If you’re passionate about helping preserve the environment and develop sustainability solutions, then you might consider looking into environmental management degrees.
An environmental management major is designed to help prepare you to tackle today’s environmental challenges as well as equip you with both scientific and management skills.
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From analyzing the effect of the environment on health to developing sustainability solutions for the industrial sector and managing pollution, this field can be a rewarding area of study.
Online Bachelors in Environmental Management Degrees
A bachelors in environmental management degree is designed to provide students with the knowledge needed to manage natural resources and protect the environment.
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This program aims to help students tackle environmental issues present in the world today, such as water resources, air pollution, climate change, and more. This degree features a solid foundation in topics ranging from data assessment and research methods to environmental chemistry and ecosystem principles.
On this degree path, you can also expect to learn:
- Data analysis to determine potential adverse effects of biological and chemical agents
- Identification and evaluation of water, air, land, and energy resource needs
- Soil science
- Hydrology
- Pest management
- Agricultural ecology
- Leadership skills to effectively communicate on environmental issues
You may have the option of concentrating in areas like hazard or pollution management. Graduates may also explore paths to sustainability in various sectors, including commerce.
Other areas in which graduates may find careers include sustainable food and fiber production, environmental policy and analysis, water or energy resources, pollution management, and soil conservation. They may also work as environmental consultants for various agencies and companies to combat air pollution and ensure that an organization is complying with environmental regulations.
Some environmental management professionals become sustainability consultants or environmental consultants to government agencies. This type of role could enable them to potentially affect environmental policy decisions.
Environmental Management Careers & Salaries
Due to the solid foundation of environmental knowledge this degree provides, graduates may find positions in a wide variety of sectors. This includes consulting companies, government agencies, and even agricultural companies, where maintaining a sustainable environment is key.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, here are the median annual wages for a number of careers associated with environmental management.
| Careers | Annual Median Salaries |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $137,900 |
| Compliance Managers (Included in Managers, All Other) | $124,650 |
| Hydrologists | $84,030 |
| Geoscientists | $83,680 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists | $76,530 |
| Compliance Officers | $71,650 |
| Foresters | $64,110 |
| Conservation Scientists | $63,750 |
| Fish and Game Wardens | $60,730 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians | $47,370 |
Graduates may also find careers in environmental policy development, soil or water conservation efforts, pollution management, and global stewardship of natural resources.
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Common career titles include environmental consultant, conservation officer, natural resource manager, hydrologist, conservation officer, and restoration ecologist. Environmental management majors may have the option to choose a concentration, such as hazard control, which can influence career outcomes.
BS in Environmental Management Curriculum & Courses
Specific courses in an environmental management major can differ between schools, but many are similar in the standard curriculum. Courses may include:
- Environment and Ecosystems Principles: This course provides an overview of the principles that govern ecosystems as well as how resource development and industrial processes affect these environments.
- Environmental Regulations and Policy: This course analyzes the principles of administrative and constitutional law that apply to environmental management as well as health and safety management.
- Human Health and Disease: This course overviews the major components of the human body and factors that affect health, such as poisoning by environmental toxins and malnutrition.
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS): This course provides an introduction to GIS software and includes analyzing data, building databases, considering spatial context, and interpreting results.
- Environmental Health: This course studies the effects of environmental hazards, such as biological, chemical, or physical hazards on human health, and it includes the study of air, water, and soil pollution.
- Occupational Health and Safety: This course overviews the principles of health and safety in the workplace, and it includes topics related to the control of workplace hazards.
- Environmental Technology: This course provides an introduction to the use of technology in environmental management, including the use of technologies to mediate air, water, and land pollution.
- Global Environmental Management Issues: The goal of this course is to learn how to develop and evaluate environmental management projects, and it is global in scale.
- Air Quality Management: This course overviews air quality management strategies and includes strategies to identify the source of and mitigate air pollution.
- Pollution Prevention Strategies: This course covers systems and strategies that help prevent and minimize pollution, including recycling, material substitution, process modifications, quality assurance, and zero discharge.
You may also have the opportunity to choose a concentration within environmental management, such as toxicology and hazard control or sustainability.
Admissions Requirements
While admissions requirements can vary depending on your school, there are many similarities in what you’re be required to submit when applying for bachelor programs. Some of the most common requirements are:
- Official high school transcripts
- Minimum high school GPA (varies by school)
- Completed online application
- SAT or ACT scores (if required)
A growing number of schools no longer require SAT or ACT scores for undergraduate admissions. It’s helpful to talk to an admissions officer to determine whether you need them.
Environmental Management Degrees Accreditation
Before pursuing an online environmental management degree, it’s strategic to make sure your institution is accredited.
Accreditation is the quality assurance that your chosen college or university meets predefined standards of quality. Whether a school is accredited can affect your future employment opportunities, as some employers only recognize degrees from accredited institutions. In addition, attending an accredited school is also an eligibility requirement for various forms of financial aid.
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There are only a handful of regional accrediting organizations, and they’re listed on the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) website, along with a database of accredited schools.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Many students pursuing a bachelors in environmental management online degree seek financial assistance to complete their program. Luckily, there are many aid opportunities for qualifying students.
Federal aid can exist in the form of student loans or even grants. Loans and grants can also apply at your state level, depending on where you live and where your university is located. You may also be eligible for private grants and scholarships from institutions. Opportunities for funding exist for a range of circumstances, so it might be helpful to thoroughly explore grant opportunities.
If you’re currently employed, your employer may also be able to help. Many companies offer programs that allocate a portion of funds to employee education. You can talk to your HR department to discover more.
What Is an Environmental Management Degree?
An environmental management degree is designed to help prepare students to identify and evaluate current and future air, water, and energy resource needs.
It will likely cover all aspects of environmental management strategies, including risk assessment, pollution remediation, hazard control, public safety, and risk management. Coursework may also center on sustainability practices and solutions and involve a fair amount of data assessment, statistics, biology, and chemistry.
Topics could also cover emerging environmental improvement technologies as well as wildlife management and industrial ecology.
Is Environmental Management a Good Degree?
Yes, environmental management is a good degree for many undergraduate students. Aside from being a current global concern—which could result in higher demand and more career opportunities—environmental management can also be a rewarding field of study.
Many environmental management professionals work toward mitigating environmental damage and protecting natural resources. A degree in this field could help you qualify for a range of career paths, depending on your interests and degree concentration.
Graduates may choose to become environmental consultants or environmental policymakers at the government level, become conservation officers, or even work in global pollution management.
What Can You Do with a Bachelor of Environmental Management?
Due to the growing number of environmental concerns in our modern era, experts in environmental management are in demand.
Due to the diverse amount of environmental knowledge provided in this degree path, such as sustainability models and hazard control, students may be primed for a range of careers. A degree concentration may impact your qualifications as well.
Potential career paths in this field include environmental consultant or analyst, compliance and quality control manager, natural resource scientist, environmental protection specialist, and more. Some professionals go on to become restoration ecologists, hydrologists, and conservation officers.
What Degree Do You Need to Be an Environmental Manager?
Typically, a bachelors degree in environmental management is sufficient to enter the field. In this degree path, students are introduced to the major principles of environmental management and sustainability, which can help prepare them for career entry.
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Bachelor-degree holders may also qualify for senior or management positions once they’ve gained experience in the field. Continuing on to earn an on-campus or online masters environmental management may provide a competitive edge to your resume but generally isn’t required to enter the field. Some employers may prefer a masters-level education, though, for leadership positions. If you would like to enter a research position, a masters degree may be useful.
How Long Does It Take to Get an Environmental Management Degree Online?
Generally, it takes 4 years to complete an environmental management bachelors degree online if you follow a traditional, 16-week semester and attend full-time.
If you instead follow an 8-week semester and stay continuously enrolled year-round—which includes summer enrollment—you may be able to finish in less time. If at any point you choose to enroll part-time, this may extend the amount of time it takes you to complete your degree.
What’s the Difference Between an Environmental Science vs. Environmental Management Bachelor’s Degree?
While both of these degrees deal with the environment and have many overlaps, their core focuses are different.
- Bachelor’s in Environmental Management: Environmental management is focused on the preservation and maintenance of environmental resources, such as water.
- Bachelor’s in Environmental Science: Environmental science is focused on studying functions of the environment using chemistry, math, physics, and biology in order to see how the environment and other living things affect one another.
Environmental management focuses on managing the environment, while environmental scientists may conduct more field or laboratory studies to learn about environmental processes.
Is an Environmental Management Degree Worth It?
Yes, an environmental management degree is worth it for many students. Concerns regarding the environment continue to grow, making careers involving the environment in demand.
Career opportunities can also be diverse due to the variety of natural resources we consume and the varying types of pollutants that need to be managed. Responsibilities can range from consulting for businesses and government agencies to preserving different types of environments and resources.
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, environmental scientists and specialists are expected to see 5% job growth over the next ten years. This is in pace with the national average.
Universities Offering Online Bachelors in Environmental Management Degree Programs
Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.
ASU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Bellevue University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Colorado State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Columbia Southern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Florida Institute of Technology is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Florida International University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Indiana University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Lynn University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Maryville University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Oregon State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Purdue University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
St. Petersburg College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Unity College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
The University of Arizona is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Central Missouri is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Maryland Global Campus is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
The University of North Alabama is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The University of Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Wisconsin is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Virginia Wesleyan University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Getting Your Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Management Online
Earning a degree in environmental management online is a convenient way to prepare to help create a cleaner, more sustainable Earth.
In this bachelors program, you may have the chance to be involved in resource management, pollution mitigation, hazard control, restoration and conservation of habitats, and more. Plus, environmental management professionals may be able to work closely with agriculture companies or even government agencies to determine the ideal management of crucial resources.
If you’re passionate about the environment and desire to make a positive impact on natural resource use, then an environmental management degree may be a good fit. Why not start exploring available programs from accredited schools today?
