Career Opportunities

What can I do with a major in Environmental Science? 

Upon graduation, Environmental Studies majors may go on to: 

  • Work as environmental educators for a governmental or citizens’ organization;
  • Obtain technical positions with environmental agencies, consulting firms and analytical laboratories; and
  • Pursue graduate studies in technical fields or in environmental policy, management and law. 
Alumni Achievements

Although Environmental Science is a new major at Heidelberg beginning Fall 2008, graduates from other majors have gone on to successful careers in environmental fields. These graduates have a high rate of placement in the job market and in top-rated graduate programs. These students have furthered their education or begun their careers at:

Graduate and Law Schools
  • Eastern Kentucky University
  • Michigan State University
  • The Ohio State University
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • University of Michigan
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison
Businesses and Organizations
  • COSI: Center of Science and Industry
  • County park district
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation
  • Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
  • Ohio Environmental Council
Alumna Profile
Elizabeth Toot-Levy, '01

 
While at Heidelberg, Elizabeth was a Water Resources and Environmental Biology major, as well as a member of the Honors program.
 
Elizabeth is currently pursuing an M.S. in Environmental Studies at Cleveland State University, and she already holds an Ohio EPA Class III Wastewater Operators License and is a certified 40-hour Hazardous Materials Technicican.
 
While continuing her education, Elizabeth works as an Investigator for the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) in the Water Quality and Industrial Surveillance Department, where she mainly focuses on chemical water quality and the biological health of local streams. As part of her responsibilities at NEORSD, Elizabeth must remain current on state and federal laws, regulations and policies.
 
Beyond her job responsibilities, Elizabeth serves as the Chair of the District's Regulations and Permits Advisory Committee and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies' (NACWA) Mercury Workgroup, and she is a member of the NACWA Water Quality, Emerging Contaminants, Legal Affairs and Regulatory Policy workgroups.
 
This May, Elizabeth, along with co-workers and fellow Heidelberg alumni Keith Linn, '80, and Seth Hothem, '00, received the prestigious NACWA National Environmental Achievement President's Award for significant contributions to "An Examination of Mercury Levels at Clean Water Agencies, 2003 - 2006." This study and the associated report compile the most comprehensive set of data concerning mercury levels at wastewater treatment facilities throughout the country.

In addition, Elizabeth is a member of the Water Environment Research Foundation's Trace Organics Issue Area Team, and she represents NEORSD at the Association of Ohio Metropolitan Wastewater Agencies.
 
Regarding her experiences at Heidelberg, Elizabeth noted: "At Heidelberg I had many opportunities that have helped me in my career. The research opportunities, internships, writing skills and public speaking that were a part of my undergraduate studies have been invaluable to me in my career. I am glad that I chose to attend Heidelberg for the unique experience of the Water Resources Major without which I would certainly not be in the career path that I am."