Environmental Science and Biology

[sanantone]

I've decided that I'm not going to use my tuition reimbursement for a law enforcement academy or nursing program. My employer only gives up to six hours of educational leave each week, and that's not enough for an academy or nursing program due to my work schedule completely overlapping with night classes. I also wouldn't have enough leave to do 12-hour clinical rotations with WGU. If I go into law enforcement, it would be better for me to be sponsored as a cadet or to get hired by a department with its own academy. 

So, I've decided that I want to study something in the life sciences after completing my PhD. Biology pairs nicely with criminal justice since it's a required degree for most forensic science jobs, and some universities due a lot of research in biological criminology. I also like the medical side of biology and working with mammals; however, I was seeing that environmental science jobs typically pay more than lab jobs and wildlife jobs. This degree would mostly be for personal fulfillment purposes, but it wouldn't hurt to get a useful degree. 

I've asked these questions on other forums and haven't gotten any responses, so I might as well try here, too. Would it be best to just get the master's in biology? Would it provide me the flexibility to enter the environmental science field? Or, should I get a master's in environmental science or a related major? 

As for environmental science programs, this leads to more questions. I've been looking at multiple programs with different names, but with similar curricula: Environmental Science, Environmental Sustainability and Natural Resource Management, Environmental Policy and Management with a concentration in Wildlife and Fisheries, and Environmental Engineering. I'm probably going to cross environmental engineering off my list due to the additional prerequisites I would need. 

Among the other programs, would employers be confused by degree titles such as Environmental Policy and Management or Environmental Sustainability and Natural Resource Management? I guess it would be easier to just get a degree in environmental science, but the school with the Environmental Sustainability and Natural Resource program is ranked in several engineering and science fields, and they have very high name recognition in my state.

[amilitab4k9]

Which environmental degree would greatly depend on the kind of work you wanted to do with it. If you wanted to work in a manufacturing environment, you would have to be very impressive to get them to look at your resume without the engineering piece. My husband runs the environmental department for a paper mill, which is how I know. (His Bachelor's is Chemical Engineering.) It does pay really well, though. 
Do some LinkedIn research to see what kinds of jobs people with the specific degrees have. I know a number of environmental science majors just end up selling solar door-to-door.

[bjcheung77]

Twenty years ago (yes, it's been that long) or longer actually, when I graduated High School with undesirable grades, the profession I really wanted to get into was Environmental Engineering Technology at the local college/institute as I knew I wanted to get into that field.

However, when I went to college, I was torn between Biology and Earth/Environmental Sciences. In the end, I kind of dropped out of college after two and a half years of studying general arts/sciences then went on to learn A+/Network+, then started working... fast forward 20 years and now I am here!

I would look at it through several factors of what really inspires you, which profession or job duties that suits you most. Get the degree or credentials required to practice in that profession and away you go! Hmm... On to more studying I go! Educational adventures await us all in this lifelong journey of learning...

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This is what I wanted: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/major...ngineering

[sanantone]

After digging for specifics on prerequisites, I've eliminated the Environmental Sustainability and Environmental Science programs. One will require a bachelor's in a natural science or mathematics; the other will require several chemistry courses.

So, I'm left with biology or environmental policy and management. The latter is cheaper, but it has other issues such as being from a 100% online for-profit ( which could be a problem for something as hands-on as science), and I don't know how employers would perceive the degree name.

[bjcheung77]

After digging for specifics on prerequisites, I've eliminated the Environmental  Sustainability and Environmental Science programs. One will require a bachelor's in a natural science or mathematics; the other will require several chemistry courses.

So, I'm left with biology or environmental policy and management. The latter is cheaper, but it has other issues such as being from a 100% online for-profit ( which could be a problem for something as hands-on as science), and I don't know how employers would perceive the degree name.

What's the degree name and which online for-profit school is this coming from?  Don't tell me it's from U of Phoenix!

[sanantone]

After digging for specifics on prerequisites, I've eliminated the Environmental  Sustainability and Environmental Science programs. One will require a bachelor's in a natural science or mathematics; the other will require several chemistry courses.

So, I'm left with biology or environmental policy and management. The latter is cheaper, but it has other issues such as being from a 100% online for-profit ( which could be a problem for something as hands-on as science), and I don't know how employers would perceive the degree name.

What's the degree name and which online for-profit school is this coming from?  Don't tell me it's from U of Phoenix!

The name is environmental policy and management as mentioned above. University of Phoenix is neither cheap nor 100% virtual.

[Sacricolist]

Just an FYI: Mississippi State University (distance.msstate.edu) offers online master’s degrees in General Biology and Geoscience with a concentration in Environmental Geoscience. They offer a large number of online degrees. Hope this helps.

[sanantone]

Just an FYI:  Mississippi State University (distance.msstate.edu) offers online master’s degrees in General Biology and Geoscience with a concentration in Environmental Geoscience.  They offer a large number of online degrees. Hope this helps.

I came across Mississippi State University. I crossed them off my list because they require a campus visit for the general biology program. But, thank you. 

I just found out that one of the schools I was looking at will accept my associate's in biology as being sufficient preparation.

[bjcheung77]

Ouch, you're making more and more interested in this program of yours...
Hmm, intriguing..., I look forward to seeing your journey. Good luck!

[sanantone]

Ouch, you're making more and more interested in this program of yours...
Hmm, intriguing..., I look forward to seeing your journey. Good luck!

Thanks. I still haven't decided if I want to complete a third bachelor's at COSC or Excelsior (natural science/biology) because it would be faster and cheaper or go for a master's that will probably lead to more opportunities. My employer will cover a good bit of the cost, but I would be stuck with them two years after completing the program.

If I recall correctly, one of the programs I'm looking at said that 60% of their students land a job making at least $60,000 within 6 months of graduation.

Edit: It's employed upon graduation, which is even better.