How to Become an Ecologist

Ecologists are biological scientists who study the close ties between all living creatures and the environment. The government and private industry employ these experts to report on environmental issues such as pollution, endangered species and careless development. This career requires a scientific degree - at least a master's - and considerable field experience for most positions.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Rain Slickers
• Sun Visors
• Sunglasses
• Waterproof Hiking Boots
• Sunscreen
• Career Counseling
• Field Notebooks
• Math Software
• Online Career Search
• Scientific Software
• Spreadsheet Softwares

1. Take chemistry, biology and mathematics courses in high school as a foundation for your college major. Include Advanced Placement courses, if possible.

2. Speak with your guidance counselor about which major would best complement your ecological interests and academic abilities.

3. Send for catalogs of colleges known for ecology majors such as chemistry, environmental science, biology, geology or climatology. Visit Petersons.com and the Princeton Review College Search Web site (review.com) for further information.

4. Take classes that emphasize various types of career writing. Your career will involve professional-quality report writing, impact studies and, possibly, grant requests.

5. Become proficient with the scientific and mathematical software used by ecologists.

6. Plan to take internships that will give you a variety of the much-needed field experience.

7. Decide if you would like your master's degree to be in ecology or a specific science. Talk to your advisor about this early in your senior year so that you can research schools that offer advanced degrees in your desired specialty. Click on the Graduate School Programs Web site, under gradschools.com.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask yourself if you enjoy thinking analytically - a must in this field.
• When you are indoors, much of your time will be spent compiling scientific and mathematical computer data. You will need to be comfortable working with statistical information.
• Realize that in this career you will do some work outdoors in all types of weather and, perhaps, in different countries.