Geography

What is Geography?	Related Careers
Related Skills	Job & Internship Search Links
Career Planning Links	Professional Association Links
Miscellaneous Links	OSU Department of Geosciences

What is Geography?

According to the Association of American Geographers, 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. 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.

Geography - What Can I Do with This Degree? pdf - lists the industry areas, employers, and strategies for using your degree.

Related Careers

Aerial Photo Interpreter	Geographic Information Systems	Park Ranger
Agricultural Extension Agent	Geophysics Assistant	Peace Corps Volunteer
Air/Water Quality Control Manager	Hazardous Waste Planner	Property Manager
Cartographer	Health Services Organization Manager	Public Utilities Specialist
Cartography Compiler	Health Services Planner	Real Estate Agent/Broker/Appraiser
Climatologist	Hydrologist	Remote Sensing Analyst
Costal Zone Manager	Industrial Developer	Site Researcher
College/Unviersity Professor	Industrial Planner	Soil Conservationist
Community Developer	Intelligence Agent	Surveyor
Computer Mapper	International Business Representative	Systems Analyst
Computer Programmer	International Investment Analyst	Teacher
Demographer	Land Developer	Traffic Manager
Earth Scientist	Land Economist	Transportation Analyst
Ecologist	Land-Use Analyst	Transportation Manager
Editor	Location Expert	Travel Agent/Specialist
Environment Impact Analyst	Map Analyst	Urban/Regional Planner
Facilities Planner	Map Curator/Librarian	Weather Forecaster
Forestry Technician	Map Editor	Wildlife Manager
Geographer	Market Research Analyst	Writer/Author
Geographic Area Specialist	Natural Resources Specialist	Zoning Investigator
Geographic Attache	Outdoor Guide

Related Skills

Project Development	Interpersonal	Research/Analysis	Communication
Plan Long-term Projects	Interview Skills	Gather, Organize & Examine Data	Summarize Results
Develop Project Designs	Understand Group Dynamics	Conduct Field Studies	Write Clearly
Write Grant Proposals	Observe Human Interactions	Apply Non-Invasive Methods	Present/Defend Position
Evaluation	Recognize Similarities	Computer Modeling	Communicate Points
Maintain Records	Surveying & Sampling	Utilize Statistical Applications	Understand Societies
	Identify Value Systems	Read/Construct Maps/Graphs

Job & Internship Search Links

USAJobs.gov - check out the Students and Recent Grads section and the Federal Jobs by College Major for a listing of job titles related to your major.

Earthworks Jobs

GeoSearch

GIS Job Search

GIS Job Clearinghouse

Geography Jobs

Career Planning Links

Occupational Outlook Handbook - the following links also provide a summary of the career, what they do, the work environment, how to become one, the job outlook, similar occupations and contacts for more information.

Explore Careers in Earth & Physical Sciences

What Can I do with a Major in Geography? - CareerThoughts.com has a similar page to this one, which includes career options, expected salary, and job outlook information.

Careers in Geography - Provides an overview of what type of field Geography is and the types of careers you can obtain from majoring in it.

Jobs and Careers

Professional Association Links

Association of American Geographers - Educate yourself on this association and what it can possibly offer you for your future in the Geography field

US Army Corps of Engineers

National Climatic Data Center

National Park Service

USGS

National Council for Geographic Educators