Ecology and Environment

There is a wide range of career options related to ecology and the environment in the life sciences, earth sciences, social sciences and engineering. If you enjoy learning and working with animals or plants, are curious how life works on earth, are interested in maintaining a healthy planet, or addressing today's global challenges, you might enjoy a career in the areas of ecology or the environment. Individuals working in these fields often work in laboratories, government offices, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, private industry, or the outdoors. Depending on the position, you may spend time in the field gathering data, studying animals, plants and the ecosystem, monitoring air or water quality, or managing and protecting natural resources. Yet in other positions you may work to determine environmental impacts, ensure that companies are in compliance with environmental laws, or develop and manage sustainable communities.

Some possible job titles include:

  • Anthropologist
  • Archeologist
  • Biochemist
  • Environmental Consultant
  • Environmental Engineer
  • Field Ecologist
  • Forest Worker
  • Geologist
  • Geoscientist
  • Habitat Conservationist
  • Hydrologist
  • Microbiologist
  • Natural Resource Manager
  • Wildlife Biologist
  • Zoologist

Areas of Interest

The Occupational Outlook Handbook provides detailed information about career options in Anthropology, Archeology, Biochemistry, Conservation Science, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Forestry, Geology, Geoscience, Hydrology, Microbiology, Wildlife Biology, Zoology.

Related fields

If you have an interest in careers in ecology or environmental science, you might also be interested in exploring careers in: agriculture, animal science, biological sciences, business and management, education and teaching, engineering and computer science, food and beverage, law and public policy,  planning and development, government, international and nonprofit.

Major Information

To find out where fellow Aggies interned and found employment by major, use the ICC data pages.

Campus Organizations

Student organizations are a great place to connect with others exploring similar career interests. Use the keyword search in the Center for Student Involvement's OrgSync database to find student organizations that relate to your interests.

Master's and Ph.D. students, and postdoctoral scholars can participate in and take on leadership roles in campus organizations such as the Graduate Student Association, Chancellor's Graduate and Professional Student Advisory Board and the Postdoctoral Scholar’s Association.

Professional Associations

Joining professional associations related to the industry you are interested in provides access to professionals in the field, and networking opportunities which can lead to potential jobs and internships. Many national associations have state and local chapters you can join. Involvement in associations can also provide you insider updates on industry trends and best practices. One of the best ways to identify relevant associations is to search for them online, but we have provided some resources below to get you started. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list.

Visit the ICC and Meet with an Advisor

For further guidance narrowing down your career interests, you can schedule an advising appointment. Our advising page has a list of all ICC advisors or you can review the list of undergraduate advisors below:

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