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Career
Opportunities for Majors in Geography
Introduction
Geography
is the study of the Earth as the home of humankind. It provides
a broad place-centered perspective on the transformation of
environments by society and nature at a variety of levels, from
the local to the global. Areas of study include physical geography
(hemispheric and regional snow cover dynamics; dynamics of the
coastal zone and process-response modeling of beaches and dunes;
paleoenvironmental reconstruction; groundwater and water supply;
and landscape ecology), environmental geography (human responses
to environmental hazards and disasters; global environmental
change; risk perception; public health and risk communication;
remote sensing and geographic information systems; development
and underdevelopment; political economy and ecology of Africa;
and institutional and cross-cultural aspects of environmental
management), and research in urban, social, economic & political
geography (social, political and economic restructuring in Europe;
regional impacts of economic globalization in advanced and developing
countries; contemporary urban development in advanced economies;
revitalization and gentrification; housing, residential segregation
and community control of land use; political and economic aspects
of urban change and policy; trans-Atlantic transfer of material
culture; gender; and history of geography).
Geography
students are offered courses in which they learn specific technical
skills in computerized information retrieval, spatial data analysis,
cartographic representation, remote sensing, and geographic
information systems that are suitable for direct entry level
positions. Geography majors receive a liberal arts education
that is an appropriate base for further specialized training
in academic disciplines which address environmental and international
issues or in related professional fields such as planning and
public policy, law, and environmental management. Regardless
of your career plans, it is important to develop your marketability
through internships, responsible work experience, good grades,
and participation in campus activities.
A
Sample of Possible Occupations
| CAD
Operator |
International
Economist |
Research
Scientist |
| Cartographer |
Landscape
Architect |
Science
Librarian |
| Economic
Development Specialist |
Lawyer |
Seismologist |
| Geographer |
Market
Research Analyst |
Soil
Conservationist |
| Geographic
Information Specialist |
Natural
Resource Manager |
Soil
Scientist |
| Geomorphologist |
Naturalist |
Surveyor |
| Geophysicist |
Petrologist
|
Technical
Sales Rep. |
| Government
Agency Administrator |
Photogrammetrist |
Technical
Writer |
| Historian |
Political
Analyst |
Urban
Planner |
| Hydrogeologist |
Political
Scientist |
Water
Quality Specialist
|
Types of Employers
| Private
and Non-profit Organizations |
| Broadcast
and print media firms |
Minerals
organizations |
| Educational
institutions |
Natural
history museums |
| Energy
organizations (Petroleum, Coal, Natural Gas) |
Scientific
journals |
| Engineering
firms |
Testing
labs |
| Environmental
firms |
Travel/Tourism
(ecotourism companies) |
| Environmental
advocacy groups |
Waste
management companies
|
| Government
Agencies |
| Bureau
of Reclamation |
Office
of Naval Research |
| Forest
Service |
Peace
Corps |
| National
Oceanographic & Atmospheric Admin. |
Soil
Conservation Service |
| NJ
Dept. of Environmental Protection |
US
Environmental Protection Agency |
| NJ
Dept. of Transportation |
US
Geological Survey
|
| NJ
Geological Survey |
|
Jobs
Obtained by Rutgers Graduates
| 9th
Fighter Squadron, Pilot |
National
Imagery and Mapping Agency, Imagery Analyst |
| American
Arbitration Association, Special Projects Coordinator |
New
Castle Conservation District, GIS Specialist, System Administrator |
| Association
of Science-Technology Centers, Membership Coordinator |
New
Dorp, High School Teacher |
| CAPO
Group, Inc., Director of Land Planning |
NJ
Department of Education, Program Specialist |
| Chester
Co. Geographic Information Services, Title unknown |
NJDEP,
Principal Environmental Specialist |
| City
of Charlottesville, VA, Economic Development Specialist
|
NJ
DEPE-DFWE, Metro Enforcement Recycling Specialist |
| Construction
Specialties, Regional Sales Manager |
Payco
Gen. American Credit Corp., Collector |
| Debug
Computers, General Manager |
PCA
Audio Design, Title unknown |
| Dept.
of Economics & Geography, Associate Professor of Geography |
Stone
& Webster, Inc., Environmental Scientist |
| Environmental
Systems Research Institute, Software Quality Assurance Specialist
|
T
& M Associates, Principal Environmental Planner |
| Hammerhead
Construction & Roofing, Owner |
U.S.
EPA, Chief, State Implementation Plan Section |
| Hammond,
Inc., Cartographer |
U.S.
Geological Survey, Cartographer |
| Hunterdon
County Planning Board, Planner |
UNICEF,
Assistant Program Officer |
| Jersey
Shore Medical Center, Staff Nurse-ICU |
United
States Army Corps of Engineers, Geographer |
| Law
Office of Carmen R. Faia, P.C., Attorney (JD) |
U.S.
Census Bureau, Lead Geographic Assistant |
| Louis
Berger & Associates, Inc., CAD Operator/Designer |
United
Water Florida, CAD Operator |
| Lucent
Technologies, Title unknown |
University
of South Carolina, Program Manager |
| M
& M Knopf, Collections Manager |
Upper
Raritan Watershed Assoc., Geographic Info Systems Specialist |
| Masary
Kovo Gymnazium, Czechoslovakia Teacher of ESL |
US
Navy, Ensign |
| N.J.
Community Water Watch, Team Leader |
Warren
George, Inc., Core Driller |
| NJ
Meadowlands Commission, Chief Planner |
Wright
& Talisman, P.C., Paralegal
|
Graduate
Schools Attended
| Rutgers
University, PhD, Geography |
| Rutgers
University, MS, Geography |
| Rutgers
Universtiy, MS, City/Community/Regional Planning |
Review more Rutgers
University college major handouts.
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paths of RU
Alumni Career Network mentors.
Go to the Rutgers
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to explore my interests, skills, and values:
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Explore Rutgers
University academic department information related to this major.
See the Occupational
Outlook Handbook for
additional career information.
Pick
up your "Career Opportunities" handouts at any New Brunswick Career Services
office
Created
by the Rutgers University, New Brunswick Career Services staff
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Handouts
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Updated 6/20/06
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