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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 Related Occupations

CAD OperatorInternational EconomistResearch Scientist
CartographerLandscape ArchitectScience Librarian
Economic Development SpecialistLawyerSeismologist
GeographerMarket Research AnalystSoil Conservationist
Geographic Information SpecialistNatural Resource ManagerSoil Scientist
GeomorphologistNaturalistSurveyor
GeophysicistPetrologistTechnical Sales Rep.
Government Agency AdministratorPhotogrammetristTechnical Writer
HistorianPolitical AnalystUrban Planner
HydrogeologistPolitical ScientistWater Quality Specialist


Types of Employers

Private & Nonprofit Organizations
Broadcast and print media firmsEnvironmental advocacy groupsScientific journals
Educational institutionsEnvironmental firmsTesting labs
Energy organizations (Petroleum, Coal, Natural Gas)Minerals organizationsTravel/Tourism (ecotourism companies)
Engineering firmsNatural history museumsWaste management companies

Government Agencies
Bureau of ReclamationNJ Dept. of TransportationSoil Conservation Service
Forest ServiceNJ Geological SurveyUS Environmental Protection Agency
National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Admin.Office of Naval ResearchUS Geological Survey
NJ Dept. of Environmental ProtectionPeace Corps 


Jobs Obtained by Rutgers Graduates

9th Fighter Squadron, PilotNew Castle Conservation District, GIS Specialist, System Administrator
American Arbitration Association, Special Projects CoordinatorNew Dorp, High School Teacher
Association of Science-Technology Centers, Membership CoordinatorNJ Department of Education, Program Specialist
CAPO Group, Inc., Director of Land PlanningNJ DEPE-DFWE, Metro Enforcement Recycling Specialist
Chester Co. Geographic Information Services, Title unknownNJ Meadowlands Commission, Chief Planner
City of Charlottesville, VA, Economic Development SpecialistNJDEP, Principal Environmental Specialist
Construction Specialties, Regional Sales ManagerPayco Gen. American Credit Corp., Collector
Debug Computers, General ManagerPCA Audio Design, Title unknown
Dept. of Economics & Geography, Associate Professor of GeographyStone & Webster, Inc., Environmental Scientist
Environmental Systems Research Institute, Software QA SpecialistT & M Associates, Principal Environmental Planner
Hammerhead Construction & Roofing, OwnerU.S. Census Bureau, Lead Geographic Assistant
Hammond, Inc., CartographerU.S. EPA, Chief, State Implementation Plan Section
Hunterdon County Planning Board, PlannerU.S. Geological Survey, Cartographer
Jersey Shore Medical Center, Staff Nurse-ICUUNICEF, Assistant Program Officer
Law Office of Carmen R. Faia, P.C., Attorney (JD)United States Army Corps of Engineers, Geographer
Louis Berger & Associates, Inc., CAD Operator/DesignerUnited Water Florida, CAD Operator
Lucent Technologies, Title unknownUniversity of South Carolina, Program Manager
M & M Knopf, Collections ManagerUpper Raritan Watershed Assoc., Geographic Info Systems Specialist
Masary Kovo Gymnazium, Czechoslovakia Teacher of ESLUS Navy, Ensign
N.J. Community Water Watch, Team LeaderWarren George, Inc., Core Driller
National Imagery and Mapping Agency, Imagery AnalystWright & Talisman, P.C., Paralegal


Graduate Schools Attended

Rutgers University, PhD, GeographyRutgers Universtiy, MS, City/Community/Regional Planning
Rutgers University, MS, Geography 


Additionally, you may:
 


 

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