Skip to Main Content

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
  • Non-Profit & NGOs
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Post-Secondary Institutions
  • Research Institutions
  • Technical Writing
  • Testing Laboratories
  • Writing
  • Zoos & Aquariums

Aligned Majors

Key Contacts

Faculty Contact
Earth Sciences Building, Room 365
T: 403.220-8929
E: earthsci@ucalgary.ca
W: http://www.ucalgary.ca/admissions/earth_science

Clubs on Campus:

Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)

Centre For Career & Personal Development

MacEwan Student Centre, Room 188
T: 403.220.8020
E: csstdnt@ucalgary.ca
W: ucalgary.ca/careers