Is an Environmental Science Degree Worth It? (2024)

FAQs

Is an Environmental Science Degree Worth It? ›

A bachelor's in environmental science is suited for degree-seeking students concerned with the environment and who would like to give solutions to the many problems the planet is facing. It's a degree recommended for students who are fond of observing, researching, analyzing and solving problems.

The national average salary for a Bachelor's degree holder is $64,896, making the mean pay for an environmental scientist higher than the average by $11,634 annually. However, your pay could be much higher if you specialize in a specific environmental science field or have additional certifications.

Earning a bachelor's degree in either environmental science or environmental studies takes hard work but is also incredibly rewarding. You'll spend a lot of time in science and lab courses learning complex concepts and working with new materials and equipment.

Generally speaking, an environmental science degree is respected and graduates are gainfully employed.

But the pay can still be substantial. While it's not the highest-paying career field, environmental science can bring salaries of $70,000, $80,000, and even $90,000, and many of these positions are available to people fresh out of college with no career experience.

Jobs in the environmental sector are typically very competitive and can require specialised study and significant work experience.

The field of environmental science is growing at a faster rate than ever due to issues such as climate change and pollution. Individuals who pursue an environmental science degree have several options when it comes to jobs, including a career as a microbiologist, environmental scientist and environmental engineer.

Psychology is commonly thought of as the easiest of the science majors thanks to its relative lack of complex math, although psych majors can still expect to do a fair amount of statistical analysis on their way to a degree.

Chemistry is famous for being one of the hardest subjects ever, so it's no surprise that a Chemistry degree is fiercely challenging. Just one topic in Chemistry (for example, organic chemistry) is incredibly complex.

Answer and Explanation: Math is used in a wide variety of ways in environmental science, from simply counting the number of species in an ecosystem to the complex chemistry and physics equations related to the science of energy production within the environment.

What is a good GPA for environmental science? ›

What are the requirements for a degree in Environmental Science? Ideal candidates for a master's in Environmental Science will have a bachelor's in a related field from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.

An undergraduate GPAs of 3.5 or higher. All students must submit the required application materials to be considered for admission to the programs.

AP Environmental Science is an interesting and applicable class, where you will use more math knowledge to solve environmental problems. It is a less rigorous class academically compared to AP Bio and also requires less memorization of concepts.

Yes, despite how people jest, environmentalists absolutely do make money. Now, how much money you make varies on the job you pick, the location you're working in, education level, level of experience, and other variables. There are several jobs as an environmentalist that will pay you well over $80,000 annually.

The National Science Foundation and STEM

The main categories of NSF STEM disciplines include: Agricultural Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Environmental Science, Geosciences, Life/Biological Sciences, Mathematics, and Physics/Astronomy.

Ecological health, bioscience, sustainability, oceanography and marine biology are all different types of environmental science.

Best States For an Environmental Scientist

Oregon has a median salary of $69,785 and California has the highest median salary among all 50 states for environmental scientists. 81.2% of people in the field are White, while 6.2% are Hispanic or Latino.

An environmental studies major will give you the knowledge, skills and analytical tools needed to tackle these environmental challenges on a local, regional and international level. You'll be creating a more sustainable, healthier environment for generations to come.

How popular is environmental science as a college major? ›

In 2020-2021, environmental science was the 91st most popular major nationwide with 9,274 degrees awarded. This represents a small change of only -0.7% from the prior year's total of 9,339 bioenvironmental sciences degrees awarded.

The least regretted college majors, which graduates would choose all over again, are reportedly Computer and Information Sciences, Criminology, Engineering, Nursing, Health, Business Administration and Management, Finance, Psychology, Construction Trades, and Human Resources Management.

Students who major in computer science tend to have the highest dropout rate, followed by advertising and agriculture majors. College is a significant investment, and selecting the right major can aid in your success.

#1 Chemistry

According to the average Grade Point Average of students in the program, Chemistry wins the prize title hardest major. A Chemistry major overlaps somewhat with biology, but chemistry extends beyond living things.

Business Administration

On average, bachelor of business administration majors spend 42 hours studying for both the core courses and electives. Based on the average GPA, this could be the easiest bachelor degree to get.

The following majors require Calculus

Computer Science. Economics. Environmental Science (not Environmental Studies)

environmental science, interdisciplinary academic field that draws on ecology, geology, meteorology, biology, chemistry, engineering, and physics to study environmental problems and human impacts on the environment.

Which science major has the most math? ›

Physics – Physics is regarded as the most math-intensive degree path you can pursue within the sciences. Linear algebra, quantum mechanics, and engineering calculations are just a few of the core courses you'll need to take for this major.

The AP® Environmental Science exam has seen a steady passing rate of around 50%.

There is no universal minimum GPA for grad school. The minimum, when one is specified for admissions requirements, can vary by school and program. At many schools, admissions requirements for masters programs may specify a 3.0 GPA minimum, but some schools may accept applicants with lower GPAs.

The average high school GPA of admitted students at Harvard is around 4.2. 73% of students had a GPA of at least 4.0, indicating that admitted students typically mostly earned A grades in high school. If you're studying the IB, this translates to scoring mostly 7s and achieving a minimum score of at least 42.

In terms of cost and time, having a postgraduate degree such as a master's can improve your chances of receiving a good return on your investment, particularly in a field such as environmental science. Master's programs usually take two to three years to complete and can vary widely in cost.

Normally, you would expect the highest score to be the 'perfect' 4.0 score, however, there are several things that a student can do to receive an even higher score. For example, one student actually managed to get a 10.03 GPA score. He did this by taking 17 advanced classes at his school, which awarded him many points.

Will an F ruin my GPA? The short answer is (surprisingly): No. If you have one “F” and all other grades in a 40-course program are “A” grades, your GPA will drop from a 4.0 to a 3.9. So, your existing GPA will be impacted, but will not be “ruined.”

Both Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees prepare students for a wide range of careers in environmental science. The B.S. places greater emphasis on the natural sciences, whereas the B.A. is more focused on the social sciences and their application to economics, policy, and management.

We recommend that ESCS-focused math programs include, along with standard beginning mathematics major material, at least four applied courses such as mathematical modeling, numerical analysis, operations research, ordinary differential equations, partial differential equations, statistics, and probability.

It depends on what you want to do, career-wise, after graduation. If you want to work as a chemist, then a BSc in chemistry is probably going to be more useful. However, if you want to work in wetland reclamation, a BSc in environmental science would probably be the degree you should pursue first.

Does environmental science require math? ›

Environmental science focuses on fundamental sciences like math, chemistry, biology, physics, atmospheric science, earth science and geology. As an environmental science major, you'll spend much of your time considering the scientific and quantitative aspects of environmental issues.

But most are environmental scientists and specialists, who earn about 2% less in total compensation than the market average for public sector scientists in California and 8% less than federal ones.

While environmental science professors likely do not need to travel often for their job, geologists, on the other hand, may find themselves traveling to different locations where they can conduct explorations and collect data.

An environmentalist can be considered a supporter of the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that seeks to improve and protect the quality of the natural environment through changes to environmentally harmful human activities".

Answer and Explanation: Environmental science is the study of the environment using the scientific method while environmentalism is the belief that the preservation of the environment is a worthwhile endeavor.

Most environmentalists have bachelor's degrees though some have associate degree. For instance, most environmental scientists have a four-year bachelor's degree. You can choose to major in biology, organic chemistry, botany or a related field of study.

Reasons to Consider a Career in Environment Science

You can change the world for the better. Environmental scientists and related professionals do more than merely earn a paycheck. They also make a meaningful contribution, protecting the world for future generations. You're a champion of the environment and science.

AP Environmental Science is an interesting and applicable class, where you will use more math knowledge to solve environmental problems. It is a less rigorous class academically compared to AP Bio and also requires less memorization of concepts.

What are the benefits of an environmental science degree? ›

Studying an environmental science degree provides you with a broad understanding of current environmental issues and challenges on a local, national and global scale. You learn about the impact humans have on the environment and how to manage it.

1. Environmental Engineer. Environmental Engineers improve public health by overseeing waste and pollution control policies. They routinely test air quality, water resources, and industrial equipment to ensure standards are met and maintained.

Chemistry is famous for being one of the hardest subjects ever, so it's no surprise that a Chemistry degree is fiercely challenging. Just one topic in Chemistry (for example, organic chemistry) is incredibly complex.

The three main goals of environmental science are: to learn how the natural world works, to understand how humans interact with the environment, and to find ways to deal with environmental problems and live more sustainably. Employment of environmental scientists is projected to continue to grow in the coming decades.

Environmental science focuses on fundamental sciences like math, chemistry, biology, physics, atmospheric science, earth science and geology. As an environmental science major, you'll spend much of your time considering the scientific and quantitative aspects of environmental issues.

These five components are atmospheric sciences, environmental chemistry, forestry and agricultural science, geosciences, and oceanography and marine sciences.