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Environmental Science/Agrology
Employment Prospects: B- in 4 years
Courseload: 7.5-9/10
Ensci is an applied Science, which in essence means jobs outside research. In Canada, environmental Science positions often require the professional Agrologist (P. Ag) designation. The designation is obtained through experience in the industry and careful degree planning. Ensci is also one of the few science fields where a 4 year Bachelor’s is often more than sufficient to get into the workforce. Agrologists often work as consultants with a team in either the Oil & Gas industry or environmental compliance.
Oil and Gas
This side of agrology deals with clean up. They ensure that the environmental impact is controlled and that areas can be restored. As with most oil jobs, this industry is often lucrative but very cyclical.
Compliance
Agrologists in compliance ensure that government standards and regulation are met by companies with regards to their environmental impact. Agrologists would often specialize in a field (GIS, water pollution, carbon emissions, ecology, etc) and work together to provide assessments.
Ensci would certainly be a very employable major, and I would recommend the it over a pure science. Then again, Civil Engineers can often do a lot of EnSci work while having other career options open.
Kinesiology
Employment Prospects: C in 4 years
Courseload: 8/10
There’s many misconceptions about this particular major. Kinesiology, in essence, is exercise science. This broad discipline encompasses topics from biomechanics, to coaching, to athletic therapy, to mind sciences. There’s thus not really a set job for Kinesiology majors. So what jobs is kines good for and not good for? Kinesiology is good if you want to get into medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or Kinesiology research. To become a trainer or a coach, a kines major isn’t of much benefit. In fact, University might not be the right place to study for such careers. Certification and experience in the industry is often times more important for less academic and more applied jobs. Being a relatively new major, Kinesiology degrees might eventually be modified to help with receiving certifications. On the other hand, kines makes for a good pre-med major for those aspiring doctors who are also interested exercise and athleticism. Nursing, Economics, and Biomedical Engineering are objectively better pre-med majors however, if interest in exercise and athleticism is disregarded.
Geology
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Employment Prospects: B- in 6 years
Courseload: 9/10 undergrad
Geology is also an applied science, affording demand in multiple industries. Calgary is, interestingly, home to more geologists than any other Canadian city. This is mostly due to the oil and gas industry. The nearby Canadian Rockies, dinosaur Badlands, and oil sands also prove to be valuable geological research areas.
Exploration
Exploration Geologists often frequently work alongside Geophysicists and Engineers. In fact, they sometimes have similar responsibilities (and paychecks). Geologists are especially in demand, however, when exploring new oil or mineral reserves. They use their geological knowledge to predict earth composition and map the underground. They’re pretty much treasure hunters (although not really at $28 a barrel 😛 ).
Hydrogeologists
Research
Some Geologists take the academic route and into research. This makes their prospects akin to Chemistry and Biology majors. Paleontology is an especially interesting branch of geological research, but it is nonetheless a niche industry.
Geology majors often only need a Bachelor’s to work unless a specialization later on is pursued. It’s import to note that acquiring a designation as a Professional Geologist (P. Geo) is necessary to advance as a Geologist. A lot of geology positions go to Civil Engineers due to its overlap. It might be worth considering Civil if you would like to be in the field.
I want to be a scientist!
More science coming up with a mathematical sciences article: Physics, computer science, math, etc. Stay tuned!