On choosing a college

30 Jan 2008

Got questions about the environment? Ask Umbra.

Dear Umbra,

I am a high school junior this school year. I am currently researching what college to attend. One major decision in your school choice should be choosing a college that is strong in the field of your study. I am interested in college majors that will translate into green jobs. I know about jobs such as sustainable architecture as well as a few others but I was wondering if you could give a thorough list!

Tim
Olney, Ill.

Dearest Tim,

Picking a college can feel like a big, mysterious deal. I hope you have good help at school and at home, and some people who will talk frankly with you about the college experience. An internet advice columnist is no substitute for live, in-person help with the arduous process of applying to colleges and thinking deep thoughts about your future.

Seek and ye shall find.

Photo: iStockphoto

I've talked about environmental careers in previous columns, and given pointers to various green career websites, and then readers added their own suggestions. A couple of points I made back then still apply. One, you should choose something you love to do, because if you're miserable you'll just do a green job badly. Number two quickly follows: almost any degree or job experience can lead to a green job, since greenitude permeates life now. Build the knowledge and skills that you enjoy and about which you feel passionate, and keep leaning toward green studies and work, and you should be set no matter what you choose to study. Who knows what new green work will have grown into existence by the time you graduate?

Let's keep those ideas in mind while we start to scare up a tangible list of actual green jobs and the college majors behind them. Grab a pencil and start a list -- actually, a chart -- of people you know or can track down who have eco-jobs. Column one is the person's name if known, two is their college major, three is their current job, four is how to contact them with questions about their career, the rest of the columns are for notes or doodling. We'll start the chart together here, and you will continue to do your own listmaking using the techniques shown below.

GRIST JOB BOARD

Grist itself illustrates sample ways of finding out about majors that translate into green jobs. First, check out the list of 15 green colleges. Then there is an entire green job column, Remake a Living, which you can troll through to find job titles and get an idea of what experience is needed. There's also a job board, which will at least give ideas about end jobs if not also about the background needed to get them. And InterActivist was a regular Grist feature in which a green professional was interviewed about his or her job; usually one of the questions was, "What long and winding road led to your current position?" Check out the archives -- sometimes the subjects talk about their college experience, sometimes they don't.

The second sample way of finding majors that lead to certain careers is very similar to the InterActivist way: asking people directly what long and winding road led to their current position. Willing Gristmillers, please oblige Tim and all the other career curious by divulging your current job and past college career. Briefly.

The next sample way of finding out is to read staff bios on organizational websites. On the Grist site, under About Grist, you can learn what most of the Grist staffers did in college and where they went to school. Two points here: one, it takes a lot of different types of expertise to run any organization, so although Grist is an environmental publication, they don't just employ writers or people who studied environmentalism. They also employ finance professionals and web developers and the like. The same will be true of other green companies. Two, not all organizations oblige with this type of full disclosure, but look around.

To help start your chart, Tim, I'll list the people I can think of who are in eco-careers and their college major (in parens) if I know it. Environmental consulting firm (Geology); graphic design for green organizations (Art); founded Grist (Environmental Studies); climate-change analysis (Engineering); organic farming (English, Art History, Environmental Studies, Agriculture); small farm advocacy (Forest Management, Anthropology, Rural Sociology); environmental law (OK, law school is not a college major, but it does introduce the idea that grad school may be your green ticket); green building (Geology); herpetology (Biology); environmental restoration (Wildlife Biology). I don't know any green architects, looks like. Come on, Gristmillers, help Tim out.

Alma materly,
Umbra

Yours is to wonder why, hers is to answer (or try). Please send Umbra any nagging question pertaining to the environment -- but first check out her FAQs!

The claims made in this column may not reflect the views of this magazine. Neither the magazine nor the author guarantees that any advice contained in this column is wise or safe. Please use this column at your own risk.

Umbra Fisk is Grist Research Associate II, Hardcover and Periodicals Unit, floors 2B-4B.

Comments: (21 comments)

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Double major in Economics and Enviromental Studies

I just graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a degree in Sociology and it was very hard to find a job. I like to think that if I had a more interdisciplinary academic background, especially with Econ, it would have helped out...

Nonetheless, the entry level job market sucks, especially for environmental non-profits. It is extremely competitive and few orgs hire straight out of college. You will be advised to do an internship, and I would do the same, but I recognize there are justice issues in slaving for a year before getting a job.

I'm making it sound gloomy, but it is absolutely worth it. I've never felt as good as I do now knowing that I go to work every morning to make a difference in this world.

Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions. I just graduated last Spring, so the whole college thing is really fresh in my mind.

Keep it up, and try to convert some friends on the way!

TB (tboggia @ ucsc . edu)

www.campusprogress.org

by tboggia at 10:49 AM on 30 Jan 2008

Chemical Engineering!

It's kind of an umbrella major, and it can be used for good!
Manufacturing is never going to stop, but it can be done less/much cleaner, etc.
I originally went into it to try and do research in recycleable/biodegradable polymer technologies. I've done consulting for emissions minimization techniques, and there's a huge push with the 'greening of the supply chain,' so many jobs open up all the time. Plus, you can work on really interesting things like zero waste manufacturing, or as I currently do-clean up the land/water from old industrial/chemical sites. And even if you want to go the non-profit route, someone still needs to crunch things like emissions numbers to see if those school buses really shouldn't be iddling around the children...

Plus, when people gasp when they find out that you don't use soft plastics, only use natural cleaning products, own a bike instead of a car, and don't eat processed foods, the phase "I know what's in them, I'm a chemical engineer" usually gets you out of alot of eye rolls. :-p

by takewrning at 11:01 AM on 30 Jan 2008

Enviro Science or Studies all the way

I just graduated college. And honestly Environmental Science or Environmental Studies will directly lead you to almost any green job you want. Advocacy, Policy, Planning, City Design, Water Policy, the list goes on.....

If you like Science, I would highly recommend going for the Bachelors of Science option (in some schools it's called Enviro Science, some Enviro Studies). IN any case, it's a broad major, BUT you get enough knowledge about the environment that you can literally almost get you any green job....UNLESS you want to do something more technical. IN that case, you'll HAVE to do Engineering (any will do, whichever you prefer...depends on what you're interested in...mechanical...you can work on making power plants or making solar panels...anything physical....civil engineering....more traffic studies and bridge making....chemical engineering...pollution, water, air, petrochemicals....environmental engineering...water, pollution, air, microbes), also Architecture is very technical....so if you want to get into green building and actually KNOW how to build the building, you'll have to get into that.

Basically.....if you have environmental science/studies...you can do a lot...

Right now I'm a bicycle planner for the Los Angeles Bicycle Coalition, and I majored in Environmental Studies.

Also, not only does it matter what you study but WHAT you are researching or involved in outside of school....for example I did some traffic research and was involved in a student group. That's how I got my job.....not just my major, but they def loved my major.

by gohomedorothy at 11:28 AM on 30 Jan 2008

Green Colleges

Another area you may be interested in looking into is "green universities." Sierra Club recently published a list of the top green schools in the US, meaning schools who have good green practices. You may want to compare the schools they have choosen to the schools you are looking into. I remember Penn State was one of them, which stands out to me since I'm an alum.

Sarah

by TheAnalyst at 11:34 AM on 30 Jan 2008

More Chemical Engineering

I too have a degree in chemE, and am an air emissions consultant for big oil (mostly).

My alma mater (Colorado State University) is involved in the C2B2 (Colorado Center for Biorefining and Biofuels), which is a collaborative organization comprised of CSU, the University of Colorado, Colorado School of Mines, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and corporate sponsors. Its focus is on the research of new biofuels.

by ruthiej at 12:41 PM on 30 Jan 2008

BA History and Classics!

doesn't sound like a good track to envirowork, but it got me into law school...now i'm a public sector environmental lawyer... i absolutely love it, and i'd like to think i save more trees than i kill.

by acg at 1:00 PM on 30 Jan 2008

Planning ahead

First of all, I want to say that I think it's great that you're thinking about this before you even start college. I didn't give my career much thought at all until I got to grad school, and it really didn't work out for me.

I followed Umbra's advice of just studying what I liked and assuming there would be a green job, and it backfired. Now, I've spent some time in the ad industry and some time in market research, but (despite my efforts to guide it) none of it has had any connection to the eco-issues I'm passionate about. So, I'm currently in the process of applying for a third graduate degree (law school).

Having said that, I think that you'll probably find an appropriate career path regardless of your choice of school. Once you get there, seek out the instructors who specialize in fields that you have an interest in, and ask them for advice; there's no career advice more valuable than that sort of mentoring.

And, I'll throw in just a couple green career paths that I think sound interesting: urban planning (a crucial part of making sure that we develop sustainable communities) and environmental law.

Good luck!

http://blogspot.idealist4sale.com

by idealist4sale at 1:07 PM on 30 Jan 2008

green jobs

I cannot emphasize enough how important Umbra's advice is about finding and following what you love and what you are good at. That said, also think about whether you want to be a worker bee or a leader. You will go farther faster with an advanced degree. I have a Master's of Environmental Management from Duke, which has served me very well. I do really wish I had complemented that ecological science and policy coursework with a law degree. For some reason, that law degree is a very effective entry ticket to leadership positions, as long as you really know the issues. Another great combination is an environmental undergrad and a green business school MBA. UNC-Chapel Hill has the Center for Sustainable Enterprises, but it isn't the only choice. Whatever you study, learn the basic environmental science and policy issues as a foundation. You will be learning for the rest of your career, and you need to be able to understand how it all fits together. ALSO, don't ignore writing and speaking skills... whatever you know is worthless if you can't effectively communicate it. Good luck and Welcome to the field!

by triskele at 1:13 PM on 30 Jan 2008

Physics/Mathematics

I agree with the advice of following what interests you most. My path was a winding one which took me through a double major in math & physics, then a PhD in physics (condensed matter theory, with specialization on quantum phase transitions). During my postdoc, I tried to find a way to turn this experience/education into something that could have an impact on society as well as science. I followed my heart and now I am a tenure-track professor in atmospheric physics, and I am using my training to understand properties of tropical weather which includes cyclogenesis (hurricanes). Though my emphasis is scientific, my effort will hopefully contribute to better models of weather and climate which in turn, could provide guidance to policy makers (this might be wishful thinking, but anyway). So I love what I do, and I consider it "green" in the sense that it contributes to our understanding of the entire atmosphere system, which is important for quantifying the human impact on this system.

As an added bonus, I get to help train the next generation of problem solvers who may continue to work on green issues.

by slsessions at 1:41 PM on 30 Jan 2008

Political Science

Undergraduate major in poli sci led to a career with the US National Park Service - originally as a park ranger. A lot of practical training was provided in-house (which means anywhere, really, in the Federal government, not just at your desk or someone elses). Really what was needed was the ability to reason well - to think. You can get that at any good liberal arts college, I would think. Just get to know your professors and embrace the learning - don't just try to satisfy the requirements.

A career with the NPS led to a Master of Public Administration degree in Envrionmental Science and Policy (http://www.columbia.edu/cu/mpaenvironment/index.html)

by shoreranger at 1:43 PM on 30 Jan 2008

University of Michigan

University of Michigan! If you want to look that far ahead at grad school. I think Duke might have similar programs. Anyway, they may not be listed as a "green campus", but UM School of Natural Resources and Environment has a LEED Certified building (the green standard) and you can add value to your degree with multiple options for dual degree programs. I combined an MS with an MPP and found that to be very competitive. You can also combine your green degree with the business school, law, economics, engineering, public health, and urban planning. For undergrads there's Program in the Environment, but if you look to grad school you can get more bang for your buck (2 degrees in 3 years) in the dual programs. Unfortunately out of state tuition is pricey, but Ann Arbor's cool.

by vikker at 2:01 PM on 30 Jan 2008

You have so many choices!

Can't reiterate enough what others have said - go for what you like best and what you're good at. You don't have to slog your way through a degree to figure out if you like it, so long as you're willing to ask lots of questions in advance to people who've already been through (we'll help!).

I started computer science/computer engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (actually pretty good majors for certain energy efficiency green stuff), but ended with ecological economics and biochemistry/biophysics. Worked some and now at the University of Chicago for Public Policy and possibly Environmental Science. I'd reiterate too the comment about how law is sometimes a good fast track to leadership positions (but think about whether leadership/management is the best place for you. "Lower" analyst/researcher/activist positions can also be incredibly important).

by kylegracey at 4:53 PM on 30 Jan 2008

Ecological Engineering - Oregon State University

Have to toot the horn of my current school, even though I'm in Natural Resources instead.

We just started a degree in Ecological Engineering, the first in the nation. We also have a new engineering building, Kelley, which is LEED Gold certified and (so I've heard claimed), the greenest academic engineering building in the US. It has a green roof and uses rain water collection to flush the toilets, among other things.

In addition, as far as school policies go, we voted and passed an additional $8.50 a term student fee to go to 100% renewable energy, which says a lot since we pay about a third of our tuition in fees as it is. They are currently ironing out the details of that, but it'll go into effect by fall and then maybe we'll make the green list too.

As for Corvallis, the town, it is both a Tree City by the National Arbor Day Foundation and a Bike Friendly city, although I can't remember who officially gave us that title. The city buses are free to OSU students and faculty.

I love my school, so I could go on. But give us a look - here's our Sustainability Office site: http://oregonstate.edu/sustainability/

by MidknytOwl at 5:25 PM on 30 Jan 2008

Biology - Oregon State University

When I saw the other Oregon Stater, I had to post too. I am also in Corvallis, and it is definitely a great place to live. As for majors, I am going the Biology route, with a Marine Biology option and a Chemistry minor. We actually have some of the best ecologists in the world, including Jane Lubchenco, who is basically a rock star among people who follow marine sciences.

As for my ultimate field: I'm currently planning on going into research, but I'm also really interested in helping companies "green-up", and in work protecting endangered species. While I don't entirely know what I'll ultimately do, I'm with everyone else: Find a field you're really interested in, go with it, and see what happens! You can always find ways to be bring green into your life and work, no matter the field.

by ethuiel at 9:28 PM on 30 Jan 2008

Fields of Study

Tim,

There are several fields of study you might consider. Of course, being mindful of the environment now, you should pursue your strengths and interests in order to reach a fulfilling and successful career. I will limit myself to fields not already suggested.

Geography - studying anything spatial (health impacts of global warming, pollution downwind from smokestacks, migration of people, food distribution, watersheds, etc.). GIS is a very useful tool and is one of the 14 fastest growing industries in the country.

Business - for all the waste and pollution generated by business, we need leaders; people who can do it right. Read Natural Capitalism for an inspiring story of the difference a green businessperson can make.

Urban Planning - though generally a graduate degree is required to advance in the field, there are undergraduate programs. Cities are incredibly important to combating the adverse of effects of global warming. The opportunity to help build better transit systems and more walkable communities is very important. Help to end environmental racism, build better communities, allow kids to bike, etc.

International studies - the emerging need to work internationally suggests someone with international political knowledge as well as the transnational nature of environmental problems would be a qualified candidate.

Education - we need great teachers. Very few teachers are conversant, let alone educated, in environmental issues.

Journalism/Writing - come on people, we're reading an environmental magazine. Don't you think it would be nice if more people were writing on environmental issues?

Philosophy/Religion - okay, probably not a wedge into a career, but many important thinkers on the environment have approached the environment from a moral perspective (Emerson, Thoreau, Singer, etc.)

I'm not sure how picking a school based on the presence of green buildings on campus got into the conversation. It's a really silly thing to consider. If you go to a public school, they probably won't have a terribly green campus. That's okay, you can be THE AGENT OF CHANGE. And, that's good experience.

Feel free to contact me as well, Tim. I'm applying to grad schools.

--Robert
robertnanderson@gmail.com

Robert Anderson

by truegreencore at 10:42 PM on 30 Jan 2008

art history!

Ok, so that was the umbrella undergraduate major that included a concentration in architectural history. I'm now a preservation architect (which required additional degrees in architecture and historic preservation), which means I get to recycle existing buildings for new uses in places that already have transit, utilities, schools, parks, and roads--no greenfield development! The most sustainable building is the one you don't build.

I also work with folks who've studied landscape architecture (they do storm water management, native plants, green roofs, and the like), mechanical engineering (they do passive cooling, high efficiency equipment, innovative wastewater treatment), city planning, and a whole host of other majors that have led them down the path to a lower-impact built environment.

But, I've also met people whose gateway into their green job was the work-study job they had on the campus farm, in the bio lab, for the campus planning department, or whatever. There are also people who were super-active during college in their community garden, CSA, campus chapter of fill-in-the-blank environmental group, or a number of other things.

Whatever you do in college, take advantage of the time to learn how to think, learn who you are, learn what your passions are, and how you can best achieve them. Study dance or medieval English if you want to. Join groups you're interested in, as well as ones you've never heard of. Start a group for your passion if it doesn't exist yet. Each opportunity could lead you down the path to your dream job.

Pick a college where you fit, either because it's already green or because you have the chance to help make it so. Pick one you can afford, because a lifetime of debt isn't sustainable to you as a person. Pick one where you like the student body and the instructors. Pick one you can travel to efficiently.

by weschicky at 8:13 AM on 31 Jan 2008

U.of Michigan--Natural Resources & Environment

You should definitely look into applying to the University of Michigan and taking coursework through the School of Natural Resources and Environment. It's one of the best interdiscipinary programs in environmental studies.
http://www.snre.umich.edu/

by JJB at 8:36 AM on 31 Jan 2008

I feel your pain... :)

I got my B.A. in Community Studies at UC Santa Cruz and would suggest it is your volunteer/intern work which is really going to matter to future green employers. If you do well in a science major and like it, totally go for it! The greenies need science. But overall don't major in something you don't get good grades in because grad school will be very hard. I love my major even though no one knows about it but I got the stellar grades and now I am in a GreenMBA program at Dominican University, which is an amazing program! Love it! Have fun in college but don't treat it like a keg party, it is far to $$ to waste your time like that.

by CarolineGreenMBA at 4:59 PM on 31 Jan 2008

Grinnell College

We are a progressive school, but we can always use more people looking to make a difference. I am the Assistant Swimming coach and came to work here because of the school's ideals. But similar to what everyone else has suggested, you could be the one to revolutionize whatever school you go to. I kind of feel like I had a big impact on my Alma mater, Luther College.

by timhammond at 12:17 PM on 01 Feb 2008

majors

If you aren't as interested in the science/innovation aspect of a green career, you might want to look into a major that helps you understand people and/or political/economic spheres - something interdisciplinary is often helpful. I figure, we can (and often do) have the technology we need, but convincing people to implement it is just as difficult as inventing it.
For example, I'm planning on going into sustainable business and am doing a philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE) major at the Claremont Colleges. Other possible choices are Science, Technology, and Society (STS), Public Policy Analysis (PPA), Environment, Economics, and Politics (EEP), and a lot of liberal arts schools allow you to create your own major....
Basically, like Umbra said, find what you're passionate about and from there you can make it into a green career. Good luck!

by jsimpson10 at 3:07 AM on 04 Feb 2008

Green Architects

I just read the book "Cradle to Cradle" by William McDonough (green architect) & Michael Braungart (chemist).
This is a must read for any young person interested in environmentalism and truly making a difference on this planet for future generations.
Its an eye opener regarding the temporary fix of reducing/reusing/recycling, which we seem to be stuck on presently, versus the need to re-create/re-invent and up-cycle.

For me, these two authors deserve the Nobel Peace Prize more than Al Gore. Cradle to cradle is the process that needs to wake America (and the world) up!!

by tmakreider at 7:44 AM on 05 Feb 2008

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