Academic Programs
> Undergraduate
The Geographer's Perspective and Job Opportunities in Geography
Geography is primarily concerned with the locations and arrangements in space of human and natural phenomena, and with the interrelationships between people and their spatial environments. Geographers, therefore, are interested in such topics as the location of industry and business, urban growth and development, regional planning and policy study, physical and ecological environments, interactions of people and places over space and time, and the diffusion of information, commodities, and ideas.
Over the years, geography has developed four major traditions or approaches. One is a spatial tradition, with a focus on the importance of distance, direction, position, pattern, and movement as concepts worthy of study themselves, whatever the subject matter. A second approach to geography is that of area studies, which takes as its objective the characterization and differentiation of places through a thorough accounting of all of the places' aspects and attributes. A third and long-standing approach to geography is through a human-land tradition, which, as the name implies, entails a focus upon the interrelationships and interactions between people and their environment. The final tradition is the earth-science tradition, which involves a focus upon the study of the earth and the atmosphere.
Because of these wide interests, geographers must acquire training in quantitative methods, field techniques, computer technology, data handling and analysis, cartographic display and production, and written and verbal communication skills. In addition, interdisciplinary work is often desirable in such areas as economics, computer science, psychology, geology, mathematics, marketing, statistics, information systems and environmental sciences.
Postbaccalaureate job opportunities are many and diverse. For example, students have found employment in urban and regional planning offices, with various agencies of the federal government, with location consulting firms, with manufacturing and service companies, with companies devoted to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and mapping, and with various environmental agencies. Specific work activities over the past few years have included the preparation of computer-generated maps, regional and urban planning, real estate property development, market planning and research, international trade management, and environmental impact assessment.