How to Choose an Environmental Degree

With the current trendiness of environmental degrees, a plethora of degree programs and titles have been created. Choosing between these titles can be daunting, but is an important decision in strengthening your degree's marketability after graduation.

Instructions

1. If you know what job you would like to land with your degree, talk to people with that job. Some jobs, such as park rangers, will hire applicants with anything from a history to a biochemistry degree. Other professions solely require a certain accreditation, which sometimes may only be a two-year degree. If you know your desired profession, personal interviews and research into required accreditation is a must.

2. If, like many college applicants, you don't know what profession you would like to enter, pick the most technical of the available degrees. It is much easier to begin environmental interpretation from a science- heavy degree than secure an environmental engineering position without a heavy science and math background. Beside keeping your options open, science classes will provide a basis for understanding environmental issues required in many occupations.

3. Choose a degree with a concentration or specialization. In a vast field like the environmental services field, it is important to choose a degree with some specialty to increase your marketability after graduation. This may be as broad as an aquatic concentration (meaning you take the majority of classes in water resources) or as specific as northeastern forest entomology for a forestry major.

4. To secure a science-related job, choose the more impressive title. If you are hoping to secure a science-based position after graduation, a bachelor of science will be more helpful than a bachelor of arts. Similarly, "Environmental Science & Biology" will be more helpful than "Environmental Studies."

5. In competitive fields, choose a degree that will provide you with real-life experience. Internships toward degrees, as well as research opportunities, can often serve as springboards into careers. Besides being resume-builders, networking opportunities can be vast.

6. When two degrees appear very similar, choose the degree offered by the university better known for environmental studies. Just as some schools are renowned for law or medical programs, some schools are better known for environmental programs.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember, obtaining any environmental degree is the first step in securing a decent-paying position in this field. You can always change your concentration in graduate school.