Environmental Studies

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About the Program

As an Environmental Studies student at UMFK, you’ll benefit from hands-on learning, supportive and knowledgeable faculty as you prepare for careers to address local, regional, and global environmental issues. Opportunities to participate in research with faculty or on your own abound in our Living Labs!

You have the option of pairing your degree with a minor or with a Self-Designed concentration.

Program Details

Dive deeper into UMFK’s Bachelor of Science in environmental science program.

Environmental Studies Minor

Examine current environmental issues and prepare to craft sustainable solutions.

Concentrations

Customize your environmental studies degree to match your career goals with the self-designed concentration.

Self-Designed

Design your program around individual interests in the natural or social science aspects of environmental studies.

Employers who have hired our graduates in recent years include:

  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Mt. Desert Island Bio Labs
  • Natural Heritage program
  • Department of Environmental Protection
  • Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife
  • U.S. Forest Service
  • National Park Service

Potential employers include:

  • State agencies
  • Federal agencies
  • Public research labs
  • Universities or non-profit labs

Graduates have careers as:

  • Lab technicians
  • Forest rangers
  • GIS technicians
  • Fisheries technicians
  • Environmental Consultants

Career outlook and earning potential

Bureau of Labor Statistics – Potential Occupations and Employment Outlook

Program Requirements

  • BIO 121: General Biology II
  • BIO 202: Botany
  • BIO 204: Zoology
  • BIO 352: Ecology
  • CHY 100: Chemistry I
  • CHY 101: Chemistry II
  • ENV 105: Wilderness Survival Concepts I
  • ENV 114: Reimagining Environmentalism
  • ENV 200: Principles of Environmental Science
  • ENV 341: Modern Humanity and the Environment
  • ENV 404: The Dynamics of Water and Air
  • BIO 339: Research Methods & Techniques
  • BIO 498: Senior Project   OR
    ENV 300: Environmental Practicum   OR 
    Completion of Registered Maine Guides
  • HUM 102: First Year Experience
  • Select one of the following four courses:
    GEO 103: Introduction To Global Positioning Systems
    PSA 230: Wilderness First Aid
    ENV 125: Wildlife Photography
    ENG 318: American Nature Writing

Required Support Courses

  • BIO 100: General Biology I
  • ECO 210: Environmental Economics
  • GIS 300: GIS Applications I
  • MAT 351: Statistics I

Violette Wilderness Camp

Among the facilities students have access to

99%

Students who complete a research project before graduating

Department of Environmental Quality/Protection

An example of where our graduates work today

Next Steps

Tell us about yourself to learn more about the benefits of earning your degree at UMFK.

Behavioral Science

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About the Program

As an Environmental Studies student at UMFK, you’ll benefit from hands-on learning, supportive and knowledgeable faculty as you prepare for careers to address local, regional, and global environmental issues. Opportunities to participate in research with faculty or on your own abound in our Living Labs!

You have the option of pairing your degree with a minor or with a Self-Designed concentration.

Program Details

Dive deeper into UMFK’s Bachelor of Science in environmental science program.

Environmental Studies Minor

Examine current environmental issues and prepare to craft sustainable solutions.

Concentrations

Customize your environmental studies degree to match your career goals with the self-designed concentration.

Self-Designed

Design your program around individual interests in the natural or social science aspects of environmental studies.

Behavioral Science, General Studies

The Associate of Arts in General Studies concentration in Behavioral Science will provide you with a sound liberal arts foundation with the fundamentals of anthropology, psychology, and sociology.

Human Services, General Studies

The Associate of Arts in General Studies concentration in Human Services will prepare you for work in the behavioral health field, meeting the requirements for certification as a Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician – Community (MHRT/C).

Behavioral Science, Minor

The Behavioral Science minor will provide you with a foundation in behavioral health science that enables you to increase your understanding of individual and group behavior.

Online Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician Community (MHRT/C) Certificate

The MHRT/C certification prepares students to provide services to adults with serious mental illness. Many careers within the behavioral health field require the MHRT/C certification. The content and skills covered in the MHRT/C curriculum also transfer to other roles/populations in the behavioral health field.

Employers who have hired our graduates in recent years include:

  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Mt. Desert Island Bio Labs
  • Natural Heritage program
  • Department of Environmental Protection
  • Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife
  • U.S. Forest Service
  • National Park Service

Potential employers include:

  • State agencies
  • Federal agencies
  • Public research labs
  • Universities or non-profit labs

Graduates have careers as:

  • Lab technicians
  • Forest rangers
  • GIS technicians
  • Fisheries technicians
  • Environmental Consultants

Career outlook and earning potential

Bureau of Labor Statistics – Potential Occupations and Employment Outlook

Program Requirements

  • BIO 121: General Biology II
  • BIO 202: Botany
  • BIO 204: Zoology
  • BIO 352: Ecology
  • CHY 100: Chemistry I
  • CHY 101: Chemistry II
  • ENV 105: Wilderness Survival Concepts I
  • ENV 114: Reimagining Environmentalism
  • ENV 200: Principles of Environmental Science
  • ENV 341: Modern Humanity and the Environment
  • ENV 404: The Dynamics of Water and Air
  • BIO 339: Research Methods & Techniques
  • BIO 498: Senior Project   OR
    ENV 300: Environmental Practicum   OR 
    Completion of Registered Maine Guides
  • HUM 102: First Year Experience
  • Select one of the following four courses:
    GEO 103: Introduction To Global Positioning Systems
    PSA 230: Wilderness First Aid
    ENV 125: Wildlife Photography
    ENG 318: American Nature Writing

Required Support Courses and Additional Credits

  • BIO 100: General Biology I
  • ECO 210: Environmental Economics
  • GIS 300: GIS Applications I
  • MAT 351: Statistics I

Violette Wilderness Camp

Among the facilities students have access to

99%

Students who complete a research project before graduating

Department of Environmental Quality/Protection

An example of where our graduates work today

Next Steps

Tell us about yourself to learn more about the benefits of earning your degree at UMFK.

Arts and Sciences

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About the Program

As an Environmental Studies student at UMFK, you’ll benefit from hands-on learning, supportive and knowledgeable faculty as you prepare for careers to address local, regional, and global environmental issues. Opportunities to participate in research with faculty or on your own abound in our Living Labs!

You have the option of pairing your degree with a minor or with a Self-Designed concentration.

Program Details

Dive deeper into UMFK’s Bachelor of Science in environmental science program.

Environmental Studies Minor

Examine current environmental issues and prepare to craft sustainable solutions.

Concentrations

Customize your environmental studies degree to match your career goals with the self-designed concentration.

Self-Designed

Design your program around individual interests in the natural or social science aspects of environmental studies.

Minors

Pursue a minor to gain additional specialized skills to attract an employer or pursue an area of interest.

Arctic Studies

Learn about the economics, business, governance, environment, culture, and sustainability of the Arctic.

English

Develop communication and analytical skills; broaden you knowledge of literature, writing, or editing as a complement to your major.

Self-Design

Create you own minor by selecting courses around a broad theme or question. You will work on original research or a creative work.

Program Requirements

  • BIO 121: General Biology II
  • BIO 202: Botany
  • BIO 204: Zoology
  • BIO 352: Ecology
  • CHY 100: Chemistry I
  • CHY 101: Chemistry II
  • ENV 105: Wilderness Survival Concepts I
  • ENV 114: Reimagining Environmentalism
  • ENV 200: Principles of Environmental Science
  • ENV 341: Modern Humanity and the Environment
  • ENV 404: The Dynamics of Water and Air
  • BIO 339: Research Methods & Techniques
  • BIO 498: Senior Project   OR
    ENV 300: Environmental Practicum   OR 
    Completion of Registered Maine Guides
  • HUM 102: First Year Experience
  • Select one of the following four courses:
    GEO 103: Introduction To Global Positioning Systems
    PSA 230: Wilderness First Aid
    ENV 125: Wildlife Photography
    ENG 318: American Nature Writing

Violette Wilderness Camp

Among the facilities students have access to

99%

Students who complete a research project before graduating

Department of Environmental Quality/Protection

An example of where our graduates work today

Next Steps

Tell us about yourself to learn more about the benefits of earning your degree at UMFK.

Rural Public Safety Administration

Featured Image

About the Program

As an Environmental Studies student at UMFK, you’ll benefit from hands-on learning, supportive and knowledgeable faculty as you prepare for careers to address local, regional, and global environmental issues. Opportunities to participate in research with faculty or on your own abound in our Living Labs!

You have the option of pairing your degree with a minor or with a Self-Designed concentration.

Self-Designed

Design your program around individual interests in the natural or social science aspects of environmental studies.

Program Requirements

  • BIO 121: General Biology II
  • BIO 202: Botany
  • BIO 204: Zoology
  • BIO 352: Ecology
  • CHY 100: Chemistry I
  • CHY 101: Chemistry II
  • ENV 105: Wilderness Survival Concepts I
  • ENV 114: Reimagining Environmentalism
  • ENV 200: Principles of Environmental Science
  • ENV 341: Modern Humanity and the Environment
  • ENV 404: The Dynamics of Water and Air
  • BIO 339: Research Methods & Techniques
  • BIO 498: Senior Project   OR
    ENV 300: Environmental Practicum   OR 
    Completion of Registered Maine Guides
  • HUM 102: First Year Experience
  • Select one of the following four courses:
    GEO 103: Introduction To Global Positioning Systems
    PSA 230: Wilderness First Aid
    ENV 125: Wildlife Photography
    ENG 318: American Nature Writing

Forensic Science Minor

Students take at least three forensic science courses, with the option of earning a minor in forensics. In addition, you’ll benefit from real-world learning in the form of mock trial prep, interviews, and crime scene investigations.

Criminal Justice Minor

The Criminology Minor allows the student to explore the legal, social, and practical aspects of the criminal justice field.

Career Opportunities in Rural Public Safety Administration

Graduates have careers as:

  • Game Warden
  • Conservation Law Officer
  • Marine Patrol
  • State Trooper
  • Sheriff Deputy
  • Police Officer
  • Chief of Police
  • Border Patrol Agent
  • Customs and Border Officer

Employers who have hired our graduates in recent years include:

  • Maine Warden Service
  • Maine Forest Rangers
  • National Park Service
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Maine Department of Conservation
  • Fish & Game
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Department of Homeland Security
  • Bureau of Parks and Lands
  • Maine State Police
  • Local Police Departments (various)

Career outlook and earning potential

Bureau of Labor Statistics – Potential Occupations and Employment Outlook

Violette Wilderness Camp

Among the facilities students have access to

99%

Students who complete a research project before graduating

Department of Environmental Quality/Protection

An example of where our graduates work today

Next Steps

Tell us about yourself to learn more about the benefits of earning your degree at UMFK.

Business Management

Featured Image

About the Program

As an Environmental Studies student at UMFK, you’ll benefit from hands-on learning, supportive and knowledgeable faculty as you prepare for careers to address local, regional, and global environmental issues. Opportunities to participate in research with faculty or on your own abound in our Living Labs!

You have the option of pairing your degree with a minor or with a Self-Designed concentration.

Self-Designed

Design your program around individual interests in the natural or social science aspects of environmental studies.

Forensic Science Minor

Students take at least three forensic science courses, with the option of earning a minor in forensics. In addition, you’ll benefit from real-world learning in the form of mock trial prep, interviews, and crime scene investigations.

Program Requirements

  • BIO 121: General Biology II
  • BIO 202: Botany
  • BIO 204: Zoology
  • BIO 352: Ecology
  • CHY 100: Chemistry I
  • CHY 101: Chemistry II
  • ENV 105: Wilderness Survival Concepts I
  • ENV 114: Reimagining Environmentalism
  • ENV 200: Principles of Environmental Science
  • ENV 341: Modern Humanity and the Environment
  • ENV 404: The Dynamics of Water and Air
  • BIO 339: Research Methods & Techniques
  • BIO 498: Senior Project   OR
    ENV 300: Environmental Practicum   OR 
    Completion of Registered Maine Guides
  • HUM 102: First Year Experience
  • Select one of the following four courses:
    GEO 103: Introduction To Global Positioning Systems
    PSA 230: Wilderness First Aid
    ENV 125: Wildlife Photography
    ENG 318: American Nature Writing

Online Degree Completion

The online Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Business Management degree program at UMFK provides you the opportunity to finish your degree faster than in a traditional classroom setting. Each class runs for 7  weeks, and you can begin the program at the beginning of any 7 week session. The courses are strategically designed to maximize the applicable skills a working business professional will need in the field.

Business, General Studies

The Associate of Arts in General Studies with a concentration in business aims to develop students as responsible, educated global citizens, life-long learners, and engaged business managers and entrepreneurs.

Business Minor

Students completing the business minor will develop an understanding of the principles of managing businesses, market forces, principles of accounting, and advanced topics in the business field.

Healthcare Management Certificate

The Healthcare Management Certificate helps students develop skills to prepare them for the ever-changing world of healthcare management.

Employers who have hired our graduates in recent years include:

  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Mt. Desert Island Bio Labs
  • Natural Heritage program
  • Department of Environmental Protection
  • Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife
  • U.S. Forest Service
  • National Park Service

Career outlook and earning potential

Bureau of Labor Statistics – Potential Occupations and Employment Outlook

Violette Wilderness Camp

Among the facilities students have access to

99%

Students who complete a research project before graduating

Department of Environmental Quality/Protection

An example of where our graduates work today

Next Steps

Tell us about yourself to learn more about the benefits of earning your degree at UMFK.

Biology

Featured Image

About the Program

As an Environmental Studies student at UMFK, you’ll benefit from hands-on learning, supportive and knowledgeable faculty as you prepare for careers to address local, regional, and global environmental issues. Opportunities to participate in research with faculty or on your own abound in our Living Labs!

You have the option of pairing your degree with a minor or with a Self-Designed concentration.

Program Details

Dive deeper into UMFK’s Bachelor of Science in environmental science program.

Environmental Studies Minor

Examine current environmental issues and prepare to craft sustainable solutions.

Concentrations

Customize your environmental studies degree to match your career goals with the self-designed concentration.

Self-Designed

Design your program around individual interests in the natural or social science aspects of environmental studies.

Employers who have hired our graduates in recent years include:

  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Mt. Desert Island Bio Labs
  • Natural Heritage program
  • Department of Environmental Protection
  • Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife
  • U.S. Forest Service
  • National Park Service

Potential employers include:

  • State agencies
  • Federal agencies
  • Public research labs
  • Universities or non-profit labs

Graduates have careers as:

  • Lab technicians
  • Forest rangers
  • GIS technicians
  • Fisheries technicians
  • Environmental Consultants

Career outlook and earning potential

Bureau of Labor Statistics – Potential Occupations and Employment Outlook

Program Requirements

  • BIO 121: General Biology II
  • BIO 202: Botany
  • BIO 204: Zoology
  • BIO 352: Ecology
  • CHY 100: Chemistry I
  • CHY 101: Chemistry II
  • ENV 105: Wilderness Survival Concepts I
  • ENV 114: Reimagining Environmentalism
  • ENV 200: Principles of Environmental Science
  • ENV 341: Modern Humanity and the Environment
  • ENV 404: The Dynamics of Water and Air
  • BIO 339: Research Methods & Techniques
  • BIO 498: Senior Project   OR
    ENV 300: Environmental Practicum   OR 
    Completion of Registered Maine Guides
  • HUM 102: First Year Experience
  • Select one of the following four courses:
    GEO 103: Introduction To Global Positioning Systems
    PSA 230: Wilderness First Aid
    ENV 125: Wildlife Photography
    ENG 318: American Nature Writing

Required Support Courses

  • BIO 100: General Biology I
  • ECO 210: Environmental Economics
  • GIS 300: GIS Applications I
  • MAT 351: Statistics I

Violette Wilderness Camp

Among the facilities students have access to

99%

Students who complete a research project before graduating

Department of Environmental Quality/Protection

An example of where our graduates work today

Next Steps

Tell us about yourself to learn more about the benefits of earning your degree at UMFK.

Applied Forest Management

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About the Program

Accredited by the Society of American Foresters, UMFK’s Applied Forest Management program offers small classes, hands-on learning, and experienced faculty. You’ll explore topics such as tree planting and tending, species identification, forest ecology and habitat management, and more. The degree will also provide you a pathway to becoming a Maine Licensed Forester.

Program Details

Dive deeper into UMFK’s Bachelor of Science in environmental science program.

Environmental Studies Minor

Examine current environmental issues and prepare to craft sustainable solutions.

Career Opportunities in Applied Forest Management

This is a great time to seek a career in forestry! The ratio of jobs to graduates is at an all-time high, and that ratio is only expected to increase. Changes in the forest industry have created many new, technologically advanced positions.

Graduates find work as:

  • Foresters
  • Forest technicians
  • Rangers for the Maine Forest Service
  • Forest operations
  • Rangers for federal agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management or the U.S.D.A. Forest Service
  • GIS specialists

Professional Certification

After you earn your degree and acquire four years of supervised work experience, you’ll be eligible to become a Maine Licensed Forester. Students also test for the S-212 Wildland Fire Chainsaws certification and a Maine Pesticide Applicator’s License.

Minors

Customize your degree to match your career goals with one of these minors.

Forestry Minor

You will gain general knowledge of Maine’s most important natural resource and an understanding of forest biology and management.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Minor

With a GIS background you will have a competitive advantage easily find starting positions with government agencies or private firms.

Potential employers include:

  • Consulting foresters
  • Land management companies
  • Forest industry
  • Forestry, conservation, and agriculture departments of the state and federal governments.
  • Logging contractors
  • Surveyors

Employers who have hired our graduates in recent years include:

  • American Forest Management
  • Irving Woodlands LLC
  • James W. Sewall Company
  • Landvest
  • Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
  • Maine Forest Service
  • Maine Land Use Regulation Commission
  • Seven Islands Land Company
  • U.S. Forest Service
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Wagner Forest Management, Ltd.

Foresters

Foresters are responsible for the conservation of working forests. This means monitoring the health and directing the growth of forest stands where timber is harvested while following laws, best management practices, and scientific research to build and conserve habitats for fish and wildlife. Foresters understand history and write the future. Daily tasks vary according to the size and goals of the landowner or agency. A forester may provide comprehensive services to many small landowners or specialize in a particular aspect of forestry within a larger company or agency.

Two options for baccalaureate degrees are available to AFM students who wish to earn a four-year degree at UMFK that builds on the Forestry curriculum. The Bachelor of Science in Business Management degree is designed for students who wish to own a business, while the Conservation Law Enforcement with Natural Resources concentration is designed for students who wish to enter public service. Either of these degrees can be finished in four years.

While some companies have placed our graduates directly into forester positions, several local companies prefer to have employees with baccalaureate degrees. Those employers worked with UMFK to develop a baccalaureate degree in business with a concentration in forestry. Both degrees, Associate of Science Applied Forest Management and Bachelor of Science Business Management Major, can be completed in four years.

Forest Technicians

Technicians carry out the day-to-day tasks of forestry. They provide skills in areas such as forest inventory, boundary surveying, timber marking, timber harvesting and road layout, and the supervision of harvesting, thinning, and planting crews. One outstanding option for an industry position is UMFK’s Bachelor of Science in Business Management. Government employers may prefer UMFK’s Bachelor of Science in Conservation Law Enforcement with Natural Resources concentration or Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies.

In Maine, forest technicians and foresters compete for entry-level positions. Forest technicians generally have stronger field skills. However, individuals seeking advancement, whether in industry or government, should consider a baccalaureate degree. One outstanding option for an industry position is UMFK’s Bachelor of Science in business management. This degree is recommended by local industry representatives. Government employers may prefer UMFK’s Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies.

Forest Rangers

Forest rangers are in the business of forest protection.  Their job involves the detection, prevention, and suppression of forest fires and the monitoring of potentially damaging native and invasive insect populations.  Additionally, the job involves a great deal of public education. In some states, forest rangers are involved in prescribed burning. This is a forest management tool used in forest regeneration, to reduce fuels and fire potential, and to enhance wildlife habitat.

In Maine, forest rangers have the added duty of enforcing forestry and environmental law. A Maine forest ranger’s work includes preparing and updating fire action plans, training firefighters, and supervising suppression operations. They patrol assigned regions and conduct equipment inspections. They also report and prosecute violations, investigate suspicious fires and suspected criminal activities, and conduct public information and education programs. Their enforcement duties also involve preparing records and reports that are used by the Maine Attorney General.

Students wishing to pursue careers in administration or who wish to seek advancement within government agencies must consider a baccalaureate degree. UMFK offers such an opportunity through its Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies, Bachelor of Science Degree in Rural Public Safety Administration, and its Bachelor of Conservation Law Enforcement with a Natural Resources concentration.

Forest Operations

Forest operators include equipment operators and crew supervisors. A recent trend has emerged where the forest industry is seeking forestry-educated individuals to run wood processors and other equipment. Several recent graduates are working in such positions. Others have become contractors and are running their own harvesting and operations companies. The UMFK business management major, coupled with a forestry degree, is a useful combination for individuals seeking careers in the business side of forestry. Both degrees can be completed in four years.

GIS/GPS Technicians

The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) field continues to provide many career opportunities for our students and graduates. There have been an increased number of paid internships in GIS and global positioning (GPS) for our students. Graduates in forestry have enough background in GPS and GIS to qualify as technicians for the growing GIS Industry. GIS technicians perform digitizing (mapping), GPS data collection, and basic GIS tasks. State government and private corporations currently have openings for mapping or cartographic technicians.

Students seeking employment as a GIS specialist may further their studies with the GIS Minor if they are Bachelor’s students, or GIS Certificate if they are Associate’s students, the GIS concentration under the Computer Systems Administration Major, or one in the Environmental Studies Program. GIS specialists have more extensive training in database management, programming, and geospatial analysis and are currently sought after by the industry. Both educational options at UMFK provide graduates with the skills to compete in this growing field. UMFK is a member of the Maine GIS Education Consortium, a group of University of Maine System Schools actively promoting GIS undergraduate education and post-graduate educational opportunities.

Required Support Courses

  • BIO 100: General Biology I
  • ECO 210: Environmental Economics
  • GIS 300: GIS Applications I
  • MAT 351: Statistics I

Violette Wilderness Camp

Among the facilities students have access to

99%

Students who complete a research project before graduating

Department of Environmental Quality/Protection

An example of where our graduates work today

Next Steps

Tell us about yourself to learn more about the benefits of earning your degree at UMFK.