Career in Environmental Science in India: What would happen if the amount of water or trees on earth decreased or the human population increased drastically? Have any of such questions crossed your mind?
These are some applications of the Environmental Science field. As time passes, the world around us is changing faster, and most of these changes are not beneficial to the living things on earth. Environmental Science helps one to learn about such changes and to take necessary actions.
Most people consider Environmental Science a subject dealing with the natural science aspect. Still, the involvement of humanities and social science subjects makes it a broad and complex field. Do you want to become an Environmental scientist and wonder how to get started?
This article will give you an inside review of the career in Environmental Science in India and the different Environmental Science jobs available after doing Environmental Science courses.
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Quick Facts
The following is a summary of an environmental science course.
| Particulars | Description |
|---|---|
| Course Name | Certificate Courses in Environmental Science B.Sc. in Environmental Science M.Sc. in Environmental Science M.Tech. in Environmental Science Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science M.Phil. in Environmental Science |
| Duration | UG: 3 years PG: 2 years |
| Types of Environmentalist | Environmental Specialist, Environmental Science Teacher, Marine Biologist, Environmental Technician, Environmental Chemist |
| Top Recruiting Companies | AECOM Technology Corporation, Earth-Water Limited, Nalco Water India Ltd., Swelect Energy Systems Ltd., Paramount Ltd. |
What is Environmental Science?
Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary field that studies the effect of natural and unnatural processes and incorporates ideas and information from various fields. It is an aggregate of physical, biological and information sciences. It is otherwise defined as studying physical, biological and chemical components and processes on earth and their interactions. Earning a degree in Environmental Science means studying subjects like Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, Earth and marine sciences, and social science.
Who is an Environmental Scientist?
The one who practices Environmental science is called as an Environmental Scientist. An Environmental Scientist studies various earth processes, the existing energy systems to develop alternative sources, effects of global climate change, pollution control and natural resource management. They typically work to achieve environmental goals for the conservation of natural resources. Being an Environmental Scientist, one gets to travel a lot, especially trips to various world regions to study and test the environment there.
Difference Between Environmental Scientists and Environmentalists
There is a lot of difference between an Environmental Scientist and an Environmentalist. An Environmental Scientist is a person who is trained in the technical and scientific analysis of the environment. Whereas an Environmentalist has got a passion for protecting the environment.
Anyone who loves the environment can become an Environmentalist, while an Environmental Scientist should have the necessary education and knowledge about the environment. Like an artist who devotes themselves to art, Environmentalist devotes themselves to the environment. If you too get thrilled by the world of Environmental Science, then it is the right time to choose a career in Environmental Science.
Various Environmental Science Courses in India
To work as an Environmental Scientist or to make a career in Environmental Science, one can earn a degree in the following Environmental Science courses that are listed below:
| Courses | Duration |
| Certificate Courses in Environmental Science | A few months to one year |
| B.Sc. in Environmental Science | 3 years |
| M.Sc. in Environmental Science | 2 years |
| M.Tech. in Environmental Science | 2 years |
| Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science | 1 year |
| M.Phil. in Environmental Science | 2 years |
Admission Procedure
In this section, readers will learn about the admission procedure for the environmental course:
- For Undergraduate courses, students must have passed the 10+2 examination with Science subjects (Biology, Mathematics and Chemistry).
- Students should have a bachelor’s degree in science subjects for admission to postgraduate courses.
Eligibility Criteria
To take admission in any course, there are certain eligibility criteria which interested candidates have to follow. Similarly, there are certain eligibility criteria aspiring candidates must remember while choosing an environmental course as a career.
Eligibility Criteria for UG
The following are the eligibility criteria for the environmental science course:
| Particulars | Description |
|---|---|
| Age Limit | The minimum age limit is 17 years. |
| Qualification | 10+2 with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in the science stream |
| Qualifying Entrance Exam | CG PAT, IISER IAT, OUAT, GSAT, BHU UET, NEST |
Eligibility Criteria for PG
The following are the eligibility criteria for the environmental science course:
| Particulars | Description |
|---|---|
| Qualification | BSc or BSc Honors degree |
| Qualifying Marks | Minimum of 50% aggregate marks in BSc |
Top Colleges for Environmental Science
The following are the top colleges for environmental science with average fees:
| College Name | Location | Average Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Fergusson College | Mumbai | INR 11.13 K |
| PSG College of Arts and Science | Coimbatore | INR 7K |
| MCC Bangalore | Bangalore | INR 42K |
| St Xavier’s College | Ahmedabad | INR 9.98K |
| Ramanujan college | New Delhi | INR 22.5K |
Job Opportunities for Environmental Science
Many sectors offer rewarding, challenging and well-paying job opportunities for Environmentalists. An Environmental Scientist can work as an Environmental consultant, education officer, manager, nature conservation officer, recycling officer, waste management officer, sustainability consultant, water quality scientist, plant operator, lab technician, air emission tester, wind power analyst, environmental engineer etc.
Being an Environmental Scientist, one can work in various departments like agriculture, water, windmill, ecology, bioinformatics, zoology, climatology, archaeology, anthropology etc.
Job Profile
The following are the job profile for the environmental science course:
| Environmental Specialist | Environmental Science Teacher |
| Marine Biologist | Environmental Technician |
| Environmental Chemist | Wildlife Biologist |
| Environmental Geologist | Environmental Consultant |
| Environmental Health and Safety Officer | Meteorologist |
Role of an Environmental Scientist
The following are the roles of an environmental scientist:
- Collecting data from reliable sources
- Creating budgets for projects
- Creating plans to fix an area’s problems
- Interpret data to find issues
- Create scientific reports and presentations
- Conduct tests in the lab with samples from the environment
- Audit companies that are not in compliance with regulations
- Create models of the environment
Skills for Environmental Scientists
The following are the skills of an environmental scientist:
- Written and oral communication skills
- Teamwork
- Problem-solving
- An investigative mind
- Observation skills and critical thinking
- Innovative thinking
- Good with statistics
- Commercial awareness
Average Salary
The following are the average salary for a career in environmental science:
| Job Profile | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Environmental Journalist | INR 3-4 LPA |
| Environment Photographer | INR 3-4 LPA |
| Conservation Hydrologist | INR 4-6 LPA |
| Waste Management Associate | INR 5-6 LPA |
| Catastrophe Modeler | INR 5-6 LPA |
Recruiting Companies
The following are the recruiting sector for environmental science courses:
| AECOM Technology Corporation | Earth-Water Limited |
| Nalco Water India Ltd. | Swelect Energy Systems Ltd. |
| Paramount Ltd. | Gujarat Enviro Protection and Infrastructure Ltd. |
| Aquatech Systems Asia Private Ltd. | Enviro Control Associates India Private. Ltd. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which field is best for science students with Biology (PCB)?
Below are mentioned Available Courses after 12th Science.
>MBBS
>BDS-dentistry.
>BAMS-Ayurveda.
>BHMS-Homeopathy.
>BUMS-Unani.
>BNYS–Naturopathy & Yogic Science.
>BSMS – Siddha Medicine & Sciences.
What are some of the best career options for a Science student?
Check out our list of the top 7 highest paying science careers for inspiration to guide your science career journey.
1. Geoscientists
2. Atmospheric Scientists
3. Biochemists and biophysicists
4. Medical Scientists
5. Hydrologist
6. Materials Scientist
7. Chemist
8. Nuclear Technicians
Is environmental science a good career in India?
Environmental Science is an extensive and widely appreciated field with many employment opportunities. There is a vast scope in both the private and government sector wherein candidates can gain lucrative career growth in India.
Is environmental science in demand in India?
Demand is High for Environmental Science. Salary levels are Medium for Environmental Science. For freshers, the average salary is 3 to 4 Lacs.
Which stream is best for environmental science?
You should complete 12th in the science stream with Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Mathematics as subjects to study Environmental Science at the BSc degree level.
Read Also:
BA in geography honours subject n in Master degree can we take evs as a honours subject?
Yes.