OCEAN-ECO SCIENCE The Universities that teach it & the Companies that use it

About Ocean-Eco Science

Using the principles of biology and chemistry, environmental engineers develop solutions to environmental problems. They are involved in water and air pollution control, recycling, waste disposal, and public health issues. Environmental engineers conduct hazardous-waste management studies in which they evaluate the significance of the hazard, offer analysis on treatment and containment, and develop regulations to prevent mishaps. They design municipal water supply and industrial wastewater treatment systems. They conduct research on proposed environmental projects, analyze scientific data, and perform quality control checks.

• Work at remote field sites is common.
• Federal, State, and local governments employ nearly one-half of all environmental scientists and geoscientists.
• A bachelor’s degree is adequate for a few entry-level jobs, but a master’s degree is usually the minimum educational requirement; a Ph.D. degree is required for most high-level research positions.
• Employment of geoscientists is expected to grow as fast as average, while environmental scientists and hydrologists will experience faster than average growth.
  

Environmental Engineers
are concerned with local and worldwide environmental issues. They study and attempt to minimize the effects of acid rain, global warming, automobile emissions, and ozone depletion. They also are involved in the protection of wildlife. Many environmental engineers work as consultants, helping their clients to comply with regulations and to clean up hazardous sites.

Environmental Scientists and Geoscientists
use their knowledge of the physical makeup and history of the Earth to protect the environment; locate water, mineral, and energy resources; predict future geologic hazards; and offer advice on construction and land-use projects.

Oceanographers
use their knowledge of geology and geophysics, in addition to biology and chemistry, to study the world’s oceans and coastal waters. They study the motion and circulation of the ocean waters; the physical and chemical properties of the oceans; and how these properties affect coastal areas, climate, and weather. Oceanographers are further broken down according to their areas of expertise. For example,

Physical Oceanographers
study the ocean tides, waves, currents, temperatures, density, and salinity. They examine the interaction of various forms of energy, such as light, radar, sound, heat, and wind, with the sea, in addition to investigating the relationship between the sea, weather, and climate.

Chemical Oceanographers
study the distribution of chemical compounds and chemical interactions that occur in the ocean and on the sea floor. They may investigate how pollution affects the chemistry of the ocean.

Geological and Geophysical Oceanographers
study the topographic features and the physical makeup of the ocean floor. Their knowledge can help companies find oil and gas off coastal waters.

(Biological oceanographers, often called marine biologists, study the distribution and migration patterns of the many diverse forms of sea life in the ocean, but because they are considered biological scientists, they are not covered in this statement on environmental scientists and geoscientists. See instead the statement on biological scientists elsewhere in the Handbook.)

Earnings Potential
Median annual earnings of environmental scientists were $47,600 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $36,820 and $62,400. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $29,920, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $78,200.

Median annual earnings of geoscientists were $67,470 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $48,370 and $102,120; the lowest 10 percent, less than $36,580 and the highest 10 percent more than $133,310.

Median annual earnings of hydrologists were $56,530 in 2002, with the middle 50 percent earning between $44,080 and $70,160, the lowest 10 percent less than $36,790, and the highest 10 percent more than $86,620.

What career opportunities does Ocean-Eco Science offer?
Wondering what kind of careers there are in Ocean-Eco Science? You have to check out our list of careers that you can enjoy. Go now

What schools offer Ocean-Eco Science programs?
Different schools have different approaches to the Ocean-Eco Science education. If you are interested in the Ocean-Eco Science network, please contact the universities listed in our database for information.

• Look at the schools that teach it
• Look at the corporations that use it