Join a Growing Job Market
$108,020 is the median salary for data scientists in the U.S. (U.S. BLS 2024); at UChicago, you learn to apply these highly valued skills to topics in environmental science.
36% projected job growth for data scientists from 2023-2033. This is 9x the average growth rate for all careers in the U.S. (U.S. BLS 2024)
In-Demand Roles
Prepare for in-demand roles in environmental policy and planning, urban planning and environmental resilience, regulatory compliance, environmental data analysis, water and resource management, conservation management, climate impact assessment, green energy forecasting, and more.
STEM Designation
Get the experience, technical knowledge, and skills you need to make meaningful advances in your field, and qualify for the STEM OPT extension (for international students).
Ideal Location
Chicago prioritizes environmental progress and serves as an urban laboratory for related challenges—with the most diverse economy and #3 Metro Economy in the U.S. for strong career outcomes.
Entrepreneur and Innovation Opportunities
Transform research into real-world impact through startup accelerators, commercialization resources, interdisciplinary collaboration, and venture-building opportunities across the Polsky innovation ecosystem.
Career Support Services
- Dedicated Career Advising: What jobs can you get with a masters in environmental sciences? Explore possibilities, get advice on job application materials, and expand your network with a dedicated career services team.
- GRADUCon: The university’s annual spring career conference for graduate students, postdocs, and recent graduate alumni. The event features a full day of career-themed panel discussions and informal networking opportunities.
- STEM Master’s Career Fair: The STEM Master’s Career Fair supports UChicago master’s students who seek scientific careers.
- UChicagoGRAD serves to promote graduate students and alumni in their academic and post-graduation careers.
Xinyuan Zhou '26
Xinyuan Zhou '26 looks forward to continuing in the fashion industry, making contributions to her family’s business, and leading sustainable practices.
The UChicago curriculum sparked innovative ideas for her family's business. A major standout for Xinyuan has been her microbiology coursework, where she learned about newly discovered microbes that can grow on and dye clothes.
Because traditional chemical dyeing and its heavy water usage represents the "number one [source of] pollution among the entire textile and clothing industry," Xinyuan sees immense potential in utilizing microbes as a sustainable alternative.
“I definitely want to study more microbiology,” Xinyuan adds. “The more you study it, the more you feel like it really plays a critical role in all aspects of life.” Helping to change the clothing production process would be very impactful.
Joylyn Yu '26
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Joylyn Yu '26 came to the University of Chicago as a licensed forester from the Philippines. Her motivation for the field came partly from where she grew up — a country highly affected by climate change, where she lived through typhoons. That experience pushed her toward forestry as an undergraduate. After completing her degree, she earned her forester license in her home country. But by the time she finished studying for that exam, she knew forestry alone wasn't enough.
Joylyn came to the MS in Environmental Science looking for something specific: technical depth.
"I actually spoke with an alumnus who was working in catastrophe modeling for insurance companies, and that helped me better understand what different companies are actually doing in climate risk," says Joylyn.
Now, Joylyn wants to go after roles in sustainability analytics or climate risk consulting, ideally at companies focused on decarbonization or community adaptation to climate impacts.