by our College Data Analytics TeamEnvironmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services was the 899th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 249 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 28.1% increase in natural resources law enforcement and protective services degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 179.
This year's Best Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services Schools ranking compares 4 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom natural resources law enforcement and protective services rankings further below.
One of the most important skills you will need for a career in environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services is using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. Required skills include giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and talking to others to convey information effectively.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most natural resources law enforcement and protective services degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional natural resources law enforcement and protective services certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are many different natural resources law enforcement and protective services degree levels. You can spend many years getting as high as a in environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services to something that takes less time like a . Different environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to natural resources law enforcement and protective services, with approximately 21.8% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for natural resources law enforcement and protective services workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 30.4% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 18.8% |
| Some College Courses | 17.7% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 14.9% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 12.3% |
See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services have received.
This of course varies depending on which natural resources law enforcement and protective services career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your natural resources law enforcement and protective services degree? Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services careers are expected to grow 7.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | 731,900 | 7.0% |
| Firefighters | 350,900 | 7.2% |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Recreational Protective Service Workers | 163,700 | 7.6% |
| Police and Detective Supervisors | 111,600 | 6.6% |
| Fire Fighting Supervisors | 63,300 | 7.1% |
As you might expect, salaries for natural resources law enforcement and protective services graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers natural resources law enforcement and protective services grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Police and Detective Supervisors | $93,100 |
| Fire Fighting Supervisors | $80,310 |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | $65,400 |
| Fire Inspectors | $64,140 |
| Fish and Game Wardens | $59,260 |
With over 25 different natural resources law enforcement and protective services degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased natural resources law enforcement and protective services school rankings to help you with this.
Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services is one of 7 different types of Natural Resource Management programs to choose from.
View All Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services Related Majors >
Image Credit: By Brian M. Powell under License More about our data sources and methodologies.