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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). Additionally, the ROP Honors Environmental Field Studies course is articulated with Ventura College, providing 5 credits for a head start in college.
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
- CTE Cap Environmental Field Studies Honors
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
- Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator
- Water Sector Workforce Professional
- Water/Wastewater/Stormwater Utility Professional
Industry Average Wages: $46,760
Projected Industry Growth: 8%
What You Need to Know
VUSD’s Environmental Resources CTE track prepares students for successful careers in the environmental industry, which includes jobs like field scientist, biologist, water/wastewater treatment plant operator, water sector workforce professional and water/wastewater/stormwater utility professional. 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 leads directly to VUSD’s Environmental Resources pathway. 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 Island National Park (with National Park Service and California Institute of Environmental Studies), beach profile monitoring with UCSB and a wastewater treatment plant tour. Students emerge from this information- and experience-rich program with enhanced skills, knowledge, confidence, direct access to a powerful pathway and valuable Ventura College credits.
Get a jump start on your college future by earning college credits and valuable real-world skills you can use for college and career.
2 Year
AS Water Management - Ventura College
4 Year
BS Environmental Science & Resource Management - Cal Poly San Luis Obispo