Environmental Policy - Explore A Career
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| Skills needed to succeed in the Environmental Policy field |
This is a listing of skills that will supplement your college education. Develop them early!
Learn how to:
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- Environmental Analysis
- Word processing
- Communications
- Conflict Resolution
- Water Quality Monitoring
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- Internet
- GIS
- Legal Research
- Develop a Portfolio
- Technical Writing
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Take elective courses that strengthen your area of interests, e.g.:
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- Sustainable agriculture
- Hydrology
- Microbiology
- Business management
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| Become involved on campus: |
- Sustainability Committee
- Student Government
- Community Service/Service projects
- Constructive Activists
- Peer Counseling
- Recycling
- Peer Educators
- Community Council
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| Career Advice |
- ATTEND the Unity Career Fair - talk with the professionals in your field, conduct informational interviews
- TALK with upperclassman - where did they volunteer, intern, and find employment?
- ASK faculty, and CRC about Unity alumni who are employed in the environmental policy field. Call alumni who are working in an area you want to work; introduce yourself, let them know you are looking for advice, internship, job
- JOIN Climate Change Campaign, MOFGA public policy committee, Constructive Activist Club, Sustainability Committee
- READ Any and all Policy related popular and semiprofessional magazines or publications that interest you. If you find a subject or article intriguing, do some research on that subject in books or journals such as Environmental Law in a Nut Shell and Water Law in a Nut Shell etc.
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| Jobs for Environmental Humanities Students |
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| What types of positions can I work in? |
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Positions to look for during college to gain experience and skills:
- Local land trust, advocacy group, conservation groups, or municipal planning
volunteer to do anything to get your foot in the door: answer phones, file, data entry, bulk mailings, organize events, fund raise, etc.
- Assist a lawyer volunteer or work for a lawyer, ideally who deals with environmental issues, but any exposure to legal research and the court process could well be helpful
- Utilities ideally work in the environmental area on the company, like watershed projects, etc.
- Solid Waste/Recycling firm or plant
Hands on positions or positions in public relations, education office. Many towns have recycling committees, see if they need a volunteer
- Volunteer a day or two at a time with professionals in the field.
(It may take quite a bit of effort to be accepted as a volunteer - visit the agency/organization office a few times.)
Volunteering even half a day a week for the summer will provide you with valuable
experience. You may need to ask repeatedly before being taken on as a volunteer.
When you have some experience and are looking for an internship of summer position:
Seasonal, part-time and temporary positions
Apply at the the places suggested as volunteer options; if you volunteered for the organization the previous summer or school break your chances of employment are greatly increased Washington Semester - Environmental Internship
The Washington Center arranges semester or summer internship with federal and nonprofit environmental State environmental regulatory or protection agencies
All have a department, bureau or division within state government that deal with environmental regulation and protection. Army Corps of Engineers, land trusts, waste water treatment plants, non-profit environmental organizations, environmental consulting firms.
Intern or volunteer Try to get in on a basic internship or seasonal volunteer positions even if it is only for a few weeks.
Become knowledgeable about your field
- CONDUCT "informational interviews"; build contacts, network.
Remember it's all about NETWORKING. If you don't network how is anybody to know who you are and what you have to offer? Volunteering is where you are given the chance to schmooze with the professionals, use it wisely. This is where a lot of people get their first jobs.
Definition of "NETWORKING"- Introducing yourself to, and getting to know, people who might be able to tell you about a job. "An estimated 80% of all jobs are filled by word of mouth even though they may be advertised." The Career Search Handbook
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| After Unity, what do alumni do? |
Title and Organization
- Project Scientist, Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc
- Executive Officer, Community Commons, Inc.
- Consultant, E-PRO Engineering and Environmental Consulting, LLC
- GIS Leader, Jacobs
- Environmental Project Manager, Jaworski Geotech Inc
- Citizen Outreach Director, NYC Fund for Public Interest Research
- Paralegal, Onedia County Dept of Law
- Public Information Officer, Rocky Mountain Inst.
- Training Asst.-Water Quality Consultant, UMaine Cooperative Extension
- A number of Unity Alums with EPOL degrees work in various positions at the DEP
Degree, Major and School
- Science Organization, New England Graduate School
- Masters Business, Husson College
- Masters, University of Maine in Orono
- Masters Environmental Law, Vermont Law School
- Masters Public Administration, Antioch New England
- Geography and Public Planning, Northern Arizona University
- Masters in Teaching, Secondary Education, University of Maine
- Masters Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University
Visit the CRC and get contact information for alums so
you can get advice from former Unity students.
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| Develop a gift wish list |
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If anyone asks what you would like for your birthday, Christmas, Chanukah, graduation etc. suggest the following
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- Computer
- $ for specialized workshops
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- $ for attending regional/national conferences
- Reference Book
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Need some equipment in the meantime? Stop by the equipment room in the OAC. With a $20.00 refundable deposit you can take out equipment including canoes, backpacks, snowshoes, skis, wet suits and much more!
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| Grad School Links |
- Gradschools.com Environmental Policy Graduate Programs Directory
- Petersons.com Law School Search Program Select the area of environmental law you are interested in: Animal Rights, Air Pollution, Environmental Litigation, Hazardous Waste, Land Rights/Natural Resources, Land Use/Natural Resources, Watershed Management
- Listing of Graduate Schools w/Environmental Policy/Management Programs Environmental Policy & Resource Management
- Grad School Page CRC webpage dedicated to graduate studies
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For more information about the Environmental Policy
degree at Unity College click here
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