David Baum '80
Swinging on the grape vines at the bottom of the ravines.
Environmental and Sustainability Studies Career Guide
Explore Options: A Menu of Major-Specific Experiences and Sampling of Related Career Paths
Academic Resources
Explore our Environmental and Sustainability Studies academic resources, designed to support your academic aspirations.
Feeling like you don't know what to do with all of this great information? We highly encourage to make an appointment with your academic advisor and career advisor. Another great starting point is the Self-Guided Career Exploration Tool.
Career Resources
Unlock career potential in Environmental and Sustainability Studies! Discover resources to maximize your professional trajectory.
Menu of Experiences
Sample Internship Sites
Internships provide a way for you to get hands-on, supervised experience in the world of work. You are able to apply the concepts you are learning in the classroom to a work environment.
Join A Student Organization
Get involved with a student organization related to your major. Student orgs are a great way to get connected and explore career options!
Relevant Courses and Certificates for Building Skills
Developing the relevant skills that employers seek is an essential component of a student's education. GVSU students should consider strategic elective courses and certificates to pair with their major in order to gain additional skills.
Community Service Opportunities
Seek volunteer opportunities related to the field you're exploring as a way of testing out future careers.
GVSU Civic Engagement keeps a list of current volunteer opportunities updated on their website. There are ongoing opportunities on a continuous basis, as well as on-campus and off-campus opportunities posted as they become available.
Civic Engagement
Environmental and Sustainability Studies Study Abroad Options
Through study abroad you’ll also set yourself apart from other job-seekers and graduate-school applicants in an increasingly competitive market.
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Pursuing academic, creative, and research experiences and projects outside the classroom is an excellent way to learn new skills and build a body of work in your field.
Fellowship Opportunities
Fellowships are high-impact, potentially life-changing opportunities for students and alumni, opening doors to careers in public service, advanced academic study, foreign service, international teaching, and other career and service pathways into meaningful and fulfilling lives.
Environmental and Sustainability Studies Career Spotlights
Environmental and Sustainability Studies
Judi Majnun Miller - Lindsey '78
I loved playing my guitar and singing my original songs in the local coffee house.
Robert Zinger '12
I have fond memories of spending time in nature at GVSU while hiking the ravines for samples and measurements during the NRM course called The Climatic Factor as well as during the Rowing I course I finally got enrolled in my senior year.
Elizabeth Greiter '22
No one specific memory reigns highest of them all for me but I look very fondly on going for a sweet treat at late night at the Blue Connection with my roommate and our neighbors.
Where Alumni Have Landed
The first graduating class of ENS majors is coming soon!
In the meantime, here are a few jobs an ENS graduate might be interested in:
- Farm Manager
- Garden Director
- Natural Resource Manager
- Sustainability Coordinator
- Resource Recovery Specialist
- Park Supervisor
- Environmental Compliance Coordinator
Attend Events
Career Community- Education, Nonprofit & Public Service
Employer of the Day: Children's Advocacy Center of Kent County
January 21, 2026 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Stop by the Au Sable Hall First Floor anytime between 9:30am and 2pm to meet representatives from the Children's Advocacy Center of Kent County! Each semester, we bring top companies...
Employer of the Day: The Fowler Center for Outdoor Learning (MCHS Family of Services)
January 28, 2026 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Stop by the Au Sable Hall First Floor anytime between 9:30am and 2pm to meet representatives from the The Fowler Center for Outdoor Learning (MCHS Family of Services)! Each semester,...
JCPenney Suit Up - Winter 2026
February 1, 2026 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
All Grand Valley students and alumni are invited to attend a GVSU/JCPenney Suit-Up Event! This event will include options to participate virtually or in-person. In-person: Come to JCPenney at RiverTown...
Employer of the Day: Michigan State Police
February 4, 2026 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Stop by the Au Sable Hall First Floor anytime between 9:30am and 2pm to meet representatives from the Michigan State Police! Each semester, we bring top companies right to you on campus!...
Prepare for the Career Fair (City)
February 9, 2026 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Are you preparing for the upcoming Fall GVSU Career and Internship Fair, but not quite sure where to start? The Career Center will be hosting a drop-in event to help you refine your resume, formulate...
View More Career Community- Education, Nonprofit & Public Service
Consider joining the Education, Nonprofit, and Public Service Career Community or any other Career Community you are interested in!
Beyond Undergraduate: Graduate or Professional Programs
Undergraduate ENS majors are able to pursue a variety of graduate degrees. Below are a few examples:
- Professional Science Master’s (PSM)
- Master of Public Policy (MPP) – Environmental Policy Concentration
- M.S. in Sustainability
- M.S. in Environmental Engineering
- MBA in Sustainability or Sustainable Business
Discover More
Join a Career Community
Check out our Podcast!
Career Center Resources
Looking for other career resources? The Career Center Resources page contains resources related to careers, resumes, internships, job search, interviewing, networking, and more.