What is Geography?
As a geography student, you will study the world and how people interact with it. It’s largely a science, but you can get information on other topics as well, including politics and sociology. If you are interested in studying geography, you have two avenues to choose from: Physical geography: studying the earth and its natural elements; Volcanoes, earthquakes, atmosphere, climate, landscapes, and erosion; Human Geography: How We (Humans) Interact with the Global Economy, Tourism, Population, Globalization, and more. It’s likely a Bachelor of Arts (BA). But you don’t have to focus on just one, you can opt for a combined course.
Why Start a Career in Geography?
Careers with a geography degree offer the opportunity to work online or offline. Geographers, surveyors, and mapping technicians spend time on-site, collecting data and studying the earth. Academic careers involve more work and less time outdoors, analytical thinking and attention to detail. Some geography professionals work alone, others as part of a team, which means students need to develop the ability to work individually and interact with others. Geography Major also requires a deep understanding of the earth and how humans interact with it.
What do the geographic courses cover?
Which geography courses you take largely depends on whether you have chosen a degree with a focus on physical geography or human geography, although in the Bachelor’s degree, it is often possible to cover aspects of both before deciding on a degree Societies: how they function, develop and what challenges they face. So if you choose to study a human geography degree, you can cover topics such as population change, cultural and religious practices, various aspects of globalization, weather systems, earthquakes, and rock formations, right down to what happens on the ocean floor. You will find them titled as Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc), or at graduate level Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MSc) BA and MA options often correspond to a geographic focus, while BSc / MSc is in Physical Geography, but this is not always the case so always check course details.
Skills Acquired
Studying geography gives you insights into a variety of practical, social, economic, and ecological topics. Geography provides an opportunity to address some of the major problems facing modern society, from climate change and natural disasters to overpopulation and urban sprawl. Besides basic geographic skills, such as fieldwork and planning and diagrams, and with the help of social surveys and interpretive methods, you will also develop a variety of key skills relevant to many geography courses, such as those that focus on population geography, you will become human geography. Quantitative analysis Degrees teach you quantitative skills that are rare in the social sciences and are particularly sought after in professions where social science skills are of crucial importance. Some skills you will gain include:
What can I do with a Geography degree?
The study of geography prepares you with its possibilities for practical learning and its interdisciplinary and holistic natural and social science approach for many professional fields in the private sector and government, non-profit organizations, research, and higher education. For example, a geography degree prepares you to become an environmental consultant, work in industry, join or set up a nonprofit, embark on a career in international development, or improve your education to work for the U.S. Geological Survey among others. Because few geography degree jobs are labelled “geographer,” this article describes some of the job titles and career paths of geographers.
Typical Jobs in Geography Degree
There is a wide range of jobs for a graduate in Geography, you can work in the public or private sector, or a non-governmental or charitable organization, specializing in an area related to Housing, Real Estate, Land Management, Environment, or International Development. Alternatively, you can get a teacher training course, take a law conversion course, or apply for the Fast Stream Civil Service or NHS graduate program. Traditionally, employers such as home builders have only been willing to hire geography graduates for land management positions if they have attended an industry-recognized graduate school. With further qualifications or training, the following professions are available to you: commercial, residential mapmaker, environmental surveying, geologist, exploration facility Manager Geographical Information Systems Manager, Geomatics / Surveying Engineers, Landscape Architect, Nature Conservation Officer, Recycling Officer, Tourism Officer, City, and State Planning, Travel Agency, Waste officer, Water protection officer e.t.c.
Conclusion
Geography degrees, especially those specializing in human geography, are a great way to develop skills and knowledge useful for a career in politics or the nonprofit sector at your university or to take on leadership roles in companies. Likewise, volunteering for environmental organizations gives you an advantage in the non-profit sector. If none of the geography careers listed above suit you, there are still plenty of options. Skills gained during your undergraduate studies would also be useful for careers in a variety of other industries, from commercial and public sectors to transportation and tourism.
