How to Become an Environmentalist

By eHow Careers & Work Editor

Rate: (34 Ratings)

Environmentalists work in a variety of careers related to the protection of natural resources. Their jobs might be in the fields of pollution control, waste management, engineering, education, law, conservation, or fishery and wildlife management.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

  • Career Counseling
  • Online Career Search

Step1
Take biology, science and mathematics classes in high school to prepare for your college work.
Step2
Request informational interviews with firms doing environmental work that interests you. Find out which positions they expect to fill in the near future and the types of degrees that are required.
Step3
Realize that colleges offer a wide variety of interdisciplinary majors with an environmental focus, in addition to environmental studies degrees. Petersons.com and the Princeton Review College Search Web site (review.com) contain further information about environmental programs and degrees in the United States.
Step4
Send for college catalogs and applications well in advance of your SATs. Call or write the individual environmental studies departments if you have any questions.
Step5
Apply only to colleges that offer a variety of environmental majors. You might want to adjust your career direction before you graduate.
Step6
Consider a minor in writing since a lot of environmental work involves written communication.
Step7
Make certain you work at several internships in different environmental areas. You'll get to see what each company's daily work entails, and you may make connections for future jobs.
Step8
Ask your adviser about the necessity of a master's degree in your particular major.

Tips & Warnings

  • Employers often require continuing environmental education classes.
  • Some environmental work can require long hours for little pay.

Comments

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Albruce said

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on 3/21/2007 Hello my name is Albruce Touaev. I am 13 years old and live in eht nj 08234. i want to become an environmentalist because the planet Earth interests me. I want to do everything in my power and beyond to help our planet survive. I want to live in a good future with a healthy planet and my kids to come and there kids. Who knows what mother nature is going to throw at us next but we must be ready for that but in order to stop that from happening we need to use more efficent resources. STOP SELLING OIL!!! That is a major concern politics are so stupid and the government knows what they are doing. They are keeping secrets and need to stop the oil selling. We need to change how our lives are going to be and our country produces the most I mean the MOST CO2 in the world and that should be emberresing. I may be a 13 year old but I will be heard! We need to follow what our scientist are telling us and also what Al Gore has to say. We need to elect people that will help solve this problems. Not people who only care about war and selling oil. I hope you read this carefully and understandably. , Albruce Touaev.

Albruce said

Flag This Comment

on 3/21/2007 Hello my name is Albruce Touaev. I am 13 years old and live in eht nj 08234. i want to become an environmentalist because the planet Earth interests me. I want to do everything in my power and beyond to help our planet survive. I want to live in a good future with a healthy planet and my kids to come and there kids. Who knows what mother nature is going to throw at us next but we must be ready for that but in order to stop that from happening we need to use more efficent resources. STOP SELLING OIL!!! That is a major concern politics are so stupid and the government knows what they are doing. They are keeping secrets and need to stop the oil selling. We need to change how our lives are going to be and our country produces the most I mean the MOST CO2 in the world and that should be emberresing. I may be a 13 year old but I will be heard! We need to follow what our scientist are telling us and also what Al Gore has to say. We need to elect people that will help solve this problems. Not people who only care about war and selling oil. I hope you read this carefully and understandably. , Albruce Touaev.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Definitely get a minor, or maybe even another major in addition to an environmental degree. Take enough chemistry courses (up to organic) that can at least get you a lab job just in case. Take some surveying, GIS-type classes, too - employers want that.

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