Toggle navigation

SUNY Oswego - Career Services

What can I do with a minor in sustainability?

Additional Navigation

SUNY Oswego - Career Services

View videos of professionals describing a day on the job

Business Development Executive, The W2 Group

Click here for more of this interview and to see additional videos

Education Manager, Garden for the Environment; Actor, Self-Employed

Click here for more of this interview and to see additional videos

CEO, Mighty Axe Hops Farm

Click here for more of this interview and to see additional videos

Youth Programs Manager, Wilderness Inquiry

Click here for more of this interview and to see additional videos

Senior Project Manager, Green Consulting Firm, Greener by Design

Click here for more of this interview and to see additional videos

National Science Director, Biologist and Philanthropist

Click here for more of this interview and to see additional videos

Greenway Coordinator, Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission

Click here for more of this interview and to see additional videos

Executive Director of Sustainable Entrepreneurial Innovations

Click here for more of this interview and to see additional videos

Join a student organization today

Go Green Club Outdoors Club

Search for opportunities

  • Sustainability Specialist
  • Climate Change Analyst
  • Public Relations Specialist
  • Environmental Community Organizer

Search for employers hiring graduates in your minor

Ecology Employers in NY: 988
Ecology Employers in US: 26,925
Energy Conservation Engineering Employers in NY: 599
Energy Conservation Engineering Employers in US: 11,393

 

Explore the numerous career fields related to your major

Government
Areas
  • Policy Analysis
  • Public administration
  • Research
  • Community development
  • Program development
  • Political campaigns
  • Advocacy/Lobbying

Employers
  • State and local government
  • Planning and development commissions
  • National, state, or local parks or recreation departments
  • Social service agencies
  • Peace Corps and AmeriCorps
Sample occupations
  • Complete coursework in statistics and social research.
  • Seek leadership roles in student government or campus organizations
  • Become familiar with the government application process.
  • Gain experience through internships, volunteer or other part-time positions.
  • Develop excellent communication skills, both oral and written, and the ability to work in a group.
  • Research environmental issues regularly.

Environmental Sociology
Areas
  • Land and Water Conservation
  • Natural Resource Management
  • Land Acquisition
  • Advocacy/Lobbying
  • Administration and Management
  • Recreation Planning
  • Research
  • Ecotourism

Employers
  • Local planning agencies
  • Environmental advocacy groups
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Government agencies
  • National Park Service
  • State, county, or city parks
  • Environmental periodicals
  • Tourism agencies

Sample occupations
  • Take courses in ecology, environmental science, and statistics.
  • Join environment-related student organizations.
  • Join professional associations and environmental groups as ways to network.
  • Volunteer to work on environmental clean-up projects with an organization
  • Participate in travel and/or recreation programs.
  • Learn environmental laws and regulations.
  • Develop excellent communication skills, both oral and written, as well as the ability to work as part of a team.

Environmental Education
Areas
  • Teaching (Elementary, Secondary, Post-secondary, Non-classroom education)
  • Technical writing
  • Editing
  • Illustrating
  • Photography
  • Public relations

Employers
  • Public and private schools, K-12
  • Two-year community colleges/technical institutes
  • Four-year colleges and universities
  • Museums
  • Zoos
  • Nature centers and parks
  • Publishing companies
  • Environmental organizations
  • Government agencies
  • Nonprofit organizations

Sample occupations
  • Gain experience working with students through tutoring, part-time employment or volunteering.
  • Learn to work well with people of varying backgrounds and skills.
  • Develop excellent interpersonal, communication and content area knowledge.
  • Master’s degrees may be sufficient for teaching at community or two-year institutions.
  • Take advanced courses in technical writing or journalism classes or consider a minor in either.
  • Seek related volunteer or paid experiences with student/local publications to increase marketability.
  • Consider earning an advanced degree in a communications field to specialize in.
Conservation
Areas
  • Natural resource management
  • Sustainability management
  • Water resources
  • Aviation planning
  • Transportation planning
  • Land acquisition
  • Recreation management
  • Renewable energy

 

Employers
  • Federal, state, and local government: (EPA, NOAA, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Department of Agriculture)
  • Department of Transportation
  • Public works departments
  • Wildlife ranges
  • Market research companies
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Land trust organizations
  • Zoological parks
  • Consulting firms

Sample occupations
  • Obtain experience through volunteer positions such as Student Conservation Association, and seek leadership positions.
  • Develop knowledge of land and water policies, ecology and conservation history. 
  • Hone communication and negotiation skills for interacting with various stakeholders: land owners, elected officials, and conservation and community representatives.

Environmental Law
Areas
  • Energy Law 
  • Natural Resources Law
  • Environmental Law

Employers
  • Law firms
  • Corporations
  • Federal/State agencies
  • Environmental compliance services companies
  • Regulatory commissions
  • Advocacy organizations
  • Public interest groups

Sample occupations

  • This area involves rights to resources including those in the Earth and dangers in production of energy as well as transportation, taxation, patents, clean air and water, and government regulation.

  • An undergraduate major in environmental science, agriculture, engineering, or science may be good preparation.

  • Students interested in attending law school may choose any major of interest. 

  • Develop strong research, communication and writing skills.

  • Participate in student government.

  • Completing the law degree, Juris Doctor or JD, typically takes three years of full-time coursework.

  • After completion, one must pass a state bar examination in order to practice law in that state.

  • Maintain current knowledge of industry trends, laws and, policies specific to area of interest (e.g., conservation, regulation compliance, etc).

General information and strategies

  • Sustainability studies provides a broad base of hard sciences as well as social science coursework.
  • Pursue volunteer or internship experience to test fields of interest and gain valuable experience.
  • Stay up-to-date with changing environmental legislation by reading related literature and journals and participating in professional associations.
  • Attend seminars, conferences and workshops sponsored by professional associations or public interest groups and utilize networking opportunities.
  • Develop strong leadership skills; run for office in clubs and organizations in school or community. Volunteer to organize or lead an event or project.
  • Take courses in ecology, environmental science, and statistics.
  • Volunteer to work on environmental clean-up projects with an organization
  • Participate in travel and/or recreation programs.
  • Develop knowledge of land and water policies, ecology and conservation history.
  • Hone communication and negotiation skills for interacting with various stakeholders, land owners, elected officials, and conservation and community representatives.