Environmental and Natural Resource Economics B.S.

Careers

A degree in Environmental Economics prepares students for a host of careers, including many jobs in the new “green” economy. For example, several ENRE alums have jobs working for renewable energy companies. Another is now a regional sales manager for electric vehicles for a large transportation company that sells commercial vehicles. Other ENRE grads work in the private sector on topics such as aquaculture, international forest products, global buying and selling in fisheries, and environmental restoration.

Government agencies, at the federal, state and local levels, are moving to implement ecosystem management as a foundation for setting policy and making environmental management decisions. In addition, most environmental policy assessments are now mandated to analyze the economic implications of those government decisions. Environmental managers are rapidly finding that environmental – or ecosystem – management problems are often driven by economic incentives. These factors suggest that environmental managers of the present and future will need an ever-increasing understanding of how economic factors may impact environmental management decisions and their effectiveness. Several ENRE alums work for state and federal agencies on environmental regulations. One of our graduates now holds the position of Executive Officer and Chief of Staff to the Director, Heliophysics Division for NASA.

Furthermore, private sector business, industry, and consulting will have an increasing demand for environmental specialists who understand both the natural sciences and the economy, particularly as the private sector faces new regulations on environmental quality.

This program also provides excellent training for students planning to do graduate work in natural resource management fields, and for students planning to go to law school, with an interest in environmental law or international disputes involving natural resources.

“ENRE taught me about how to augment the integration of policies that allow for individuals across the socioeconomic and ideological spectrum to coexist with our natural environment.”

Nicholas Coristidis ’18