WHAT CAN I DO WITH A MAJOR IN...

GEOGRAPHY

www.sc.edu/career

ge·og·ra·phy

The science dealing with the areal differentiation of the earth's surface, as shown in the character, arrangement, and interrelations over the world of such elements as climate, elevation, soil, vegetation, population, land use, industries, or states, and of the unit areas formed by the complex of these individual elements.*

*"Geography." Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 27 Jul. 2009. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Geography>.

Geography Majors Study...

• social patterns, problems, and forces• information management• statistical analysis (i.e. input-output

modeling, location and market studies, resource management, migration patterns, and geographic information systems)

• graphic and statistical software• research techniques and skills

...and more

Specializations

• Human / Economic Geography• Physical / Environmental Geography• Urban Geography• Ecological Geography• Political Geography

Human/Economic Geography

• Human geography is concerned with the spatial aspects of human existence:• how people and their activity are distributed in

space • how people use and perceive • how people create and sustain the spaces that

make up the earth’s surface

• Human geographers work in the fields of urban and regional planning, transportation, marketing, real estate, tourism, and international business.

Physical/Environmental Geography

• Physical geographers study climate, land form, vegetation, soil, and water patterns.

• Physical geographers forecast the weather, manage land and water resources, and analyze and plan for forests, range and wetlands.

Geography At The University Of South

CarolinaUndergraduate Degrees

Degrees: Bachelor of Arts (BA) Bachelor of Science (BS)

Majors: physical/environmental geography, human/economic geography, geographic information science, general geography

Minors: general geography, environmental geography, geographic information science, meteorology & climatology,

physical geography, regional geography

Geography At The University Of South

CarolinaGraduate Degrees

• Master of Arts (MA)• Master of Science (MS)• Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)

• In Social Studies with Geography option.• Prepares and certifies students for teaching

in public high schools.• Interdisciplinary Master of Arts (IMA)

• In Social Studies with Geography option.

• For students who already have a teaching certificate.

• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Geography At The University Of South

Carolina• Areas of interest reflect faculty interest and competency and

include: cartography, cultural-historical, economic,

environmental, physical, political, recreational and urban

geography; geographic education; geographic information

systems; and remote sensing.

• The department administers the Remote Sensing

Laboratory, the hazards Research Laboratory, the Center for

Excellence in Geographic Education, and the SC

Geographic Alliance. In addition, the Dept. has strong

alliances with the Southeast Regional Climate center and

the Geographic Information Systems function of the College

of Liberal Arts Computing Laboratory.

Geography Majors Develop

Skills In• verbal and written

communication• surveying and

measuring• team work• evaluation and

presentation• computer technology• organization and detail

• numerical computations

• research• statistical analysis• natural resource

development and management

• information management

• photography

Employment Settings

• Business: An area where the research, organization, writing, statistic analysis, and planning skills developed in the pursuit of a geography degree can be used by organizations dealing with resource development and management, or any variety of interactions between people and the environment.

Sample Occupational Titles associated with Business

• Distribution Planner• Geographic Information

Systems Analyst• Geophysics Assistant• Health Services Planner• Industrial Developer• International Investment

Analyst

• Land Economist• Market Research

Analyst• Map Publisher • Property Manager• Real Estate Agent• Site Researcher• Statistician• Weather Forecaster

Employment Settings

• Education: The communication, organization, evaluation, presentation, research, and critical thinking skills developed during the pursuit of a geography degree naturally lend themselves to the education sector. To work at a college or university will require an advanced degree but obtaining a position in primary or secondary education only requires the correct certification.

Sample Occupational Titles Associated With Education

• Cartographer• Curriculum Developer• College/University

Professor• Earth Science Teacher• Map Editor• Map Librarian• Education Administrator

• Elementary/Primary Teacher

• Outdoor Guide• Park Ranger• Peace Corp Volunteer• Recreational Resource

Director• Secondary School

Geography Teacher• Writer/Author

Employment Settings

• Government: The Federal, state, or local levels of government make use of planning, research, communication, date collection, and statistical analysis skills possessed by geography majors in the development and management of government controlled resources and property. Geography majors are also used because of their understanding of people and culture differences.

Employment Settings

• Planning: Private builders, developers, and consulting firms employ geography majors because of their excellent communication, teamwork, surveying, research, and analysis skills related to land and the environment. Work in the planning sector deals with the prediction and control of how lands are impacted by human use.

Sample Occupational Titles Associated With

Government & Planning

• Agriculture Extension Agent

• Air/Water Quality Control Manager

• Cartographer• Climatologist• Demographer• Environmental Impact

Analyst• Intelligence Agent

• Natural Resource Specialist

• Park Ranger• Public Utilities Manager• Surveyor• Traffic Manager• Urban Planner• Zoning Investigator

Distribution Of Employed Persons With A Bachelor’s Degree In

Geography, By Sector

Government/ Military, 29%

Self-Employed, 8%

Education, 14%Non-Profit, 3%

Private-for-profit, 46%

Source: Fogg, N.P, Harrington, P.E. & Harrington, T.F, (2004). College Majors Handbook (2nd ed). Indianapolis, IN: Jist Publishing.

Top 10 Occupations That Employ Persons With Only A Bachelors Degree In Geography

1 Top and mid-level managers, executives 2 Other management related occupations 3 Surveying and mapping 4 Sales (including retail) 5 Other service occupations (except health) 6 Other administrative (i.e. record clerk) 7 Protective-service occupations 8 Construction trades, miners, well-drillers 9 Post-secondary professors10 Civil engineers, including architectural and sanitary

Source: Fogg, N.P, Harrington, P.E. & Harrington, T.F, (2004). College Majors Handbook (2nd ed). Indianapolis, IN: Jist Publishing.

Strategies For Developing Skills To Get The Job You

Want

• Become skilled in related computer technology

• Gain experience by obtaining a related summer job, co-op, or internship

• Research the federal, state, and local government job application process

• Develop excellent communication skills

• Learn another language and the customs and cultures of foreign lands

• Learn photography skills

• Develop ability to work with a team

Strategies For Developing Skills To Get The Job You Want

• Take courses in surveying and measurement, photogrammetry, technical mathematics, drafting, statistics, optics, remote sensing, and graphics

• Develop research, evaluation, and presentation skills

• Take elective courses in botany, plant science, and wildlife

• Obtain a business minor• Obtain teaching

certification• Research obtaining a

master’s degree in planning

Books And Web Resources

Books

Outdoor Careers by Ellen Shenk

Web Resources

Jobs in Geography http://www.emich.edu/public/geo/geography/jobs.htm

Careers for Geographers- http://depts.washington.edu/geogjobs/

The Association of American Geographers http://www.aag.org/

Resources For More Information

USC’s Department of Geographyhttp://www.cas.sc.edu/geog/

Career Center libraryhttp://www.sc.edu/career/Library/library.html

Geography Related Websiteshttp://www.sc.edu/career/la/geography.html

College of Arts and Sciences Career Development Programwww.sc.edu/career/cascdp/index.html

Career Center Contact Information

University of South Carolina Career Center6th Floor, H. William Close Building (BA Building)Columbia, SC 29208Phone: 803-777-7280On-call counseling without an appointment: M - F, 1:00 am - 4:00 pm (Summer and holiday hours may differ, please check the website at www.sc/edu/career)