Environmental Science Program

Career Planning

Career Planning

student with sapling sample

Why study Environmental Science?

Environmental Science graduates with a B.S. will leave with a solid foundation in biological and physical natural sciences and the specialized training necessary for integrated analysis of environmental systems. These graduates seeking direct employment will find their talents needed in environmental and conservation industries, as well as in academia, national laboratories, and clinics.  While some students find employment directly after their baccalaureate training, many will continue their education in one of the many excellent graduate programs in environmental science that now exist.

Depending on your college, the CALS Career Services and LAS Career Services assist you with resumes, cover letters, and references; offer tools to provide feedback on formatting and content; and lead mock interviews to prepare you for upcoming interviews.

Meet our Alumni

Career Outlook and Outcomes

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment for environmental scientists is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations. The majority of Environmental Scientists are employed in governmental positions, but the job market in the private sector, more specifically consulting firms, is expected to see the most growth because of public policy demand for new rules and regulations.

Internship & Apprenticeship Credit

Any work experience related to Environmental Science can be used for credit within ISU's Environmental Science program. View the Internship Guidelines and talk to your advisor about EnSci 3900 credit.

Recommended Internship Programs

The following internship programs are well-suited for our students. You can talk to your adviser about these and any additional internship opportunities they may know about.

National Council for Science and the Environment

Iowa DNR Pollution Prevention Intern Program

Additional Environmental-Related Internship Resources

There are several agencies and non-profit organizations that help students find environmental related internships.

Environmental Job Listings

Environmental Science Student Services can help connect you with related projects happening at ISU. To help us advertise you to the respective research projects, please fill out the Environmental Science Employment Application and return it to Allison Manz in 103 Bessey Hall.

Then, a good starting point in your career search is CyHire and the Career Services Office in your college.

Other resources for job listings: