The coastline - it's our most valuable resource. It's our livelihood, our escape and, for many, even our home. If you live in South Carolina, there's a good chance you live on or near the coastline or tidal shoreline. In fact, according to the U.S. Census, more than 1.24 people - or about 26 percent of the state's population - live in one of the state's eight coastal counties.
The natural draw to South Carolina's sandy shores is both beneficial and detrimental to the state. While it draws visitors and supports the economy, increases in population can and do cause stress to the coastal environment. Add to that issues involving hurricanes and their potential for devastation and rising sea levels due to climate change and it's clear why South Carolina's costal environment is on the minds of environmentalists here.
Earn a degree in environmental science and you can join the environmental movement in South Carolina by studying the impact these issues have on the state's coastal resources. Your work will be used to bring attention to environmental issues, create policy, and prompt meaningful change.
What Can I Do with an Environmental Science Degree in South Carolina
Jobs for environmental scientists are plentiful in South Carolina, both because of an increasing awareness of major environmental issues like climate change and because their talents are required in the private, government, and nonprofit sectors.
In the nonprofit sector, South Carolina Conservation Coalition is a big name here, supporting environmental laws and policies and bringing many state organizations together.
Friends of Coastal South Carolina is another notable nonprofit that supports coastal organizations by actively participating in advocacy efforts, projects, and environmental education programs.
The expertise of environmental scientists are valued in governmental agencies like the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, whose recent work includes the completion of the Cooperative Fisheries Research program, which included separate research projects…the completion of 14 artificial reef construction projects on 11 sites…significant improvement of wildlife habitat improvement on many of the Heritage Preserves…and the research and monitoring of a large number of native wildlife species.
Private engineering consulting firms like ARM Environmental Services in Columbia, Envirosouth Inc. in Greenville, and Palmetto Environmental Counseling in Lexington are typically staffed with a number of environmental professionals, including engineers and scientists, whose job includes providing assessment and consulting services to clients in all sectors and industries.
You'll earn a competitive salary as an environmental scientist in South Carolina, according to 2020 BLS statistics. Geoscientists earned an average, annual salary of $76,050, foresters earned $65,590, and conservation scientists earned $65,240.
2020 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures and job growth projections for Conservation Scientists, Foresters, and Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers reflect state data not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed September 2021.
Master's in Environmental Science in South Carolina
You'll be able to advance your environmental science career through one of South Carolina's fantastic offerings in master's degrees.
Big names in environmental science here include the University of South Carolina's Master of Earth and Environmental Resource Management, the College of Charleston's MS in Environmental Studies, and Clemson University's MS in Environmental Engineering & Science and MS in Hydrogeology.
Not surprisingly, these programs offer outstanding research opportunities and field experiences and comprehensive, interdisciplinary courses of study that draw from numerous departments and colleges.
Bachelor's in Environmental Science in South Carolina
Southern Wesleyan University's BS in Environmental Studies and the University of South Carolina's BA in Environmental Studies and BS in Environmental Science are just two examples of the great bachelor's degree offerings available in South Carolina.
Choose Southern Wesleyan's bachelor's program and you'll learn about the earth's ecological processes, both in the classroom and in outdoor labs. Or, choose the University of South Carolina's bachelor's programs and you'll learn under a diverse and nationally recognized faculty of more than 40 scholars.
