Geography
Geography is the study of place or space, in the same sense that history is the study of time. Thus the geographer's method of inquiry hinges on two essential questions: "Where are things located?" and even more importantly, "Why are they located where they are?" Geographers are concerned with interpreting the occurrence, distribution, and interrelationships of physical and cultural patterns. Where will we find resources to feed, clothe, house and educate the world's mushrooming population? Where will the levels of pollution and human attrition become most serious? Why do the mortality rates from civilization's most common killers--heart disease and cancer--demonstrate stronger correlations with geographic factors than with genetic factors? These are the types of questions, so important to modern society, which geography addresses.
At one time a degree in geography led almost exclusively to employment in teaching. However geographers' combined knowledge of social and natural science and their increasingly technical research skills have increased their demand substantially in government and business settings. Geographers use satellites and other remote sensing devices, computers, advanced mathematical, statistical and mapping techniques, census figures and cultural and historical data to analyze the solve problems in transportation, manufacturing, trade development, energy, the environment, corporate planning, and human and natural resources.
Representative Job Titles and Areas of Specialization
| Agricultural Geographer | Marketing Analyst | | Aerial Photograph Interpreter | Meteorologist | | Cartographer | Naturalist | | Cartographic Illustrator | Park Ranger | | Climatologist | Political Analyst | | Community Development Specialist | Range Manager | | Demographer | Regional Planner | | Economic Development Planner | Regional Economist | | Geographic Analyst | Research Analyst | | Geographic Engineer | Research Geographer | | Geographer | Recreational Resource Planner | | Industrial Development Specialist | Resource Economist | | Industrial Developer | Site Researcher | | Intelligence Analyst | Soil Geographer | | International Economist | Teacher | | Land Economist | Tour Director | | Land Use Planner | Travel Agent | | Map Analyst | Transportation Planner | | Map Curator | Trade Analyst | | Map Editor | Urban Planner | | Map Librarian | |
Nature of the Work
It is difficult to categorize the work of the geographer because of the field's breadth of focus, and because geographers may not be identified as such by their job titles. However, listed below are some of the types of projects geographers work on within four main fields: business, planning, government and education.
Geographers in the private sector select favorable locations for capital investments, determine the growth potential of service areas, analyze international markets, meet environmental impact standards, and develop corporate planning strategies.
Urban or regional planners develop programs to provide for future growth and revitalization of urban, suburban, and rural communities. They help local officials make decisions on social, economic, and environmental problems.
In government settings geographers work at such various assignments as basic cartography, policy making, interdisciplinary research, disaster preparedness projects, industrial hazard assessment, energy development and resource surveying.
Finally, about 40 percent of all geographers are employed in education from the elementary through post-secondary levels. While the teaching markets at all levels have been quite competitive, there are indications, that this trend might ease some in the 2000's.
Places of Employment
Private business including: aircraft companies, airlines, architectural firms, graphic design firms, publishers, research laboratories, travel consultants, banks, photogrammetric firms, planning firms, utilities, construction companies, engineering companies, consulting firms in the energy and environmental industries.
Federal government department and agencies including: Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Soil Conservation Services, Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Mines, Bureau of Reclamation, Geological Survey, National Park Service, Department of Defense, Defense Mapping Agency, Corps of Engineers, Department of State, Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Department of Justice, Agency for International Development, Central Intelligence Agency, Environment Protection Agency, Library of Congress, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Science Foundation, National Security Agency, Smithsonian Institution, and U.S. Information Agency.
State and local departments and agencies including: highway departments, planning agencies, geologic surveys, engineering departments, assessors' offices, economic development agencies, metropolitan area transportation agencies, airports, chambers of commerce, health care planning agencies, and emergency preparedness agencies.
Training
Many of the job titles listed above may be obtained with a bachelor's degree depending on the type of coursework completed and experience gained while in school. Those planning to seek employment after their bachelor's degree should learn more about their many options and complete electives and internships which will make their transition from the university to their first career position easier. The professional geographer usually must have graduate training, and the doctorate is required for those seeking professorships and leadership positions in research.
For further information and/or career counseling contact the Career Center, Veitch Student Center, Northwest Wing, University of California, Riverside, 951.827.3631.
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