The 21st century is being called the 'century of the environment', and rightly so. Never before have environmental problems captured so much public attention, and never have environmental problems of the current magnitude confronted us. Local-scale problems with toxic wastes, polluted water bodies and urban air quality continue, but increasingly we face environmental problems that transcend local boundaries and are actually global in scope. Depletion of stratospheric ozone, changes in global climate, water demands that exceed supplies, habitat destruction, and the spread of exotic species are just a few examples of these truly global problems.
Finding
solutions to these problems requires that the best minds be trained to
examine and understand complex environmental issues, to predict changes
and participate in responsible management of the environment. Opportunities
for such training at both graduate and undergraduate levels are available
at an increasing number of colleges and universities in the United States.
Listings of institutions offering training in environmental sciences or
environmental policy are available from a variety of sources, including
the World Wide Web. For example, the National Institute for the Environment
sponsors a detailed database on over 80 graduate and undergraduate interdisciplinary
environmental programs in the US http://www.cnie.org
and Brown University maintains a similar database
http://www.brown.edu/Department/Environmental_Studies/espgm.html.
As environmental problems receive more attention and become more serious, career opportunities continue to increase in environmentally-related fields. Government agencies, private companies, consulting firms, non-profit organizations and universities hire qualified graduates to work in research, policy-setting and educational capacities. In addition, there is a great demand for persons trained to teach science and environmental science at the elementary and secondary school levels. Undergraduates with environmental science degrees often go on to pursue subsequent degrees in related fields, as well as in law or business.
The United
States is an excellent place to study Environmental Sciences and Policy.
Research in these areas is well funded by State, Federal and private sources,
and opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to be involved
in research abound.
Many universities have excellent research facilities, ranging from state-of-the-art
laboratories and controlled environment chambers capable of simulating
various climate and pollutant regimes, to field sites, including large
forests, prairies, coastal wetlands and other ecosystems. In addition,
many universities have cooperative relationships with various Federal
agencies, such as the US Forest Service or the US Environmental Protection
Agency, and these relationships provide students with opportunities for
research or internships.
The geographic diversity of the United States allows one to study environmental issues related to urban, forested, agricultural, coastal, desert, semi-tropical or tundra environments. Academic programs in Environmental Sciences and Policy in the US are generally interdisciplinary, as individuals pursuing careers in these areas must be broadly trained in natural and social sciences. In addition to demanding breadth of training, many programs also require that students acquire depth of knowledge in one area within the field. This area of emphasis is typically the area in which graduates will pursue careers or more advanced training.
Environmental Sciences programs may require that students complete a common core of courses, as well as selecting a rigorous area of specialization; in many universities, undergraduates completing the basic curriculum leading to the BS degree require coursework in areas such as Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Computer Science, Geoscience, Ecology, Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences. Courses in conversion and management of resources, environmental ethics and policy, and other related areas can also be required. Specializations cover many academic areas relevant to environmental sciences and policy, including forest ecology, environmental chemistry, environmental engineering, atmospheric processes, environmental policy, and many others. Undergraduates can also complete internships with government, private or educational entities as part of their degree program. 'On the job' internships can be instrumental in helping students to find jobs after graduation. Graduate students can also choose among several areas of concentration, which may include ecology, biogeochemistry, social science and quantitative analysis. In addition, graduate students and faculty can collaborate with their counterparts in graduate programs at nearby institutions, allowing students to take courses from several universities, and the universities involved to share resources.
In short, opportunities for study and research in environmental sciences abound in the United States, and we hope that you will investigate further!
Authors
Dr. Patricia S. Muir, Director
Undergraduate Environmental Sciences Program
Oregon State University
