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Overview
Geography is the science of place and space. 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. There are two main branches of geography: human geography and physical geography. Human geography is 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. Human geographers work in the fields of urban and regional planning, transportation, marketing, real estate, tourism, and international business. Physical geographers study patterns of climates, land forms, vegetation, soils, and water. They forecast the weather, manage land and water resources, and analyze and plan for forests, rangelands, and wetlands. Many human and physical geographers have skills in cartography and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Geographers also study the linkages between human activity and natural systems. Geographers were, in fact, among the first scientists to sound the alarm that human-induced changes to the environment were beginning to threaten the balance of life itself. They are active in the study of global warming, desertification, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, groundwater pollution, and flooding. Why should you become a Geography Major? Geography is an attractive major for students. Its theories and methods provide analytical techniques applicable to a wide range of questions asked over a broad spectrum of occupations. For students planning to end their formal education with the bachelor's degree, a geography major provides marketable skills and the broad perspectives on environment and society that enable graduates to move beyond entry-level positions. Geography also provides a sound foundation for students who plan to enter graduate work in a variety of fields, from geography to business, land use planning, law, and medicine. The advent of GIS has substantially expanded the job openings for geographers. GIS is now used in almost all large corporations, and in public sector activities as diverse as the Census Bureau, the military, police departments, geological surveys, and most municipalities. After graduating with a degree in geography, you have multiple career sources in both the public and private sectors. If you are interested in a career in geography, follow the links on this site or feel free at any time to consult with one of our faculty. How do you know if you want to be a geographer? Geographic Fields of Study Careers/Jobs in Geography
Geography Textbook Sites for Students Urban Studies and Planning
U.S. Government Agencies
Demography
Economic Geography Education
GIS and Remote Sensing
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