Professionals shaking hands

With a degree from NRES, you are prepared to make a real difference as an environmental professional with a solid foundation in scientific principles, hands-on experience, and the ability to work effectively with the public. 

Our graduates work for a variety of sectors, including Fortune 500 companies, consulting firms, government agencies, research institutions, non-profits, and more. 

Your career could be primarily based in the outdoors, in an office, a laboratory, or a combination of these - the possibilities are endless!

Not sure what direction is best for you? We offer a career exploration course as well as multiple career counselors and faculty advisors to help you hone your passions. Most of our graduates start their careers immediately after graduation, and about 30% go on to pursue advanced degrees.

Check out some examples of the jobs our graduates have landed below.

Examples of Job Titles

  • Arborists & Foresters
  • Aquarium coordinators
  • Carbon neutral program directors
  • Conservation biologists
  • Conservation officers
  • Corporate sustainability managers
  • Environmental attorneys
  • Environmental consultants
  • Environmental educators
  • Environmental engineers
  • Environmental justice managers
  • Fisheries specialists
  • GIS/GPS Technicians
  • Health inspectors
  • Hydrologists
  • Industrial hygienists
  • Park rangers
  • Research ecologists
  • Urban biodiversity directors
  • Water resources managers
  • Wildlife ecologists

Career Resources

When it comes to finding a job, we have many resources available to students to ensure they are prepared for the job application process.

Campus Centers and Services

The University of Illinois Career Center offers a full range of programs, services, resources and counseling to assist all students and alumni of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, regardless of academic affiliation.

  • Career Center job posting platform: Handshake @ Illinois
  • Additional campus career services: careerservices.illinois.edu. Learn about specific college offices, career readiness competencies, and how to articulate your experiences into valuable resume building content.

The College of ACES Career Services helps you explore potential careers, prepare for the job search, connect with potential employers for internships and full-time jobs, or get ready for graduate or professional school.

Other On-campus Job Boards

 

NRES Resources

As an NRES student or alumni you have multiple departmental resources available to you:

Other Environment-related Job Boards

Internships: 

Jobs & Internships:

Professional Organizations

We also recommend looking into the following professional organizations to grow your network:

Certifications

Many careers in NRES-related fields have certification programs that enhance your credentials and impress employers. Many require a certain amount of post-education experience and continuing professional development.

While you will not be able to attain many of these certifications with just your NRES coursework, you can choose coursework during your degree program that will provide you with the background you need to pursue certification after you have gained the necessary experience.

You can find certification requirements for many professions linked below: