Job Strategies: A Guide for Biology and Chemistry Majors:
How to Find Employment in Environmental and Occupational Health
A biology or chemistry degree qualifies you for many positions with no additional coursework. In fact, any degree with coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, and math will qualify you for many positions in EOH (environmental and occupational health). The demand is undeniably high; however, little things can go a long way to improving your chances:
Some easy first steps:
- See the job opportunities section of this website.
- Tour our labs. Call 818-677-4708 for an appointment. Depending on the activities in our lab, there may be some openings that interest you.
- Register on our e-mail list (free). You’ll be alerted to guest speakers or field trips (these events have direct connections with employers).
Take a single course:
- Our g.e. courses are EOH 101 (lower division students) and EOH 353 (upper division students). Learn more about job opportunities in a single class.
- Consider our courses in Toxicology (EOH 456), Risk Analysis (EOH 469), or a variety of electives. These courses are open to Science majors, and training in these areas is always a plus in interview situations.
Take a small series of courses:
- Minor in EOH. For students who have completed basic science courses (e.g. Biology and Environmental Chemistry students), it usually takes about 6 courses to complete the newly designed minor. These courses are also prerequisite courses for the Master’s degree in EOH, and students completing the minor do qualify to sit for the California Registered Environmental Health Specialist exam
- Our Certificate Program in Hazardous Wastes makes you more competitive in this area.
Get a second degree:
- A Master of Science degree coupled with a bachelor’s degree in your home department makes for a dynamic combination in the professional world.
- Worried that you don’t have the grades to be admitted into a master’s degree program? You always have the option of our second Bachelor’s degree. It takes less coursework than a master’s degree, but offers much of the same advantages.
For more information, call our department at 818-677-7476 and ask for an appointment.