What Can I Do With an Environmental or Sustainability Masters?
Masters of environmental management programs are designed to prepare students for impactful roles in environmental stewardship. Learning about topics such as sustainability principles, environmental law, and policy analysis, opens career opportunities that are vast and promising.
Graduates may find themselves working in environmental consulting firms, government agencies, non-profit organizations, or corporate sustainability departments. The job outlook for environmental management professionals is positive, with growing demand for individuals who can navigate complex environmental challenges and implement effective solutions.
Whether you're passionate about shaping environmental policy, managing energy resources, or advocating for sustainable practices, a master's degree in environmental or sustainability studies can open doors to a rewarding career dedicated to preserving our planet for future generations.
Sustainability Manager
A Sustainability Manager has several roles and responsibilities, among them, overseeing an organization’s efforts to minimize its environmental impact, operate efficiently, and to conduct themselves in a socially responsible way. Sustainability Managers often develop and implement strategies, many of them surrounding the idea of resource usage, waste reduction, and energy efficiency. Sustainability Managers may also manage consultants and contractors, in order to produce desired outcomes as far as budget, time, and quality. A Master’s degree in Environmental Management can greatly increase job prospects by enhancing credibility, teaching specialized knowledge in different fields of sustainability, and allowing room for advancement.
Environmental Policy Analyst
An Environmental Policy Analyst researches, analyzes, and evaluates environmental policies and regulations at differing levels of government. The main goal of an Environmental Policy Analyst is often to develop policies that support the development of environmentally sustainable practices. They may research statistics on environmental impacts of current and previous practices, assess potential impacts of new regulations, and ensure that the firm they work for is compliant with environmental law. A master’s degree in environmental management can help employees in this occupation to hone their policy analysis skills and develop multiple perspectives on how to analyze environmental scenarios.
Urban Planner
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an Urban Planner specializes in the development of land use plans and programs that help create communities, the accommodation of population growth, and the revitalization of physical facilities in towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas. This may involve working with governments or companies in an effort to plan out certain development projects the government may want to engage in. This is done mainly to understand how a certain plot of land can best be utilized to better both the environmental and social impact it can have. A Master’s degree in Energy and Environmental Management will be beneficial as you utilize Geographic Information Systems and other urban planning software to map and visualize data, model scenarios, and evaluate the impact of proposed projects.
Environmental Planner
Environmental Planners are the watchdogs who ensure government projects follow environmental regulations. They assess potential environmental issues and propose solutions to mitigate them. Their focus is often on areas where human activity directly impacts the environment, such as drinking water sources, landfills, and waste disposal sites. As both researchers, assessors, and sounding alarms, they may give presentations to local governments to raise awareness about the environmental consequences of proposed projects. To become an environmental planner, a master's degree in a relevant field like environmental science, planning, or engineering is very helpful.
Renewable Energy Specialist
A Renewable Energy Specialist analyzes studies of new and growing technologies, understands the environmental impacts of energy production, and applies this knowledge to business strategy. The primary responsibilities of this position includes performing energy efficiency assessments, installing energy efficient equipment, and educating customers about energy efficiency programs. A background in environmental and energy policies is critical. Supplemental knowledge in science, engineering, and mathematics is also beneficial. Important skills also include a combination of analytical, technical, and interpersonal abilities.
