{"id":3071,"date":"2026-07-02T08:46:58","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T15:46:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/?p=3071"},"modified":"2026-07-02T08:47:58","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T15:47:58","slug":"environmental-science-degree-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/environmental-science-degree-career\/","title":{"rendered":"An environmental science degree for a career that’s still growing"},"content":{"rendered":"
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on the Oregon State University<\/span> College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences website<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/div>\n
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A bachelor\u2019s degree can lead to expanded career opportunities. Just ask Shane Carwile.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Shane is an environmental sciences student from Casa Grande, Arizona. He has worked in quality assurance for\u00a0<\/span>Abbott Nutrition<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\u2013 the baby formula maker \u2013 for almost 13 years. After going as far as he could without a degree, his mentors encouraged him to go back to school.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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We asked Shane to share how his journey to Oregon State University and his experience learning online shaped what comes next.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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What\u2019s your role at Abbott?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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I\u2019m a quality manager with Abbott Nutrition. My responsibilities include oversight of sanitation and pest control programs, and I am currently serving as the interim manager for both the analytical and incoming quality assurance laboratories. My work focuses on ensuring product safety and quality while supporting broader operational and environmental goals across the site.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Why did you want to come back to school?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Like many industries, there is a point where career progression becomes limited without a degree. I reached that threshold and was encouraged by my director to finish what I started and earn my bachelor\u2019s degree so I would not be held back from future opportunities. It became less about checking a box and more about positioning myself to continue growing and contributing in a meaningful way.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Why did you choose Oregon State and environmental sciences?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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I found the program through my employer\u2019s education assistance benefit. I needed something I could complete remotely that also genuinely interested me.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The\u00a0<\/span>environmental sciences program<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>immediately stood out. The conservation, resources and sustainability concentration felt like a natural fit, and no other school I considered matched the depth or variety of coursework that Oregon State offers. Every term has been engaging, and it has pushed me to stay curious and continue learning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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More importantly, the program has helped me connect environmental science concepts directly to my work. It has strengthened my ability to think about sustainability, risk and long-term impact in a practical, real-world setting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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What do you enjoy most about being part of the OSU community?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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I love the school\u2019s history, and I love how OSU is supported by the local community. CEOAS\u2019s reputation as one of the most respected in the world also gives me the reassurance that my education will also be as top tier as the school.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Have you had a favorite class?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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ENSC 221: Environmental Field Studies with Dr. Tyler McFadden is a particular standout. His method\/style of teaching, as well as some of the conversations we were able to have about his class and my future, were things I\u2019ll never forget. Fantastic course, fantastic professor and mentor.<\/p>\n

\"Oregon<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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How do you balance work, life and school responsibilities?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Balancing all three<\/a> has been a challenge. Over the past several terms, I have worked full time while attending school full time, which means most evenings and weekends are dedicated to coursework. It often comes down to prioritization and accepting short-term sacrifice for long-term growth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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While the workload can be intense, the fact that I truly enjoy the material has made a significant difference. The curriculum has broadened my perspective on environmental issues and helped me see how those concepts apply beyond the classroom.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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What advice would you give others looking to go back to school?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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If there is one thing I would share with others, it is to choose a path that genuinely interests you. That makes balancing work and school far more manageable and much more rewarding.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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You\u2019ve graduated \u00a0\u2013 what\u2019s next?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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My undergraduate experience led me to apply for and be accepted into\u00a0<\/span>Oregon State\u2019s Accelerated Master\u2019s Platform<\/a>. Through AMP, I completed graduate-level coursework while still finishing my undergraduate degree, which has been both challenging and rewarding. I will officially transition into the master\u2019s program in natural resources this fall.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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As part of my professional science master\u2019s program, I will complete a capstone project with my employer. There are strong connections between my studies and Abbott\u2019s long-term sustainability initiatives, which create opportunities to apply what I am learning directly to my work.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I\u2019m grateful for my Oregon State education. It\u2019s given me the confidence to look ahead, grow into influential roles at my company and turn what I\u2019ve learned into real, lasting impact.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/span> 3<\/span> minute read<\/span><\/span>A bachelor\u2019s degree can lead to expanded career opportunities. Just ask Shane Carwile. We asked Shane to share how his journey to Oregon State University and his experience learning online shaped what comes next.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":3072,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[685,661,6,677,8],"tags":[205,146,598],"class_list":["post-3071","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advancing-your-career","category-corporate-and-workforce-education-unit","category-ecampus","category-students-and-alumni","category-students","tag-college-of-earth-ocean-and-atmospheric-sciences","tag-environmental-sciences","tag-workforce-education"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Heather-Shane-Picacho-Peak-photo-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7BNSE-Nx","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2556,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/which-online-environmental-bachelors-degree-should-i-choose\/","url_meta":{"origin":3071,"position":0},"title":"Which environmental degree should I choose?","author":"Elena Moffet","date":"June 17, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Explore what makes each of Oregon State's environmental online bachelor's degrees unique and learn about the skills you'll gain when you enroll in a program online.","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"an alpine lake with red leafed trees and mountains the background","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/News-CNS-MC-Environment-800x450-240529.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/News-CNS-MC-Environment-800x450-240529.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/News-CNS-MC-Environment-800x450-240529.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/News-CNS-MC-Environment-800x450-240529.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1005,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/oregon-state-taps-into-big-data-with-new-online-bachelors-in-geography-geospatial-science\/","url_meta":{"origin":3071,"position":1},"title":"Oregon State taps into big data with new online bachelor\u2019s in geography & geospatial science","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"September 11, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"To meet the demand for geography and geospatial professionals in the national job market, Oregon State University now offers a bachelor\u2019s degree in geography and geospatial science 100 percent online, giving learners everywhere access to highly transferable skills in order to harness the power of \u201cbig data\u201d analysis and geovisualization\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Archives"","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A map of the United States with different regions marked in green, purple and orchid shades.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/ggs-census-map.jpg?fit=774%2C266&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/ggs-census-map.jpg?fit=774%2C266&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/ggs-census-map.jpg?fit=774%2C266&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/ggs-census-map.jpg?fit=774%2C266&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2663,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/what-can-you-do-with-a-marine-studies-degree\/","url_meta":{"origin":3071,"position":2},"title":"What can you do with a marine studies degree?","author":"Carly Fredericks","date":"October 2, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Explore the jobs and careers open to you with a marine studies degree The oceans are home to more than half of all species on Earth, and roughly half of the atmospheric oxygen we breathe comes from ocean plants. 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