How do I Choose an Environmental Science School?

An environmental science school provides training at both the university and college level. This type of training is required to become an environmental disaster recovery technician, environmental scientist, technologist, writer, and much more. The length of program at the school depends on the level and the program selected. For example, a master’s degree in environmental science will take at least seven years, while a diploma program from a community college will take two years. In addition to the length and level of program, there are four other items to consider: student services, inter-discipline training opportunities, specialization options, and opportunities to gain work experience.

Student services is a broad term used to organize a series of programs and services available to students. These programs can be divided into two streams: student life and student success. The student life stream is focused on extracurricular activities, athletics, housing, and financial aid services. Student success provides access to professional counseling, career services, job placement programs, study skills seminars, and accessibility services. Both streams have a role in your success, and the quality and depth of services available at the environmental science school should be included in your decision-making process.

Environmental science school includes course requirements in biology, ecology, geography, organic chemistry, and physics. The ability to select from the entire list of courses offered by each of these departments, and not just those targeting at environmental science, is a great feature. The quality and depth of material covered in specialty programs results in enhanced learning and opportunities to meet students in other programs. It is this type of inter-discipline interaction that resulted in the development of environmental science as a discipline in the first place.

The opportunity in the final year of your program to specialize in a specific aspect of environmental science is critical. This additional focus can open employment opportunities, or spark a personal interest that results in application to a graduate program and research. The discipline itself is very broad, and focusing your area of interest allows you to develop a deeper base of knowledge.

Work experience is a very important part of the process when selecting an environmental science school. This is a career path, where the actual work is quite varied, along with the level of responsibility. Talk with the different schools about their job placement programs, internships, or cooperative job placements. Use these opportunities to make important contacts, as many students start their careers in the same firm where they completed their work placement.