Undergraduate

What Can I Do With an Earth and Planetary Science Degree?

Earth and Planetary Science students learn to use limited amounts of data to make inferences about the world around them. Many employers find skills learned in the Earth and Planetary Sciences to be useful in settings where the complexities of "real world" situations often require analysis and action based on limited information. Our curricular focus on concepts provides a framework of transferable skills across a wide variety of fields, which we view is imperative to students' employability. Traditionally, job opportunities in Earth and Planetary Sciences include positions in nonprofit, academia, government, industry, and research sectors. The following "Workforce Infographic" from the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) was generated to help students enter the workforce to redefine what it means to have a career in the Earth and Planetary Sciences. The wedges represent fields where Earth and Planetary Scientists are commonly employed and include a number of different potential occupations.

Workforce Infograhic

Source: AGI website, Illustrator: Kathleen Cantner, Content: Heather Houlton; Abigail Seadler

Campus Resources

Getting An Internship/Job: Government/Academic Research

A number of organizations offer internship opportunities throughout the year. Please check out some of the resources below:

Industry

Internship and job opportunities abound in industries related to the Earth and Planetary Sciences. Geosciences conferences often have recruiters onsite and provide a good place to make contacts at various companies. Check out the following options:

Job Classified Ads

These sites provide a classified section for employers in academia and industry to post job positions. Some colleges will also post ads seeking graduate students.