Centre for Career and Personal Development Degree Profiles

These degree profiles look at potential jobs, key skills & atributes, associations & professional development and great books which relate to each degree and its potential career path.

Earth Science

Earth scientists study the materials that make up the Earth, and the natural and human processes that shape its landscape.

Key Skills & Knowledge

Analytical and critical thinking - Design experiments; develop theories; synthesize complex information; creative thinking; problem solving skills; decision making skills

Oral and written communication skills- presenting and communicating technical and scientific data and ideas clearly and articulately to both the scientific and non-scientific communities using current technology; scientific and technical writing; memorize large amounts of information

Organization and attention to detail- Independent worker, ability to meet deadlines; inspect specimens; demonstrate precision and accuracy in data collection and observation; data, time and resource management;

Research- Analyze and evaluate information; interpretation of trends from results; gather and access data

Interpersonal- Working in a team; oversee, supervise and contribute to a project

Technical- Perform laboratory procedures; Dissect preserved or euthanized specimens; observe and make measurements on organisms; administration of biological tests; collect and preserve field organisms

Sample Job Titles

Please note some of these positions may require further training, certification or education. Check out the occupational profiles to review the full details for the occupations that interest you at alis.alberta.ca/occinfo

Aeronautical Cartographer
Air Quality Specialist
Cartographer
Conservation Officer
Development Planner
Environmental Assessment Officer
Environmental Consultant/Planner
Field Project Coordinator
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Technician
Geomatics Analyst/Technologist

Hazardous Materials Consultant
Hazardous Waste Inspector
Historical Consultant
Hydrologist
Land Planner
Land Registration Officer
Land Survey Technologist
Materials Analyst
Meteorologist
Mineralogist

Mining Industry Technician
Park Naturalist
Parks & Recreation Coordinator
Pollution Control Inspector
Researcher/Research Assistant
Resource Technician
Soil Scientist
Surveyor
Teacher / Professor
Technical Writer

Potential Industries

Agriculture
Atmospheric Monitoring
Biotechnology
Conservation
Education
Environment & Pollution
Food & Beverage Manufacturers
Geomatics
Global Change Forecasting
Government
Hospitals & Medical Centres
Hydrology/Water Resources
International Development
Land Reclamation
Medicine & Health Organizations
Mapping & Cartography
Mining & Resource Exploration
Museums
National or Provincial Parks
Natural Resources
Non-Profit & NGOs
Pharmaceuticals
Post-Secondary Institutions
Research Institutions
Technical Writing
Testing Laboratories
Writing
Zoos & Aquariums

Associations & Professional Development

Job Sites

Additional Resources

Earth Science - more resources

Aligned Majors

Ecology

Geography

Geology

Did you know?

Formal Career Assessments like the Strong Interest Inventory and the Myers Briggs Type Indicator can be helpful tools for your career development. These assessments have been used for decades to help individuals choose a major, explore career options during and upon completion of a degree and to further understand yourself in relationship to the world of work. Inquire with Career Services if you are interested in these formal assessments.

Featured Books

Earth Science by Ferguson (Created by)
ISBN: 9780816072729
Publication Date: 2008-02-01
Great Jobs for Environmental Studies Majors by Julie DeGalan
ISBN: 0071493158
Publication Date: 2008-03-21
Science by Susan Echaore-McDavid
ISBN: 9780816071326
Publication Date: 2008-08-01