Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What kinds of jobs do Environmental Science graduates get?
A: About 40% public sector, 40% private sector. The remaining 10-20% go on to graduate school after earning thier bachelor's. County, state, and federal agency jobs tend to be managerial to technical. Private sector jobs are often consulting companies, but can also include public interest groups. Meet some alumni.
Q: What is the salary range for people with Environmental Science bachelor's degrees?
A: According to the National Association of Colleges & Employers, starting salary offers for students graduating with a B.S. in Environmental Science averaged $39,160 in 2008. The national median of salaries for all environmental scientists was reported as $59,750. Demand and salary amounts are generally highest for those with certain marketable skills such as GIS or strong quantitative skills.
Q: Will the classes have a lot of people in them?
A: EnSci courses generally have between 10-30 students in a class. Some of the foundation courses have large lectures, but break down into small (15-20) groups for labs and homework.
Q: Will I have a faculty adviser?
A: Yes. During your freshman and sophomore years, you will have a professional staff adviser to assist you in completing courses that satisfy the general education and foundation course requirements. In your junior year, you will be assigned to a faculty adviser who will assist you in choosing environmental science courses that prepare you to achieve your career goals.
Q: Does EnSci have a learning community?
A: Yes! We register freshman students together in the same sections of classes. We then have a series of community building and academic support activities to help all new students get a successful start. The Environmental Science club also fosters interaction between students across years in school. More about the learning community.
Q: What's up with the two colleges, are there two different Environmental Science degrees ?
A: Since Environmental Science is an interdepartmental major, there are contributing departments from both the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences and the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. This provides our students with their choice of colleges. The requirements for the EnSci degree are the same, but there are some 'general education' requirement differences. You can switch at anytime and your adviser can help pick the one that is right for you.