Environmental Studies Major Meets Career
Some recent career paths of graduates of the Environmental Studies program include holistic health practitioner, organic farmer, urban food manager, preschool teacher, operations manager of a gardening company, landscaper, not for profit organization director, artist, environmental educator, art teacher, interior designer, writer/editor, storm water coordinator for local government, and wilderness guide.
Discover Career Pathways for BA Environmental Studies Graduates
Career Options
Sustainability/Conservation
Working in the field of resource management/conservation i.e. energy, soil, land, animals, plants, water.
 Services/research around renewable energy services.
 Forest, Aquatic, Desert, Arctic land preservation and management
 Sustainable building, materials, and planning.
 Resources for access to clean and sustainable potable water sources.
 Building/Zoning/T ransportation/Aviation planning.
 National / State park service.
 Open Space & outdoor recreation management
 State/federal tourism agencies re: land usage.
 Mining / Construction education and management re: sustainability.
Education
Teaching
 Research
 Policy reform & law re: environmentalism & conservation
 Media and public relations
 Tourism chamber and visitor center support/ management
Health & Healing
Herbalism
 Apothecary
 Plant & Alternative Medicines
 Traditional Medicines
 Physical Education
 Wellness initiatives
 Wilderness Therapy
In the Field
Design/planning around recreation usage/management
 Forestry both urban, rural and in various communities
 Permaculture farms, communities and efforts
 Environmental conservation re: protesting, research, hands-on support
 Farming support, planning, management
 Gardening in communities, rural areas, CSA management
 Reforestation efforts
 Fire-service
 Forest health, ecology and conservation management
 Wildlife & aviary support
 Forest / Park ranger
 Arborist
Landscape Design/Management
Design, planning & implementation
 Preservation, sustainability & conservation
 Construction, management
 Landscape maintenance/management
Management/Business
Working with / for a B-Corp
 Supporting B-Corp & efforts, research and analysis
 Being involved in a nonprofit re: grant writing, fundraising, marketing, outreach
 Creating your own organization re: sustainability & conservation consulting, research, analysis
 Outdoor Recreation companies
 National/State Parks
 Forestry organizations & management
 Fire planning/control
 Sustainability Program analysis/consulting for various organizations
Wilderness/Wildlife
Wildlife & Wilderness conservation, management and rehabilitation centers
 Species Survival
 Ecology & biology re: health, habitats, sustainability and renewable resources
 Advocacy, policy and work in the justice / legal systems
 Parks and Recreation
 Wildlife research & grant funded projects
 Animal Control
 Zoology
 Biodiversity
Organic Industry & Production
Creating products, crops
 Farming, permaculture analysis and management
 Consulting and management
 Greenhouse and nurseries
 Marketing / sales work for various organic products/organizations
 Organic certification
 Product development
 Hemp and CBD products/industry
Horticulture
Plant, vegetable and fruit production
 Greenhouse and nursery management
 Education/Outreach
 Urban horticulture & forestry
 Horticulture therapy
 Marketing, Sales & Communications
 Facilities and maintenance
Potential Employers
Education
Public, private, charter, unconventional & Waldorf schools
 Colleges and Universities
 Chamber bureaus, visitor centers and tourism organizations
 Museums
 Nature center organizations and parks
 Botanical gardens
 Magazine, newspaper and publishing companies
 Local, state, and federal government parks
 Wildlife / wilderness centers & refuges
 Youth organizations, camps, nonprofits
 Environmental education centers
Management/Business
B-Corp
 Being involved in a Non-profit re: grant writing, fundraising, marketing, outreach, etc.
 Creating your own organization re: sustainability & conservation, consulting, research, analysis
 Outdoor Recreation companies
 NCOS
 Hemp & Natural products organizations
 Plant, herbalism and natural medicines
 National/State Parks
 Fire service management / administration
 Sustainability program analysis/consulting for various organization
Research
Nonprofits/grant-funded projects
 Federal / State / Local Government
 Market research & consulting firms
 Universities and Colleges
 Labs & regulatory agencies i.e. B-Corp, US Department of Agriculture, FDA, Environmental Protection Agency
Horticulture
Public and botanic gardens
 Arboreta and conservatories
 Museums
 Radio and television stations
 Magazines, newspapers, and internet sites
 Zoos and aquariums
 Cities and parks
 State highway departments
 Cemeteries
 Theme parks
 Extension offices
 Hospitals and therapy centers
 Nursing homes and senior centers
 Freelance writer
 Nurseries, greenhouses, florists, and other wholesale and retail companies
 Plant propagation and production businesses
 Agribusinesses
 Harvesting companies
 Agrochemical companies
 Consulting firms
 State and federal departments of agriculture
 Extension offices
 High schools, colleges, and universities
 Self-employment
Organic Farming/Production
Nonprofit organizations
 Permaculture
 Organic Farms
 State and federal departments of agriculture
 Plant propagation and production businesses
 Self-employment
Management/Business
Working with / for a B-Corp
 Supporting B-Corp & efforts, research and analysis
 Being involved in a nonprofit re: grant writing, fundraising, marketing, outreach
 Creating your own organization re: sustainability & conservation consulting, research, analysis
 Outdoor Recreation companies
 National/State Parks
 Forestry organizations & management
 Fire planning/control
 Sustainability Program analysis/consulting for various organizations
Wilderness/Wildlife
Wildlife & Wilderness conservation, management and rehabilitation centers
 Species Survival
 Ecology & biology re: health, habitats, sustainability and renewable resources
 Advocacy, policy and work in the justice / legal systems
 Parks and Recreation
 Wildlife research & grant funded projects
 Animal Control
 Zoology
 Biodiversity
Organic Industry & Production
Creating products, crops
 Farming, permaculture analysis and management
 Consulting and management
 Greenhouse and nurseries
 Marketing / sales work for various organic products/organizations
 Organic certification
 Product development
 Hemp and CBD products/industry
Fieldwork
Fish and wildlife service
 National park service
 Bureau of Land Management
 Natural resources conservation service
 Heritage conservation and recreation service
 Geologic survey
 Environmental protection agency
 Departments of environmental conservation
 The World bank
 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
 Peace Corps
 Non-governmental organizations,(e.g., The Nature Conservancy, Leave No Trace, Sierra Club)
 Botanical gardens
• Nurseries
• Florists
Government
Local, State & Federal governments
 Natural Resource Conservation
 Department of Agriculture
 Department of Health and Human Services
 Tourism and chamber bureaus
 Forest Service Fish and Wildlife Service
 National Park Service
 Bureau of Land Management
 Natural Resources Conservation Service
 Open Space & Recreation management
 Historical Sites
 Indigenous community advocacy, policy, protection and conservation
 Land protection/management
Career Path Preparedness
Strategies for Success
- Sign up for the Internship class and complete an internship related to the psychology/counseling field. See the Career & Life Development office on MyNaropa for the full internship site list and for a variety of different organizations to get involved in.
- Get involved in school leadership groups & resources i.e. SUN, the Naropa community & student counseling centers, residence halls, CARE team, conflict / mediation support, leadership groups, etc.
- Complete a service learning project aligned with your career goals / path. See your COR professors & advisors for details.
- Align your classes, curriculum, research projects and thesis / capstone projects with your career goals / path.
- Volunteer / familiarize yourself with organizations that align with your career goals & provide the opportunity for hands-on training – think: open space, trail crews, wilderness / wildlife conservation, wilderness medicine institute, policy change organizations, leave-no-trace, nature conservancy, sustainability organizations.
- Earn a minor in a specialized field of interest.
- Get started in an entry-level position in the environmental field.
- Pursue a graduate degree in environmental studies/sustainability/conservation.
- Join professional associations and stay abreast of governmental and legislative climate re: environmentalism.
- Get out and explore. Immerse yourself in outdoor / environmental skills and interests.
- Attend workshops, conferences, MeetUps, panels, rallies to build your network and get involved in grassroots initiatives.
Continuing Education
If you plan on continuing your education in environmental studies in terms of a graduate degree, there are several things you will want to keep in mind while in your undergraduate studies:
- Academic work and the way you show up is VERY important. Put in your best effort academically and aim for a high grade point average.
- Relationships matter. REALLY matter. Build positive connections while in the Naropa community with faculty, staff, colleagues, etc. These relationships will continue to support you, and you can ask those same people to provide recommendation letters for your graduate degree applications!
- Get experience! A lot of it. Either through academic, internship, volunteer, or work opportunities. This will bolster your application and CV immensely!
Alumnx Spotlight
Getting connected with Naropa Alumnx is a great way to build your professional network and resources. Some ways to get involved are:
- Connect with Naropa’s Office of Development and the Alumnx Relations Officer at 303-546-3594 or nualumni@naropa.edu.
- Join Naropa University’s Facebook page
- Visit the Alumnx & Resources page.
- Reach out to Naropa Alumnx on Linkedln
- Attend Career & Life Development events and Alumnx panels
