College of Education & Human Services

College Student Personnel

Major Matchup Guide for Environmental Science Majors

An environmental science major and a master's degree in student affairs align in various ways, especially in roles that involve promoting sustainability, engaging with campus communities, and fostering student development. Here’s how they intersect:

  1. Sustainability Initiatives: Knowledge of environmental science can be leveraged to develop and manage campus sustainability programs, such as recycling initiatives, energy conservation projects, and green campus practices, enhancing the overall student experience and campus environment.
  2. Educational Programming: Experience in environmental science can be used to create and lead educational workshops or events on topics related to environmental awareness, sustainability practices, and climate change, providing valuable learning opportunities for students. The major often involves fieldwork, outdoor activities, and understanding natural environments. This knowledge can be applied to creating and managing outdoor recreational programs, adventure-based learning activities, and environmental education initiatives that enhance student engagement and wellness.
  3. Community Engagement: An environmental science major emphasizes community outreach, education, and advocacy on environmental issues. Skills in community engagement can be used to involve students in environmental advocacy, service learning projects, and awareness campaigns, fostering a sense of social responsibility and community involvement.
  4. Leadership and Advocacy: Understanding of environmental policies and issues can empower you to advocate for sustainability and environmental stewardship within the campus community, promoting a culture of responsibility and proactive engagement among students.
  5. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Environmental science often involves working across disciplines and collaborating with various stakeholders. This experience can be applied to working with different departments, student organizations, and campus groups to achieve common goals in student affairs.
  6. Program Development and Management: Skills gained from managing environmental science projects or research can be utilized to design, implement, and assess student programs and initiatives, ensuring they are effective and meet student needs.
  7. Data Analysis and Research: Environmental science involves collecting and analyzing data to understand environmental issues. These research and analytical skills can be applied to assessing student needs, evaluating program outcomes, and making data-driven decisions in student affairs.
  8. Environmental Health and Wellness: Knowledge of how environmental factors impact health can contribute to developing wellness programs that address the physical and mental well-being of students, including stress reduction, healthy living, and environmental health education.
  9. Event Planning: Experience in organizing environmental science-related events, such as community cleanups or awareness campaigns, can be transferred to planning and executing student events, workshops, and activities, ensuring they are engaging and impactful.
  10. Advocacy and Policy Development: Understanding environmental policy and advocacy can be useful in student affairs for developing policies and initiatives that promote a healthy, sustainable campus environment and support student well-being.
  11. Health and Wellness: Environmental science majors study the impact of environmental factors on health and well-being. Understanding these connections can help in developing wellness programs that address the impacts of environmental factors on student health, such as stress relief through nature-based activities or improving air quality in campus buildings.

The skills and knowledge from an environmental science background can enhance student affairs by promoting sustainability, fostering community engagement, and applying analytical and program development skills to improve student experiences and campus life.

Major Matchup Guide Home

Major Matchup

Mark Carbonara, Science Major
Mark Carbonara,
CSP '10

Undergraduate Major:
Natural Science-
Environmental Studies,
Dominican University

Current Position: Assistant Vice President for Advancement University Advancement, Dominican University

As a Natural Science/Environmental Studies major, I developed skills in critical thinking, testing theories, and using data to guide decision-making. During my time in the CSP program at WIU, I gained a deep understanding of student development theories and applied them in my daily work on campus. In my graduate assistant roles, I relied on both national and institutional data to shape programming and evaluate outcomes. Since graduating from WIU, I continue to utilize critical thinking, student development theory, and data-informed decision-making.

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