Geography Major

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Possible Job Titles

Typical Places of Employment

Typical Work Activities

Employment Links

Additional Info in Career Services

Alumni Resources (To contact alums, go to SU's Mentor Network)

Possible Job Titles

**Link to "Geographers at Work" that gives testimonials about what people do with this degree.

Aerial Photo Interpreter
Agricultural Extension Agent
Air Pollution Specialist for a regional air
quality district
Air Quality Analyst
Air/Water Quality Control Manager
Airline Cargo Marketing Executive
Airlines Researcher
Appraiser for a real estate corporation
Area Specialist
Avalanche Specialist in a U.S. National
Forest
Budget Planning and Policy Manager for
a major metropolis
Business Analyst in a corporation
Cartographer
Climatologist
Coastal Zone Manager
Colonel in the U.S. Army
Community Development Analyst
Computer Mapping Specialist
Computer Programmer
Computer Specialist for a U.S. National
Park
Conservation Education Coordinator for
a state
Data Analyst for an insurance company
Demographer at the U.S. Department of
Agriculture
Director of Planning and Zoning for a
township
Ecologist
Economic Development Analyst
Economist
Engineer, Civil
Environmental Impact Analyst
Environmental Manager
Environment Planner for a state department of transportation
Environmental Quality Specialist
Facilities Planner
Forestry Technician
Geographer at the U.S. Defense
Mapping Agency
Geographer at the Smithsonian
Institution
Geographer at the U.S. Bureau of the
Census
Geographer at the U.S. Department of
Agriculture
Geographer at the U.S. National
Aeronautics and Space Administration
Geographer at the U.S. National
Oceanographic and Atmospheric
Administration
Geographer for a water management
district
Geographer for the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers
Geographer for the U.S. Army Topographic
Engineering Center
Geographer for the U.S. Forest Service
GIS Analyst in a corporation
Geographic Area Specialist
Geographic Info. Sys. Specialist
Geographic Attaché
Geophysics Assistance
Hazardous-Waste Planner
Health Services Organization Manager
Health Services Planner
Hydrologist

industrial Planner
Industrial Developer
Insurance Analyst
Intelligence Analyst at the U.S. National Photo Interpretation Center
International Business Rep.
Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Defense
Intelligence Agency
Interpreter
International Investment Analyst
Land Use Planner for a city
Land Developer
Land Economist
Location Expert
Map Analyst
Map Editor
Map Librarian
Map Curator
Marketing Analyst
Meteorologist at the U.S. National Weather
Service
Meteorologist, Television
Natural Resource Specialist
Outdoor Guide
Park Ranger
Peace Corps Volunteer
Physical Scientist at the U.S. Geological
Survey
Physical Scientist for the U.S. Defense
Mapping Agency
Political Analyst
Pollution Control Specialist for a
metropolitan area
Principal Scientist in a corporation
Project Planner for a county
Property Manager
Public Utilities Specialist
Ranger in a U.S. National Park
Real Estate Appraiser
Recycling Coordinator for a state
Redevelopment Coordinator for a city
Remote Sensing Analyst
Regional Environmentalist for a state
department of transportation
Regional Planner
Risk Analyst in a corporation
Site Researcher
Soil Conservationist for a state natural
resource conservation service
Supervising Topographic Engineer for a state
geological survey
Surveyor
Systems Analyst
Teacher
Tourism Developer
Traffic Management Specialist, U.S.
Department of Agriculture
Transportation Planner for a county Transportation Analyst
Transportation Manager
Travel Agent/Specialist
Urban/Regional Planner
Weather Forecaster
Wildlife Manager
Writer/Author
Web Master
Wetlands Conservation Supervisor for a
reclamation authority
Zoning Administrator

Typical Places of Employment

State, regional and local government
Depts. of State
Defense & Commerce
Publishers (textbooks and maps)
Real estate developers
Scientific and research groups
Forestry
Mining
Federal Government
Engineering firms
Central Intelligence Agency
U.S. Geological
Survey
Defense Mapping
Agency
Architectural firms
Bureau of Census
Construction
Surveying firms
Consulting firms
Utilities
Planning agencies
Colleges and Universities
Elementary/secondary schools
International Trade Org.
Agricultural organizations
Manufacturing firms

Other areas
Government departments
housing
planning
conservation
natural resource management
transport

Private sector industries
mining
tourism
banking

Private sector consultants
environmental
planning

Non-government organizations
international aid
community development
environmental development
environmental advocacy

Social policy agencies
urban
housing
social welfare

Miscellaneous
retailing and marketing
computing
telecommunications
teaching in secondary and tertiary
education
human management and public
relations
graduate studies and research

Required Skills and Abilities

Skills
Verbal & written communication
Computer skills
Surveying and measuring
Numerical computations
Team work
Research

Evaluation & presentation
Statistical analysis
Photography
Information
management
Organization and attention

Study Habits Necessary
Many students entering the workforce find little direct use for the particular knowledge they have acquired while doing their university degree. This doesn’t have to be the case for students of Geography. The knowledge and skills that students learn when studying in Geography are much sought after by employers of many kinds.
The skills this degree provides which are so attractive to prospective employers include:

analytical and technical skills (in both the physical and social sciences)
survey skills (physical and social science)
writing and information synthesis
communication and group work skills
computing skills
knowledge of social and environmental interactions

What will it take to get a good job?
Plan for your career
As a student, develop a professional interest in a field or set of public issues and systematically develop your
background, knowledge base, skills and contacts over a 2-3 year period.

Seek and find an internship
One of the surest ways to land a good job is to land a good internship.

Network
Remember, most jobs are filled without ever being advertised, or, if advertised, are already targeted for someone -
- often someone who has talked her or his way into the job.

Join local, national and international professional organizations.

Preparing an effective Resume
Think of resumes as an attention-getting device. That means you need to think about your reader. The keys to
preparing an effective resume are focus, relevance, and brevity: focus on the job you want and how your education
and experience qualify you for that job; show the relevance of your previous experience and coursework; and fit
all the key points on a single page, at least for entry-level professional jobs.

Plan your job search
RMF - Research, Mailing, and Follow up. Target a dozen companies that might hire someone with your
background. Research them, prepare customized cover letters for the target firms, and follow up immediately via
phone after the arrival of your letter. If nothing is available, ask them for referrals to other divisions in the company
or other companies. Planning and persistence are key.

Job search on the Internet
Visit your library and check out some of the recent books on using the internet for job searches and preparing
effective resumes for internet use. Two recent books are: How to Get your Dream Job Using the Web, Shannon
Karl and Arthur Karl, and Career Roads, The 1997 Directory to Job, Resume and Career Management Sites on
the World Wide Web, Gerry Crispin and Mark Mehler.

Typical Work Activities

Writing material for publication, for example, scientific and general publications, reports, environmental impact
statements, textbooks, grant proposals
Studying physical and human geography
Develop theories on how humans adapt to
environmental conditions and analyze how they alter their environment

Conduct research
Making and manipulating maps to understand patterns and processes
Analyzing geographic contexts of specific
activities/issues
Working on community and other collaborative projects

Additional Info in Career Services

These publications must be used in the "Browsing" Library of Career Services. There are also many brochures and magazines such as Resume Writing, Interviewing and Job Choices that you may take with you.

Opportunities in CAD/CAM Careers

To see a complete list of career books located at the Career Services Office click here.

Alumni Resources

(Listed below are examples of SU Alumni and their Jobs in this major-For more alumni resources, go to Mentor Network)

ALUMNI NAME	GRAD. DATE	CURRENT JOB	ORGANIZATION
Vanessa Janney	1998	Environmental Engineer	Bechtel National Inc.
Robert Collins	1992	Senior Analyst	AOT

Geography Major

Possible Job Titles

Typical Places of Employment

Required Skills and Abilities

Typical Work Activities

Additional Info in Career Services

Alumni Resources

Related Links: Further Explore this Career Field