Career Paths for Environmental Studies Students

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The Environmental Studies Program provides a broad-based course of study. Each concentration is intended to prepare students to be well versed in both policy and science issues as related to the environment and to be able to pursue graduate study or entry-level work in fields such as environmental management, environmental history, enviromental law, education, natural resource management, land-use planning, urban/rural planning, technology and policy, and environmental and public policy.

Environmental Studies graduates are employed by federal and state agencies, private and public organizations, and consulting firms. The Environmental Studies Programs provides students with the necessary background to continue on to graduate school, and approximately 70% of Colby graduates eventually undertake graduate study. Many graduates go directly into consulting firms, non-profit activist organizations, government agencies, or research institutions.

Selected Jobs of Recent Environmental Studies Program Graduates

Hiking along the continental divide starting on the Mexico/New Mexico border, and anticipating graduate study within three years.

Attending the School for Public and Environmental Affairs and Department of Political Science at Indiana University while pursuing a joint Ph.D. program in Public Policy and Political Science.

Working in the lab and field as a conservation scientist at the Chicago Botanic Gardens on an endangered orchid species. Anticipates graduate study within two years.

Working as a research assistant on juvenile lobster settlement at the Bigelow Laboratory in West Boothbay Harbor, Maine.  Anticipates graduate study within three years.

Working for the Maine Department of Environmental Protection conducting stream water quality studies.  Anticipates graduate study within three years.

Interning with the Chicago Botanic Gardens and the Bureau of Land Management, working on the reintroduction of the Black-footed Ferret in Montana .  Anticipates graduate study within two years.

Working as a research analyst with Industrial Economics, Inc. of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Anticipates graduate study within three years.

Self-employed as an organic hog farmer and horse breeder.  Also working for Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association as a journalist.

Student Conservation Association internship with The Nature Conservancy on Martha's Vineyard working on the conservation and restoration of coastal plain ponds and native vegetation. Anticipates graduate study within three years.

Joining Greencorps as an environmental organizer.

Working for Adventures Cross-Country as an environmental educator. Interested in entering the field of environmental education.

Grassroots organizer working on various campaigns across the country.

Working for the Department of Environmental Protection in Augusta in the Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management doing a variety of projects in the office and providing assistance in the field

Working for the World Resources Institute in Washington DC

Peace Corps in sub-Saharan Africa doing environmental work

Working with a US-based institution called Interalianza in Guatemala that is focused on reforestation with a long-term goal of sustainable agriculture, natural medicine and appropriate technology.

Lobbying for the Department of Natural Resources in the Illinois state government.

Attending American University-Washington College of Law