President Obama’s attempt to create a green economy is having more impact than one might see at first. It’s giving industries involved in environmental administration, emergency management and waste management pollution control a major shot in the arm. It’s also creating a new occupation; one that considers environmental, business and social impact of all going down. These people are getting degrees in Environmental Policy and Management.
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Like the industries, this is a field that’s still establishing what it is about. It does concentrate on natural resource use and the state of our ecology, but at present it can do so by measuring the societal, financial or environmental impact. People with these degrees can end up doing anything from teaching to lobbying, going on for a law degree and taking it all to court, or actually controlling the costs of the research and development.
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This is becoming an especially critical job thanks to the growing environmental, aka, green industries. President Obama’s presidency platform of a green economy and subsequent initiatives has been a boon for new companies wanting to move into sustainable industries. The important thing is someone always has to pay for it and consider the long range implications of one plan versus another. Also, with carbon credits, converting to sustainable energy sources and cleaning up ecological disasters, that’s where these managers step in.
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Young students interested in entering the field should have a fairly wide grounding in business, environmental and social sciences. This occupation requires some aptitude in all these areas. Considering this job also involves a lot of interaction with people, strong oral and written communications skills are a must.?
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In other words, environmental policy is considered an interdisciplinary field. When considering college, one should actually sit down and talk with various schools regarding your 4-year degree. Some offer curriculum that puts more emphasis on environmental sciences, others approach it from the economic end. It might even be a good idea to look at schools offering post-graduate degrees to see what they look for. No matter what, you should play off whatever you consider your primary strength, and then fill in the gaps.
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Environmental Policy Management is also deemed a STEM occupation. This means there are grants and scholarships out there beyond everyday federal and state sources. The National Science Foundation is a good place to start.
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, environmental consultants in the private sector on an average make $899 per week, governmental managers earn $65,570. It projects the number of positions in the field to grow above average for the next decade. It also projects that the field will splinter into sub-specialties as it progresses. This specialization will also create new opportunities within the field.
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No matter what the future holds for the profession, what is undeniable is a growing need for people in this position. With such things as the BP Oil crisis and much more already having an impact on both the economic and environmental state of the world, environmental policy is a profession with an incredible future. Earning a degree in science in Environmental Policy and Management through college degree or online degree education will help towards your desired career.

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