Articles :: Liberal Arts School Articles :: Life and Physical Sciences :: Mapping Out a Career in Geography
Mapping Out a Career in Geography
by Robyn Tellefsen
According to the Association of American Geographers, geography is the science of place and space. It is the study of Earth as the home of humankind. Geography provides a broad, place-centered perspective on the transformation of environments by society and nature at a variety of levels, from local to global.
Geographers investigate processes that explain the location of human and natural phenomena, as well as the interactions between people and their environment. Specifically, geographers ask where things are located on the surface of the earth, why they are located where they are, how places differ from one another, and how people interact with the environment.
A Geographical Breakdown
There are two main branches of geography: human geography and physical geography. Human geographers are concerned with the spatial aspects of human existence--how people and their activity are distributed in space, how they use and perceive space, and how they create and sustain the places that make up the earth's surface. Physical geographers study patterns of climate, land form, soil, vegetation, and water. They forecast the weather, manage land and water resources, and analyze and plan for forests, rangelands, and wetlands.
Geography Major Skills
Geography majors develop broad skills in charts, computer-aided drafting (CAD), graphics, mapping, math, and statistics, to name a few. Then, geography majors learn specific technical skills in cartographic representation, computerized information retrieval, geographic information systems, remote sensing, and spatial data analysis. Interest in photography may also prove beneficial in the field.
A degree in geography provides an excellent foundation for further specialized training in academic disciplines that address environmental and international issues or in related professional fields such as environmental management, law, and planning and public policy.
Geography by Degrees
A bachelor's degree in geography qualifies you for entry-level government and industry positions such as aerial photographic technician, air traffic controller, cartographic technician, environmental consultant, and laboratory tester. A master's degree in geography qualifies you for community college teaching as well as advancement in industry and government. A doctoral degree in geography is required for advanced research or teaching positions in colleges and universities as well as senior positions in government and industry. Possible job titles for those with an advanced degree in geography include census analyst, economic geographer, geographer, geography professor, and urban planner.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, median annual earnings of urban and regional planners, for example, were $56,630 in May 2006; the highest 10 percent earned more than $86,880.
Map out your career with a degree in geography.
Geographers investigate processes that explain the location of human and natural phenomena, as well as the interactions between people and their environment. Specifically, geographers ask where things are located on the surface of the earth, why they are located where they are, how places differ from one another, and how people interact with the environment.
A Geographical Breakdown
There are two main branches of geography: human geography and physical geography. Human geographers are concerned with the spatial aspects of human existence--how people and their activity are distributed in space, how they use and perceive space, and how they create and sustain the places that make up the earth's surface. Physical geographers study patterns of climate, land form, soil, vegetation, and water. They forecast the weather, manage land and water resources, and analyze and plan for forests, rangelands, and wetlands.
Geography Major Skills
Geography majors develop broad skills in charts, computer-aided drafting (CAD), graphics, mapping, math, and statistics, to name a few. Then, geography majors learn specific technical skills in cartographic representation, computerized information retrieval, geographic information systems, remote sensing, and spatial data analysis. Interest in photography may also prove beneficial in the field.
A degree in geography provides an excellent foundation for further specialized training in academic disciplines that address environmental and international issues or in related professional fields such as environmental management, law, and planning and public policy.
Geography by Degrees
A bachelor's degree in geography qualifies you for entry-level government and industry positions such as aerial photographic technician, air traffic controller, cartographic technician, environmental consultant, and laboratory tester. A master's degree in geography qualifies you for community college teaching as well as advancement in industry and government. A doctoral degree in geography is required for advanced research or teaching positions in colleges and universities as well as senior positions in government and industry. Possible job titles for those with an advanced degree in geography include census analyst, economic geographer, geographer, geography professor, and urban planner.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, median annual earnings of urban and regional planners, for example, were $56,630 in May 2006; the highest 10 percent earned more than $86,880.
Map out your career with a degree in geography.
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