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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 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 & Non-profit Organizations
Broadcast and print media firms	Environmental advocacy groups	Scientific journals
Educational institutions	Environmental firms	Testing labs
Energy organizations (Petroleum, Coal, Natural Gas)	Minerals organizations	Travel/Tourism (ecotourism companies)
Engineering firms	Natural history museums	Waste management companies

Government Agencies
Bureau of Reclamation	NJ Dept. of Transportation	Soil Conservation Service
Forest Service	NJ Geological Survey	US Environmental Protection Agency
National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Admin.	Office of Naval Research	US Geological Survey
NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection	Peace Corps

Jobs Obtained by Rutgers Graduates

9th Fighter Squadron, Pilot	New Castle Conservation District, GIS Specialist, System Administrator
American Arbitration Association, Special Projects Coordinator	New Dorp, High School Teacher
Association of Science-Technology Centers, Membership Coordinator	NJ Department of Education, Program Specialist
CAPO Group, Inc., Director of Land Planning	NJ DEPE-DFWE, Metro Enforcement Recycling Specialist
Chester Co. Geographic Information Services, Title unknown	NJ Meadowlands Commission, Chief Planner
City of Charlottesville, VA, Economic Development Specialist	NJDEP, Principal Environmental 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 QA Specialist	T & M Associates, Principal Environmental Planner
Hammerhead Construction & Roofing, Owner	U.S. Census Bureau, Lead Geographic Assistant
Hammond, Inc., Cartographer	U.S. EPA, Chief, State Implementation Plan Section
Hunterdon County Planning Board, Planner	U.S. Geological Survey, Cartographer
Jersey Shore Medical Center, Staff Nurse-ICU	UNICEF, 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/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
National Imagery and Mapping Agency, Imagery Analyst	Wright & Talisman, P.C., Paralegal

Graduate Schools Attended

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

Additionally, you may:

Explore the career paths of RU Alumni Career Network mentors.
Go to the Rutgers Online Career Planning Site to explore your interests, skills and values. Use the program for either: High School Students | College Students
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.


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