FROM STUDY TO SKILLS
All academic programs at UM help students develop valuable transferable skills. The Program in the Environment (PitE) is a collaborative effort overseen by LSA and the School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE). Its mission is to develop environmentally informed citizens and leaders through an undergraduate program that balances rigorous environmental studies in many disciplines, hones practical problem-solving skills, and fosters intellectual risk taking.
As a PitE concentrator, you will take courses in the natural and social sciences and the humanities, and gain an interdisciplinary understanding of environmental problems as well as specific social and natural science skills with which to solve them.
Related fields include Ecology, Geology, Biology, Law, Economics, Business, Urban Planning, Public Policy, Public Health, Psychology, Engineering, History, American Culture, Communications, Anthropology, and Museum Studies.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Technical / Research Skills
Developing questions for research
Creating hypotheses
Designing experiments
Modeling and projecting
Determining correct sample sizes
Collecting data
Determining statistical significance
Using A.R.C. / G.I.S.
Examining and quantifying data
Conducting statistical analysis
Correcting for error
Drawing valid, tested conclusions
Analytical / Problem-Solving Skills
Reading critically
Synthesizing information/concepts
Understanding socio / political / economic factors
Understanding demographics
Analyzing risks and cost-benefits
Dealing with error
Understanding correlations between factors
Project Development / Team Skills
Identifying a project
Identifying stakeholders/constituencies
Breaking big projects into smaller pieces
Understanding group dynamics
Understanding cultural differences
Being sensitive to different viewpoints and temperaments
Effective listening
Compromising
Communication Skills
Justifying a position
Writing proposals and research reports
Designing effective visual aides
Explaining complex information to different audiences
Speaking clearly and persuasively
Understanding how to affect environmental change
BUILDING YOUR SKILLS OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
Employers seek out individuals who can demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills, teamwork and interpersonal skills, initiative, and a strong work ethic. Student organizations and campus employment offer valuable opportunities to add to the skills you are developing in your classes. PitE students participate in the Honors Symposium, the PitE Club, and environmental organizations on campus. Other options include study abroad, off-campus employment or volunteering in the community. Finally, a summer internship may be the best way of all to test out a career field and develop marketable skills.
FROM SKILLS TO CAREER
PitE concentrators develop both general and technical skills applicable to a wide range of careers. For example, rigorous analytical skills will be equally useful whether working as a research scientist, an urban planner, or a watershed management specialist. Many PitE concentrators go on to graduate or professional school. The list below is a sample of careers undertaken by PitE graduates.
Technical / Research Skills
Forester 
Park ranger
Horticultural specialist
Botanist
Toxicologist
Climate change specialist
Occupational safety analyst
Lab assistant / research assistant / research scientist
GIS technician
Field scientist
Paralegal
Legislative staff assistant
Policy researcher
Analytical / Problem-Solving Skills
Environmental consultant
Architectural project assistant
Geologist
Anthropologist
Biologist
Epidemiologist
Physician
Veterinarian
Compliance officer
Corporate social responsibility officer
Sustainable development manager
Environmental economist
Environmental lawyer
Project Development / Team Skills
Environmental engineer
Non-profit director
Non-profit fundraiser
Recycling management coordinator
Curator
Event planner
Eco tour guide
Farmers’ market manager
Product purchasing manager
Landscape architect
Urban planner
Communication Skills
K-12 teacher
College professor
Community organizer
Politician, federal, state, and local government
Journalist / environmental writer
Public relations manager
Nature center outreach coordinator
= Further Study Required = Green Jobs
For more career information, see O*Net at http://online.onetcenter.org/
CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS
Prerequisites include introductory courses in biology, economics, math, geology, and the environment. In addition, 32 credit hours in the core curriculum are required, including courses in ecology, statistics, natural science and social science. Finally, each concentrator will choose a three-course specialization, which can range from Water or Terrestrial Ecology, to Environmental Policy or Economics. Students are encouraged to design their own specialization.
To enhance the theory and concepts learned in the classroom with a real-world experience, practical experience is required of all concentrators — taking a residential field course at UM biological station, an internship with environmental focus, or study abroad. We also offer a 17-credit minor, open to LSA and non-LSA students alike.
Program in the Environment (PitE)
1120 Undergraduate Science Building
204 Washtenaw Ave.
734-763-5065
www.lsa.umich.edu/pite
Newnan Advising Center
1255 Angell Hall
734-764-0332
www.lsa.umich.edu/advising
NEXT STEPS / RESOURCES
For more on internships and career information for PitE students, see:
www.lsa.umich.edu/pite/academics/internshipsandcareers
To identify internships or job opportunities, visit Handshake: https://careercenter.umich.edu/article/handshake
To begin connecting to professionals in fields that interest you, create your own LinkedIn account:
www.careercenter.umich.edu/article/getting-started-linkedin
On-campus jobs (work-study and non work-study jobs) are listed at:
https://studentemployment.umich.edu/JobX_Home.aspx
Maize Pages list hundreds of organizations for students to get involved in: http://studentorgs.umich.edu/maize
The Career Center
3200 Student Activities Building
734-764-7460
www.careercenter.umich.edu
www.facebook.com/careercenter.umich
http://twitter.com/careercenter
The Career Guide series was developed by the University of Michigan Career Center, Division of Student Affairs, in cooperation with the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. ©2011 Regents of the University of Michigan