Careers & Alumni
Career Success
From campus to workplace
Graduates of Trent’s School of the Environment are career-ready and job-ready. Our graduates end up pursuing careers in the public sector (working for municipal, regional, provincial, federal, and international agencies); the private sector (employed by companies in the forestry and other resource industries and in environmental consulting firms); and with a variety of non-profit organizations, including many highly respected environmental agencies. And some find opportunities to apply what they’ve learned at Trent in far-reaching and unexpected ways, transitioning to careers in architecture, law, and medicine!
Our graduates are also well positioned to take full advantage of new and emerging career opportunities in the environmental field, such as ecological restoration (bringing polluted or degraded ecosystems back to health) and carbon management (finding ways to reduce our impact on the climate).
Over 96% percent of our graduates say that they are happy with their choice of study and agree that they would repeat their decision to take environmental studies at Trent if they had to do it all again.
Not sure what kinds of environmental work are available?
- View environmental occupational profiles on ECO Canada's web site. Search by environmental topic, use an interest-matching tool to see what appeals to you, and view role models in various careers
- Follow TSE social media to learn about job postings and volunteer and internship opportunities
Alumni Profiles
One of the most common questions asked of universities is what one can do with a particular degree. Trent School of the Environment offers a variety of degrees that may lead to many different endpoints- various careers and jobs, graduate study, etc.
A degree in Environmental and Resource Science or Studies may be relevant in many occupations in a variety of fields, as showcased these Program's alumni, who are working in a wide variety of fields and occupations. Over our 40 year history the Trent School of the Environment and its predecessors, the Environmental and Resource Studies Program and Geography Department, have had hundreds of graduates. Here are a sample of careers and jobs in which our alumni are/have been working.
Student Testimonials
"My joint ERS/Geog degree benefited me immensely in developing my skills necessary for consulting. The topics covered in courses like aquatic toxin, hydrology, soils, carcinogenesis, and others have been most helpful for many projects I have worked on in consulting. For example my understanding of the behaviour of metals in water (ground or surface)with change in pH, to understanding groundwater flow were developed here initially. Many thanks go to professors such as Chris Metcalfe and Jim Buttle (for getting me started in this field)." K. Reimer, BSc in ERS/ GEOG, Senior Project Specialist for ENSR International.
"I followed my passion for the environment by pursuing a law degree and graduate studies in law. I now teach, research and provide advice to community organizations and First Nations on land, water, and urban development issues as a professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Victoria. My education from Trent influences my work everyday in two important ways. First, students in the ERS program are exposed to both science and policy, and think about environmental issues from interdisciplinary perspectives. This leads to more comprehensive decision making, and, for the student or professional, a better understanding of and ability to deal with complex environmental matters. Second, the small format of most ERS classes and focus on tutorials prepares students to engage with materials and topics, and be prepared to speak about them. This approach strongly develops communication and critical analysis skills over the three or four years of the ERS degree so that students embark upon their professional lives prepared to participate in meetings and influence their colleagues. As an undergraduate experience, the ERS program is unparalleled for friendly and skilful supervision, interdisciplinary collaboration and a grounding in environmental science/policy. Not to mention the great people and natural setting!" D. Curran, BA in ERS, Professor of Law at the University of Victoria.
"Trent afforded me the opportunity to connect directly with my professors, who became excellent professional references. Beyond that, involvement in student groups on campus not only made my Trent experience unforgettable, it also added an edge to my résumé and sharpened several work-force skills. A combination of faculty support, an environment conducive to developing my professional “real world” skills, engaging student groups and a connection to the Peterborough community, are the important ways in which Trent played a role in getting me the job in my field I happily do today.” A.Kaschenko, BESS, Climate Adaptation Intern at Green Communities Canada.
"Trent ERS program is fantastic. Because of the flexibility, you can tailor your education to your area of interest. My specific interest was in contaminants and distribution/toxicity in aquatic systems. Although my work is now primarily related to soil and groundwater contamination and not aquatic systems, my education is critical to my work. I have worked in enforcement of environmental regulations with the Ministry of Environment (MOE), I have worked on investigations of drinking water and wastewater systems, assessment of air quality (indoor air and stack emissions), and now primarily investigations of soil and groundwater contamination through borehole drilling, soil sampling, groundwater monitoring well installations and monitoring." R. Goodwin, BSc in ERS/ Biology, Sr. Environmental Scientist, Kodiak Environmental Ltd.
"The ERS program gave me a well-balanced background in both science and the policy/social implications of environmental science that allows me to look objectively, and often subjectively, at how humans interact with the natural environment." M. Twiss, BSc in ERS/ Biology, Associate Professor of Biology and Director of the Great Rivers Center, Clarkson University.