Environmental Science MS
Careers and Testimonials
Environmental Science MS program graduates enter the workforce with highly marketable and competitive skills. Our leading-edge curriculum nurtures our students’ talents and provides them with the best tools and transferable skills to land fulfilling positions in research, resource management, education, policy, and other high-impact careers.
Graduate Alumni Employment
| Employment Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Private Sector: For-profit organization, business | 24% |
| Government Agency: State | 18% |
| Government Agency: Federal | 14% |
| Education: Research focus | 11% |
| Government Agency: Local | 8% |
| Private Sector: Not-for-profit, Non-government organization | 8% |
| Education: Teaching focus | 7% |
| Other | 6% |
| Education: Administration | 3% |
| Military | 1% |
- Water Resources Manager - Driscoll's (berry farms)
- Ecology Lab Manager - National Science Foundation National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON)
- Environmental Scientist - California Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Environmental Programs Officer - Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps
- Project Director - FishWise
- Sales Engineer - Deep Ocean Engineering
- Program Coordinator - CSU Council on Ocean Affairs, Science and Technology (COAST)
- West Coast Regional Data Framework Project Coordinator - West Coast Governors Alliance
- Conservation Project Coordinator - California Association of Resource Conservation Districts
- Conservation Project Coordinator - San Mateo County Resource Conservation District
- Agriculture Water Quality Coordinator - Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
- Research Coordinator - Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center, CSUMB
- Education Coordinator - Living Coast Discovery Center
- Rote Program Coordinator - Institute for Applied Marine Ecology, CSUMB
- Wetland Scientist - Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
- Research Scientist - Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
- Hydrologist - Stanislaus National Forest, US Forest Service
- Watershed Scientist - Burleson Consulting Inc.
- Biologist - Burleson Consulting Inc.
- Biologist - Hemmera Consulting
- Resource Conservationist - Contra Costa Resource Conservation District
- Nutrient and Irrigation Efficiency Scientist / Environmental Modeling Technician - Buchanan Associates
- GIS Analyst - NASA Land-Cover / Land-Use Change Program
- Analyst / Program Evaluator - The Cadmus Group, Inc.
- Marine ScienceIntegration Researcher - Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans
- Education Specialist - NOAA's Sanctuary Exploration Center
- Data Manager Specialist - Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
- Math Teacher - Chartwell School
- Hydrologic Technician - US Forest Service
- GIS Technician - Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
- Research and GIS Technician - Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
- Technical Assistant - City of Santa Cruz Water Resources Management
- Laboratory Assistant - National Marine Fisheries Service
- Field Research Scientist - NASA-CSU Monterey Bay
- Research Technician - NASA Ames Research Center
- Student Design Trainee - San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
- Graduate Student Researcher - UC Santa Barbara
Graduates of the Environmental Science MS program (formerly Applied Marine & Watershed Science and Coastal & Watershed Science and Policy), consistently report a high satisfaction with the program. The program is carefully designed to address the demands of the field, and alumni find that the skills acquired through the program provide them with a unique competitive advantage in their job seeking and job performance.
What our Graduates are Saying
“CSUMB has been an overall great experience and has allowed me to make lifelong connections professionally and personally…attending the Professional Science Master’s (PSM) program equipped me with an entire skillset (applied restoration, data analysis, etc.) I hope to bring in my career as an environmental scientist.”
-Michael Biedebach ‘23, Research Technician with the Water, Agriculture, Technology, and Remote Sensing (WATRS) Lab at CSU Monterey Bay
“Through my time at CSUMB's environmental science masters program, I've gained the toolkit to lead, create, and organize my own research at a solo level or group level for a minimal cost.”
-Mason Donny ‘23, Naturalist with Monterey Bay Whale Watch
“My favorite part of CSUMB has been the variety of classes and field experience I have been able to take part in…our classes had a real-life approach where we were able to act as consultants on real projects during the semester. The program prepared me to jump right into the workforce.”
-Emma Debasitis ‘22, Restoration Biologist with the Great Valley Seed Company
“I have enjoyed learning practical skills that will benefit me in my career at CSUMB. I have been exposed to R (statistical data coding language), ArcGIS Pro (geographic information system), and other tools to add to my tool belt. Coming out of undergrad into the work force I felt I lacked specific skills (i.e., statistics, GIS, etc.), now I feel well rounded and able to critically think my way out of any issue.”
-Adrian Gonzalez ‘22, Environmental Scientist with Catalyst Environmental Solutions
"The ENSCI program helped me enhance skills I already had and gained many new ones that I can apply directly to my professional pursuits. I was rewarded with several opportunities to participate in class projects that addressed an expressed need in the community, and to communicate science to a diverse group of stakeholders including local city governments, researchers, and land managers. I feel better equipped to engage not only in my area of research but also in the broader environmental science community, and more importantly to communicate effectively to mixed audiences and the general public."
—Stefanie Kortman '20, Research Scientist at CSU Monterey Bay