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Student Resources

Academic, engagement, and graduate resources catered to students in the Environment Program.

Loyola University Community Action Program (LUCAP)

 LUCAP, the Loyola University Community Action Program, is a student-initiated, student-led volunteer service and advocacy organization.  LUCAP is open to all students, offering them opportunities for direct service related to social justice issues, including environmental issues.  
 Visit Loyola University Community Action Program (on Facebook). 

Environmental Law Society (ELS)

 The Environmental Law Society performs community service activities related to environmental education and protection, sponsors law school  events to focus awareness on environmental issues, maintains an information board presenting news articles on current local, state, national,  and world environmental issues, and hosts speakers and discussions.

SEA (Students for Environmental Action) 

SEA is a student-led organization that is calling on Loyola University that wants to create a safe space for all Loyola students to have important discussions not only about the environment as a whole but how to make Loyola a greener campus. The club is currently working on sustainability in our dining hall, planning coordination with the office of Diversity and Inclusion on issues of environmental racism, and improving recycling on our campus. 

SCOPE was founded in 2015 and aims to improve the recruitment and retention of students who have been historically excluded from graduate programs. These resources have been made available to help prospective grad students find a program which suits them.

The director, office manager, and environment program faculty can assist students on selecting appropriate internships to fulfill their degree requirements. Please contact the program for a more extensive list of possible internships. In the past, Environment students have completed internships with the following organizations:

The Career Development Student Success Center can also help you find out more about internships in the area of environmental science or environmental studies. Start by exploring Loyola's Handshake, which is our current job and internship online board. 

The Office of Community Engaged Learning, Teaching and Scholarship (OCELTS) works with the local community to offer many internship opportunities. 

Earning a degree that incorporates several disciplines of knowledge allows you many career opportunities. Explore the information below for examples of the types of career paths students who earn an Environmental Science or an Environmental Studies major pursue. For more information, contact the Loyola University New Orleans Career Development Center.

Environmental Science

Students majoring in Environmental Science major will acquire the basic knowledge of the physical, chemical and biological aspects of ecological systems and apply this knowledge to solving problems arising from human activities. Students of Environmental Science will go directly into an environmental science career or on to graduate or professional school to further their study. Some careers involve working for federal or state agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or state park agencies. Other careers may involve working as a scientist, manager or analyst for non-governmental organizations, such as The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, or World Watch Institute. Still other career opportunities exist in the private sector as environmental consultants, scientists, technicians and specialists with engineering firms, natural resource/energy corporations, or waste-management companies, such as CH2M Hill Ltd., Weyerhauser, Inc., Waste Management, Inc., and many others.

Some potential career fields for Environmental Science majors include:

  • Wildlife Biologist
  • Naturalist
  • Park Ranger
  • Fisheries Biologist
  • Marine Biologist
  • Forest or Rangeland Manager
  • Endangered Species Biologist
  • Aquatic Toxicologist
  • Wetlands Ecologist
  • Water Resources Specialist
  • Soil Conservation Scientist
  • Environmental Consultant
  • Statistician/Modeler/GIS Specialist
  • Environmental Technician
  • Nature Preserve Manager
  • Sustainable Agriculture/Organic Farming

Environmental Studies

Students majoring in Environmental Studies use what they learn in the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities to explore human interactions with the environment. Using this knowledge, Environmental Studies students work to further understand the causes and consequences of environmental problems, and strive to develop solutions to these problems. Students of Environmental Studies will go directly into an environmental studies career or on to graduate or professional school to further their study. Some Environmental Studies students may choose to go into a field like law with a focus on environmental law. As an environmental lawyer they may work to develop environmental legislation and policy in governmental agencies, like the US Environmental Protection Agency. They may also work as attorneys or legal aides for private firms. Others may work for businesses or corporations as consultants on issues like environmental ethics, sustainability plans/building, green investing and other areas. Some students may go into environmental research or education after completing graduate studies in their chosen field. Educational opportunities exist not only in colleges and universities, but also in high schools and nature centers. Others may choose to communicate directly with the general public about environmental issues as writers, journalists or artists. Still other students may choose to get involved with community groups and volunteer organizations to work for solutions of environmental problems at the grassroots level.

Some potential career fields for Environmental Studies majors include:

  • Nature Writer/Editor
  • Environmental Lawyer
  • Policy Consultant/Legal Researcher
  • Urban or Regional Planner
  • Environmental Activist
  • Sustainability Officer/Consultant
  • Nature Photographer/Artist
  • Environmental Communications/Journalist
  • Green Investment Planner
  • Volunteer Coordinator
  • Parks and Recreation Director
  • Environmental Consultant
  • Environmental Educator/Naturalist
  • Landscape Architect
  • Conservationist
  • Environmental Researcher/Analyst

Environmental Job, Internship, and Scholarship Classifieds
The following links provide a guide to the industry of green careers. This selection of links is designed to give the user a well-rounded perspective on environmental education and career development.

Environmental News
The following links are credible news sources that cover environmental news at a local, national, and international level.

Environmental Research
The following links include environmental journals, blogs, discussion boards, and more.

Environmental Associations, Nonprofits, and Other Organizations

 

Students are encouraged to broaden their environmental education and experiences in ecosystems and cultures outside the U.S. by taking advantage of Loyola’s numerous study abroad opportunities. Various summer and semester exchange programs exist for study in Costa Rica, Belize, India, New Zealand, Mexico, China, Europe and other locations. Students should consult with the Environment Program Chair prior to undertaking their study abroad program to assess the suitability of courses for use in their major or minor.

Visit Loyola's study abroad website to find current opportunities