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Deepen Your Understanding of the Environment — and Sharpen Your Research Skills
None of us are truly ever alone. In fact, we’re all intimately connected to the environment and elements that surrounds us. In Ventura County, that environment is deeply characterized and influenced by the element of water. Do you have a deep passion for the environment? Do you feel motivated to better understand your surroundings? Do you long to help influence the future of our climate and ecosystem? If this sounds like you, then a career in the energy, environment and utilities industry might be on your horizon. With a wide range of activities, insights, experiences, connections and introductions, this diverse program presents a unique and invaluable opportunity to get a head start on your dream career. This extremely well-connected program also offers powerful partnerships with the National Park Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), Santa Barbara Channel Keepers, California Institute of Environmental Studies and University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB).
What You'll Learn
From 11th grade upward, enroll in A-G approved courses to start preparing for your career in the environmental industry. Classes include:
- AP Environmental Science (Year 1 concentrator)
- CTE Capstone Environmental Field Studies Honors (Year 2)
What You’ll Do
Take what you’re learning in the classroom into the real world and experience for yourself all that awaits you in the fast-growing and life-enriching environmental industry. Immersive and insightful experiences include:
- Community-based research projects
- Environmental investigations alongside professionals
- A wide variety of high-level field trips
- Access to professionals from top organizations (NOAA, USCB, National Park Service, etc.)
- Leadership development
Who You Can Be
Kickstart your career path with top-tier academic instruction and industry-leader insights. The Environmental Resources program prepares you for potential careers such as:
- Field Scientist
- Biologist
- Environmental or Water Resources Engineer
- Environmental Consultant
- Land Planner
- Environmental Policy Analyst
- Water Sector Workforce Professional
- Water/Wastewater/Stormwater Utility Professional
Industry Average Wages: $65,000 - $135,000
Projected Industry Growth: 8-11%
What You Need to Know
VUSD’s Environmental Resources CTE track prepares students for successful careers in the environmental industry. Students (grades 11 and up) learn a wide range of vital skills such as research methods and results, environmental investigation and environmental and public health decision-making. The program is based at Ventura High School and consists of two sequenced year-long courses, a concentrator followed by a capstone, both of which earn honors credit.
In addition to community-based research projects and environmental investigations alongside professionals, the program also involves several insightful and hands-on field trips — including water quality monitoring with Santa Barbara Channel Keepers, deep water sediment trap deployment and recovery with NOAA, environmental field science and habitat management at Channel Islands National Park (with National Park Service and California Institute of Environmental Studies), beach profile monitoring with UCSB and a wastewater treatment plant tour.
Capstone Field Studies students have the opportunity to participate in an internship with a local industry partner, such as Ventura Land Trust, Santa Clara River Conservancy, MERITO Foundation, Rincon Vitova, RNT Architects, City of Ventura, County of Ventura, POCO Maeve, or Earth Systems Pacific. Students emerge from this information- and experience-rich program with enhanced skills, knowledge, confidence, and direct access to a powerful career path.
Once you have gained the skills and knowledge in this pathway, there are many options for your next steps after high school - some you can even begin pursuing before you graduate!
1 year
Water Science, Certificate - Ventura College
2 year
Water Science, Associate in Science - Ventura College
Coastal Environmental Studies, Associate in Science - Oxnard College
4 year
Environmental Science & Resource Management, Bachelor of Science - California State University, Channel Islands
Environmental Management and Protection, Bachelor of Science - California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Environmental Earth and Soil Sciences, Bachelor of Science - California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo