Environmental Management

Environmental management is the practice of managing human interaction with the natural environment and the impact it has of natural resources. In environmental management programs, students learn about then environment and ecosystems, environmental laws, land and energy resources, and sustainable solutions and practices. They develop the skills and abilities necessary to conduct management duties in the areas of land and water, pollution control, environmental policies and regulations, environmental technology, and environmental health and safety. Most environmental management bachelor's degrees are best associated with professional and management positions in the consulting industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment within the management, scientific, and technical consulting services industry, which includes environmental consulting, is projected in increase 83 percent by 2018.

Common Career Paths:

Range Managers

Range managers are responsible for managing and protecting natural resources on rangelands including wildlife, plants, and energy resources. They work to optimize land use without risking the environment using their agricultural expertise to inform farmers and ranchers about the best and most productive ways to utilize their land, as well as provide advice to the government and landowners on the best ways to use land for recreational purposes. Typical duties may include developing resource management plans, taking inventory of animals, plants, and soils, maintaining vegetation for wildlife, taking measures to prevent wildfires, planning revegetation, and restoring degraded ecosystems. Range managers often work closely with agricultural workers, farmers, ranchers, landowners, government workers, and other types of conservation scientists. While these types of managers do work in offices where they tend to administrative tasks the majority of their work day is spent conducting fieldwork outdoors.

Range managers are required to have at least a bachelor's degree in an area related to environmental studies such as environmental management, agricultural science, or environmental science. These types of programs consist of relevant courses like ecosystem management, natural resources policy and administration, resources and the environment, animal science, agricultural business, crop science, and resource and environmental economics. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of conservation scientists is projected to increase 12 percent by 2018. There will more of a demand for range managers as more companies become involved in the exploration of natural resources and land development. The Bureau reported that in May 2008 the median annual salary of conservation scientists, including range managers, was $58,720.

Forester

Foresters are responsible for managing national forests and supervising recreational, conservational, and environmental activities concerning them. They work to keep forests sustainable by devising and implementing plans to protect land while still making it profitable. This can involve duties such as deciding appropriate areas to plant trees and vegetation, identifying strategies to conserve wildlife habitats, maintaining water quality and soil stability, and approving appropriate areas to cut timber. Along with duties related to land conservation, foresters also oversee duties to use to land for economic and recreational uses such as hunting. Foresters often work in offices conducting administrative work, but most of their time in spent outdoors conducting fieldwork.

Foresters are usually required to have a bachelor's degree in an area related to environmental sciences such as environmental management, forestry, or biology. These types of programs consist of relevant courses like environmental ethics, natural resources economics, silviculture, management of forest ecosystems, physical geology, environmental policy, resources and the environment, and forest growth and yield. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of foresters is projected to increase 12 percent by 2018. There will more of a demand for foresters as there as increases in funding for new preservation programs. The Bureau reported that in May 2008 the median annual salary of foresters was $53,750.

Soil and Water Conservationist

Soil and water conservationists provide technical assistance to professionals who are concerned with the conservation of natural resources, such as government agencies, forest managers, farmers, and ranchers. They are responsible for designing programs for productive land uses, helping landowners with erosion problems, and developing management practices to diminish erosion. As water conservation experts, they provide assistance to private and government landowners concerning water quality, water preservation, groundwater contamination and water resources management. These types of conservationists work closely with government workers, range managers, foresters, agricultural workers, and other types of conservation scientists. Generally, they work in both office and outdoor environments where they conduct administrative duties and field work.

Soil and water conservation scientists must have at least bachelor's degree in an area related to environmental studies such as environmental management, agricultural science, hydrology, or soil science. These types of programs consist of relevant courses like natural resources policy and administration human dimensions of natural resources management, hydrology and hydraulics, water pollution control and treatment, resource and environmental economics, and soil microbiology and statistics. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of conservation scientists is projected to increase 12 percent by 2018. There will more of a demand for conservationists as more companies will need experts who can assist with the management of soil and water systems. The Bureau reported that in May 2008 the median annual salary of conservation scientists, including soil and water conservationists, was $58,720.