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Climate & Natural Hazard Risk

Map and model flood, heat, landslide, and seismic risks; help communities plan for resilience.

What graduates do

Graduates support cities, public agencies, and private firms with data‑driven hazard maps and risk models that inform infrastructure and emergency planning.

  • Entry roles in consulting and public agencies
  • Strong demand during climate adaptation investments
  • Clear advancement into modeling & project management with experience/graduate study

Degree expectation: Jobs for local and state government offices require at least a BS, sometimes an MS degree. Jobs at environmental consulting companies may require either a BS or an MS, depending on the type of work and level of responsibility. Typically, the research-focused jobs at federal government agencies, universities, research institutes, and energy companies will require a PhD. At many research institutions, non-profits, and technology companies, there are jobs outside the research fields, such as grants managers, program directors, communications specialists, etc., that hire at the BS level with relevant experience.

Common entry-level jobs

  • Hazards/GIS analyst
  • Catastrophe modeling assistant
  • Resilience planning intern

Careers (links to US Bureau of Labor Statistics outlook)

Major employers

  • State Geological Surveys
  • State and Local Governments
  • Universities
  • Utility companies, electricity and gas providers
  • Insurance companies
  • Federal Government Agencies (US Geological Survey, Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, NASA, NOAA, FEMA)
  • Research Institutions, NGOs, and Nonprofits (National Center for Atmospheric Research, Woods Hole Research Center, Woodwell Climate Research Center, Natural Hazards Center, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, Environmental Defense Fund, ClimateWorks Foundation, Rocky Mountain Institute, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy)
  • Technology and Engineering Companies (Siemens, General Electric Vernova, Black & Veatch)

Training in the School of Earth Sciences

In the School of Earth Sciences you'll build practical, career-ready skills across the Earth sciences: 

  • Seismology and structural geology – interpret earthquakes, faults, and tectonic forces
  • Hydrology and climate science – understand floods, droughts, and water availability in a changing climate
  • GIS and remote sensing software – analyze spatial data and create professional maps
  • Statistics and data management – clean, visualize, and interpret real-world environmental datasets
  • Programming skills – automate analyses, model Earth processes, and create transparent, reproducible workflows.

Courses to consider

  • EARTHSC 2245 – Introductory Data Analysis for Earth and Environmental Sciences
  • EARTHSC 4530 – Structural Geology
  • EARTHSC 5201 – Introduction to Seismology
  • EARTHSC 5310 – Remote Sensing in the Earth Sciences
  • EARTHSC 5655 – Land Surface Hydrology

Hands‑on experiences

  • Field mapping of slopes & stream gauging
  • ArcGIS-based lab experiences
  • City/county hazard‑mitigation projects
  • Undergrad research experiences & presentation opportunities

FAQs

Is this work stable?

Risk assessment and resilience planning are growing in government and consulting due to the increase in frequency and severity of natural hazards caused by climate change.

What about safety?

All fieldwork in our courses follows OSU safety protocols; many roles are office-based and analysis-focused with occasional site visits.