Environmental Sciences | Oregon State University

Skills & Competencies

Skills developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET via SOC 19-4042.00

Skills

Reading ComprehensionSpeakingActive ListeningWritingCritical ThinkingMonitoringScienceComplex Problem Solving

Knowledge

Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageChemistryBiologyLaw and Government

Abilities

Oral ComprehensionWritten ComprehensionOral ExpressionWritten ExpressionDeductive ReasoningNear VisionProblem SensitivityInductive ReasoningSpeech ClaritySpeech Recognition

Tasks

Collect samples of gases, soils, water, industrial wastewater, or asbestos products to conduct tests
Investigate hazardous conditions or spills or outbreaks of disease or food poisoning, collecting sam
Record test data and prepare reports, summaries, or charts that interpret test results.

Technology

Document management softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareData base user interface and query softwareElectronic mail softwareGeographic information system

Tools

35 millimeter camerasAir current test kitsAir monitoring equipmentAir sampling impingersAir sampling primary flow calibratorsArea sampling pumpsAutoclavesBinocular light compound microscopesBioaerosol impactorsBladder water sampling pumpsCO2 monitorsCarbon monoxide monitorsCarpet sampling pump kitsCentrifugal water sampling pumpsCentrifuges

Work Values

AchievementSupportRelationshipsRecognitionIndependenceWorking Conditions

Career Pathways

Occupations this program prepares you for

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET + BLS

Occupations matched to this program, with median wage, top wage, growth, and openings
SOC	Occupation	Method	Wage	Growth	Openings
Match confidence: medium19-4042.00	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health	title_inference	$49,490 median$85,630 top	+4.21%	160

Program Pathways

Credentials this program stacks toward

No program pathways.

What You'll Learn

Key competencies developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom NSX Competency Framework

Mastery: advanced (Level 4)(based on Doctoral Degree)

Organizational environmental strategy — develop and direct agency-wide or firm-wide environmental monitoring programs aligned with evolving regulatory frameworks, scientific standards, and community health priorities.
Program quality system leadership — design, implement, and continuously improve laboratory and field QA/QC systems that maintain accreditation and ensure defensible data across all program operations.
Multi-site investigation oversight — direct concurrent complex environmental investigations and spill-response operations across multiple facilities or jurisdictions, allocating resources and managing cross-functional teams.
Policy and regulatory influence — represent the organization before regulatory bodies, contribute to rulemaking comment processes, and advise government agencies on emerging environmental health standards.
Advanced technology adoption — evaluate, pilot, and institutionalize new analytical instrumentation, GIS platforms, and environmental software to enhance organizational detection capabilities and operational efficiency.
Cross-disciplinary systems evaluation — lead organization-wide assessments that integrate chemistry, biology, engineering, and public health data to evaluate systemic environmental risk and inform long-range remediation investment.
Workforce development and capability building — establish competency frameworks, training curricula, and mentorship pipelines that grow technical staff from entry level to senior expertise across environmental science functions.
Executive-level reporting and communication — present environmental risk findings, program outcomes, and strategic recommendations to C-suite leadership, boards of directors, and legislative committees with authoritative clarity.
Partnership and contract governance — negotiate and manage multi-stakeholder agreements with regulatory agencies, research institutions, and private clients to deliver large-scale environmental assessment and remediation projects.
Ethical and public safety leadership — set and enforce organizational standards for integrity, cautiousness, and professional conduct in all environmental health and safety activities, ensuring protection of community and worker populations.

Program Details

Detailed information about this program

No detailed information available.

Requirements

What you need to earn this credential

No requirements listed.

Financial Aid

Eligible funding programs

No funding information available.

Scholarships

No scholarships listed.