ENVIRONMENTAL GEOGRAPHY

Environmental Management
Conservation
Waste Management
Environmental Regulation
Emergency Management
Outdoor Recreation Management

Federal and state government:

• Environmental Protection Agency
• Departments of Agriculture
• National Forest Service

• Real estate developers
• Scientific and research groups
• Firms specializing in forestry, mining, engineering,
  environmental issues, waste management,
  architecture, or surveying.
• Law firms

Environmental geographers are concerned with how
human beings use the earth. They focus on human
impact on the environment.

Learn federal government job application process.
Become skilled in related computer technology.
Courses in biology and chemistry are a must.
Take elective courses in botany, plant science, and
wildlife.
For a career in law, you must earn a graduate degree in law.

CULTURAL AND HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

Cultural Resources
Historic Preservation
Historical Consultation
Education
Resesarch

• State, regional, and local government

Federal government including:

• CIA
• Defense Mapping Agency
• Bureau of Census
• Department of State
• National Park Service

• Peace Corps
• Real estate developers
• Companies dealing with insurance, transportation,
  communications, and international trade
• Scientific and research groups
• Museums

Cultural and human geographers study the aspects of geography that relate to different cultures. They especially focus on cultural origins and movement and the cultural characteristics of regions.

Learn federal, state, and local government job
application process.
Become skilled in related computer technology.
Develop excellent communication and teamwork skills in order to work with historians and archivists in recreating the geography of the past.
Learn how to conduct library research, make field
observations, and interpret artifacts.
A good foreign language background is necessary for
field observations in other countries.
Develop an open mind towards the language, history, customs, and culture of other countries.

ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY

Location Scouting
Real Estate Analysis
Transportation
Agricultural Planning
Travel/Tourism Planning

• Federal, state, and local government
• Manufacturing, wholesale, and retail firms
• Public utilities
• Consulting firms
• Real estate developers
• Banks

Economic geographers study the distribution of
resources and economic activities within a certain
region. They may use this information to advise
organizations on where to build new facilities.

Obtain business knowledge though coursework or
related work experience.
Learn to see all sides of a problem, including economic, social, political, and environmental.

GEOTECHNIQUES

Cartography
Geographic Information Systems
Remote Sensing

Federal government agencies:

• Departments of Defense, Interior, Commerce, Agriculture, and State
• Defense Mapping
• NASA
• CIA

State and regional government agencies:

• Departments of Transportation or Agriculture
  
• Private industry including utilities, construction,
  engineering, energy, environmental planning, and
  consulting firms

Become skilled in related computer technology.
Learn photography skills.
Take courses in surveying and measurements,
photogrammetry, technical mathematics, drafting, statistics, optics, remote sensing, art, and graphics.
Seek work-related experience such as internships, and summer or part-time jobs.
Learn federal, state and local government job
application process since most of these positions
are in governement agencies.

Develop excellent communication skills.

SOCIAL AND URBAN

City/Regional Planning
Housing Development
Convention/Tourism
Community Development
Demography
Transportation

• City, county, and regional planning agencies
• State government

Federal government agencies including:

• Agency for International Development
• World Bank
• Department of Housing and Urban Development

• Research organizations
• Private business
• Banks
• Industrial firms
• Public utilities
• Real estate developers

Planners ensure that communities develop in an
orderly way and that they have the services necessary
to support them.

Develop team work skills.
Learn federal, state, and local government job
application process. Local government is a large
employer in this area.
Maintain excellent academic undergraduate record.
Obtain master's degree in planning.
Take courses in public administration or public
finance.

GEOGRAPHIC EDUCATION

Teaching
Research

• Elementary/secondary schools, public and private
• Colleges and universities

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Biogeography
Natural Hazards
Hydrology
Weather and Climate
Geomorphology

• State and local government

Federal government agencies including:

• US Geological Survey
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Forest Service
• Bureau of Land Management
• The National Resources Conservation Service

• TV/Radio stations
• Agribusiness corporations
• Outdoor recreation companies
• Resource management agencies
• Research institutes
• Insurance companies

Physical geographers study earth processes such as climate and weather. They also look at the impact of natural hazards such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes.

Take courses in physics and chemistry.
Develop excellent communication skills.
Be willing to relocate to regions that have job availability

GENERAL INFORMATION
• Bachelor's degree qualifies you for entry-level positions in government and industry.
• Master's degree qualifies you for community college teaching and advancement in industry and government.
• Ph.D. is required for research and teaching positions in colleges and universities and senior positions in government and industry.
• Geography provides a broad foundation for future career endeavors.
• Obtain volunteer, part-time, summer, internship, and/or co-op experience in your area of interest.
• Join professional organizations such as the American Geography Society or the National Council for Geographic Education.
• Become a member of groups directed toward improvement of natural resources or environment and pollution control.
• Computer knowledge is becoming extremelyimportant in geography. Obtain experience with geographic information systems and computer-aided drafting (CAD)
experience.
• Develop strong mathematical and statistical skills.
• Develop skills and interest in mapping, graphics, and charts.
• An interest in photography may prove beneficial.
• Develop good communication skills.

• Careers in Geography
• American Congress on Surveying and Mapping
• US Geological Survey
• Bureau of Land Management
• EPA Student Center
• Association of American Geographers
• American Meteorological Society
• US DOL Stats - Post-secondary Teachers
• US DOL Stats - Atmospheric Scientists
• US DOL Stats - Environmental Scientists and Hydrologists
• US DOL Stats - Surveyors, Mapping Technicians