Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services
A program that prepares individuals to enforce natural resource and environmental protection regulations and laws; and to perform emergency duties to protect human life, property and natural resources, including fire prevention and control measures, and emergency and rescue procedures. Includes instruction in natural and physical sciences, natural resource management, outdoor field skills, firearms and outdoor equipment and vehicle operation, evidence collection and environmental sampling and monitoring, natural resource legislation, environmental compliance techniques, patrol procedures, investigation and report writing, interpersonal skills and crisis intervention, community liaison, public safety, public education, and public relations. Note: this program was re-instated after being deleted from CIP 2000; previously, it was coded as 03.0203.
- Schools offering
- 21
- Annual completions
- 148
- Typical degree level
- Associate's + Bachelor's
- Median earnings (5yr)
- $56k
About this major
A program that prepares individuals to enforce natural resource and environmental protection regulations and laws; and to perform emergency duties to protect human life, property and natural resources, including fire prevention and control measures, and emergency and rescue procedures. Includes instruction in natural and physical sciences, natural resource management, outdoor field skills, firearms and outdoor equipment and vehicle operation, evidence collection and environmental sampling and monitoring, natural resource legislation, environmental compliance techniques, patrol procedures, investigation and report writing, interpersonal skills and crisis intervention, community liaison, public safety, public education, and public relations. Note: this program was re-instated after being deleted from CIP 2000; previously, it was coded as 03.0203.
Examples of specialized tracks: Conservation Enforcement.
Where this major leads
Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.
| Occupation | Median wage | Job growth | Typical education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Police and sheriff's patrol officers | $76k | +3.1% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Compliance officers | $78k | +3.0% | Bachelor's degree |
| Firefighters | $60k | +3.4% | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| First-line supervisors of police and detectives | $106k | +2.9% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers | $34k | +5.8% | No formal educational credential |
| Detectives and criminal investigators | $94k | -0.7% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers | $92k | +3.4% | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary | $71k | +2.0% | Doctoral or professional degree |
Earnings at a glance
Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.
Median 5-year earnings
$56k
Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings
Associate's
$47k
Bachelor's
$57k
Top colleges for Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services
Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.
| College | Location | Assoc. | Bach. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point | Stevens Point, WI | 0 | 25 | 25 |
| Hocking College | Nelsonville, OH | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| Southwestern Oklahoma State University | Weatherford, OK | 0 | 20 | 20 |
| South Dakota State University | Brookings, SD | 0 | 16 | 16 |
| Unity Environmental University | New Gloucester, ME | 0 | 13 | 13 |
| Minnesota North College | Hibbing, MN | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Texas Tech University | Lubbock, TX | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| Central Maine Community College | Auburn, ME | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Thomas College | Waterville, ME | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Central Lakes College-Brainerd | Brainerd, MN | 5 | 0 | 5 |
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