GEOGRAPHY …

                                        GEOGRAPHY
                                What can I do with this degree?
                 AREAS                         EMPLOYERS                                               STRATEGIES
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOGRAPHY         Federal and state government                           Environmental geographers are concerned with how
Environmental Management           Environmental Protection Agency                     human beings use the earth. They focus on human
Conservation                       Departments of Agriculture                          impact on the environment.
Waste Management                   National Forest Service
Environmental Regulation                                                               Learn federal government job application process.
                                Real estate developers                                 Become skilled in related computer technology.
Emergency Management            Scientific and research groups
Outdoor Recreation Management                                                          Courses in biology and chemistry are a must.
                                Firms specializing in forestry, mining, engineering,   Take elective courses in botany, plant science, and
                                   environmental issues, waste management,                wildlife.
                                   architecture, or surveying.                         For a career in law, you must earn a graduate degree
                                Law firms                                                 in law.
CULTURAL & HUMAN GEOGRAPHY      State, regional, and local government                  Cultural and human geographers study the aspects of
Cultural Resources              Federal government including:                          geography that relate to different cultures. They
Historic Preservation              Central Intelligence Agency                         especially focus on cultural origins and movement
Historical Consultation            Defense Mapping Agency                              and the cultural characteristics of regions.
Education                          Bureau of Census
Resesarch                          Department of State                                 Learn federal, state, and local government job
                                   National Park Service                                  application process.
                                Peace Corps                                            Become skilled in related computer technology.
                                Real estate developers                                 Develop excellent communication and teamwork
                                Companies dealing with insurance, transportation,         skills in order to work with historians and archivists
                                   communications, and international trade                in recreating the geography of the past.
                                Scientific and research groups                         Learn how to conduct library research, make field
                                Museums                                                   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                                                                     Economic geographers study the distribution of
                                Federal, state, and local government
Location Scouting               Manufacturing, wholesale, and retail firms
                                                                                       resources and economic activities within a certain
Real Estate Analysis            Public utilities
                                                                                       region. They may use this information to advise
Transportation                  Consulting firms
                                                                                       organizations on where to build new facilities.
Agricultural Planning           Real estate developers
Travel/Tourism Planning                                                                Obtain business knowledge though coursework or
                                Banks
                                                                                       related work experience.
                                                                                       Learn to see all sides of a problem, including
                                                                                           economic, social, political, and environmental.
(Geography, Page 2)

                  AREAS                        EMPLOYERS                                              STRATEGIES

GEOTECHNIQUES
Cartography                      Federal government agencies                           Become skilled in related computer technology.
Geographic Information Systems      Departments of Defense, Interior, Commerce,        Learn photography skills.
Remote Sensing                          Agriculture, and State                         Take courses in surveying and measurements,
                                    Defense Mapping                                       photogrammetry, technical mathematics,
                                    National Aeronautics and Space Administration         drafting, statistics, optics, remote sensing, art,
                                    Central Intelligence Agency                           and graphics.
                                 State and regional government agencies                Seek work-related experience such as internships,
                                    Departments of Transportation or Agriculture          and summer or part-time jobs.
                                 Private industry including utilities, construction,   Learn federal, state and local government job
                                    engineering, energy, environmental planning, and      application process since most of these positions
                                    consulting firms                                      are in governement agencies.
                                 Map publishers                                        Develop excellent communication skills.
                                 Colleges and universities



SOCIAL AND URBAN
                                 City, county, and regional planning agencies          Planners ensure that communities develop in an
City/Regional Planning                                                                 orderly way and that they have the services
                                 State government
Housing Development                                                                    necessary to support them.
                                 Federal government agencies including:
Convention/Tourism
                                    Agency for International Development
Community Development                                                                  Develop team work skills.
                                    World Bank
Demography                                                                             Learn federal, state, and local government job
                                    Department of Housing and Urban Development
Transportation                                                                            application process. Local government is a large
                                 Research organizations
                                 Private business                                         employer in this area.
                                 Banks                                                 Maintain excellent academic undergraduate record.
                                 Industrial firms                                      Obtain master's degree in planning.
                                 Public utilities                                      Take courses in public administration or public
                                 Real estate developers                                   finance.
GEOGRAPHIC EDUCATION
                                 Elementary/secondary schools, public and private      Obtain certification/licensure for public school
Teaching
                                 Colleges and universities                                teaching.
Research
                                                                                       Join National Council for Geographic Education
                                                                                          and/or the Association of American Geogra-
                                                                                          phers.
                                                                                       Complete a master's degree for community college
                                                                                          teaching or a Ph.D. for college/university
                                                                                          teaching     and research.
                                                                                       Specialize in an area such as quantitative research
                                                                                          techniques, computer mapping, or natural
                                                                                          resource management.
(Geography, Page 3)

                   AREAS                                                       EMPLOYERS                                                       STRATEGIES

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY                                                                                                            Physical geographers study earth processes such
Biogeography                                              State and local government
                                                                                                                              as climate and weather. They also look at the
Natural Hazards                                           Federal government agencies including:
                                                                                                                              impact of natural hazards such as hurricanes,
Hydrology                                                    US Geological Survey
                                                                                                                              tornadoes, and earthquakes.
Weather and Climate                                          National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Geomorphology                                                Forest Service
                                                                                                                              Take courses in physics and chemistry.
                                                             Bureau of Land Management
                                                                                                                              Develop excellent communication skills.
                                                             THe National Resources Conservation Service
                                                                                                                              Be willing to relocate to regions that have job
                                                          TV/Radio stations
                                                                                                                                 availability.
                                                          Agribusiness corporations
                                                          Outdoor recreation companies
                                                          Resource management agencies
                                                          Research institutes
                                                          Insurance companies




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, 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).
·   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.



                               Prepared by the Career Planning staff of Career Services at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.   (1995, Revised 2003)
                                                          UTK is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA Employer