpact
- Wildlife Conservation Society
There is a lot of information available on LinkedIn, including profiles of more than 1,000 Brooklyn College alumni who graduated with a degree in earth and environmental sciences. Join the Brooklyn College Alumni group and see where alumni are currently working, their skill sets, and their career progression. You can filter further based on employer, class year, etc.
Keep in mind, this list isn't inclusive of all the opportunities available to earth and environmental sciences students. Use the Magner Career Center resources to your advantage to find opportunities that align with your interests!
Selected Alumni Profiles
Alisen Downey ‘20
City Research Scientist
Bureau of Environmental Planning and Analysis, NYC-DEP
M.S. Earth and Environmental Sciences
Ewa Poncyliusz ‘19
Geologist III
AECOM (Civil Engineering Consulting Firm)
B.S. Earth and Environmental Sciences
Ratha Perinparaja '18
Business Analyst
New York City Housing Authority
M.S. Earth and Environmental Science
El-shawn Wheeler '17
Community Habilitation Trainer
SKIP of NY
M.A. Earth and Environmental Sciences
Career Guides and Articles
Here are some career guides and articles that share information on career options open to physics majors:
What Is the Average Salary for Those in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Field?
There are several different aspects of the earth and environmental sciences field that affect the average salary, such as education level, industry type, experience, and location. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary range is $61,310 to $92,270 in May 2018. The best approach to determining possible salaries is to research them on websites like Indeed.com and Salary.com.
On-Campus Resources
There are a number of resources on campus that will help you learn more about earth and environmental sciences career options. Attend events and keep current on the resources available to you.
Magner Career Center
The Magner Career Center has a wealth of information on everything you need to get started in your career, help with résumés, an internships database, job fairs, etc.
- They host frequent career events that may be of interest to you, which include: Careers in Science, Environmental, Sustainable and Socially Conscious Careers, Careers With Social Impact, etc.
- You can get matched with alumni who majored in earth and environmental sciences at Brooklyn College to learn about their experiences, get career advice, and develop a professional relationship.
- Miriam Loyd is the liaison to the School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences and someone you can meet with for career guidance. For more information or to set up appointments, visit the center's website, call 718.951.5696, or visit 1303 James Hall.
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences Resources
- The department website has a section for students that includes information about upcoming events.
- Zhongqi (Joshua) Cheng, the department chair, is a contact when applying for graduate school.
Student Clubs
- Brooklyn College Sustainability Club
- Save the Earth from A to Z
- Geology Society
- New York Public Interest Research Group
- Compost Contributors
- Brooklyn College Garden
To find all clubs and the latest events, search for the names of clubs and sign in to RSVP for the events you would like to attend.
Off-Campus Resources
Environmental Science
The Environmental Science website provides detailed information on licensure requirements for those interested in going into the earth and environmental sciences field. It is important to note that licensure requirements often vary by state, so if you are interested in living in another state you will want to see their licensing requirements.
Vault Guides
Review the Vault Guides to learn about careers. For example, you may want to review include Vault Guide to Non-Profit Jobs, Vault Career Guide to Curating, Vault Guide to Education or Vault Guide to Government Jobs to name a few.
Occupational Network (O*NET)
Occupational Network (O*NET) offers occupational statistics such as salaries and growth potential for all occupations. Additionally, you can search occupations by name or by your own interests, skills, abilities, etc.
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Occupational Outlook Handbook gives you information on the training and education needed for the job, earning potential, expected job prospects, what you would be doing on the job and what the working conditions are like.
Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences
The Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences is a membership opportunity that provides a search engine for careers in the field, internships, etc.
Organizations
Nature Index offer the Top 200 institutions in Earth & Environmental Sciences. Students interested in pursuing a career in earth and environmental sciences would be well served in joining at least one of the many existing organizations.
Meet Up
CUNY Meetups host various events throughout the semester open to all CUNY students and alumni.
