Center for Geography Assessment

Geography is useful in nearly all aspects of the world of work. There are, however, many jobs that are particularly well-suited to geographers. These jobs correspond roughly to broad categories of academic work in geography.

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Or, choose a career and see what kind(s) of geography you will use:

An Area Specialist studies specific countries or areas of the world. This job requires a good knowledge of the appropriate language and a thorough understanding of the culture and daily life of the area's inhabitants. Typically, an Area Specialist might be employed by a U.S. government agency such as the State Department or the Central Intelligence Agency. They might be based in Washington, D.C. or abroad. Area Specialists collect information for air photos and the reports of intelligence agents. They brief both civil service and elected government officials.

International Business Representativeswork for practically every large American corporation that does business with people outside the United States. In order to do general business, companies need individuals who know about the agriculture and industries of other nations. These types of jobs will expand dramatically in the future.

Travel agents make travel arrangements for other people. While the bulk of this work involves ticketing for trips within the United States, many travelers want information about foreign places. Travel agents frequently give advice to travelers on a wide range of issues from what to wear, to what to see and where to stay.

Cartography and Geographic Information Systems
Thousands of geographers have jobs involving maps. Maps are essential. They are used by planners, engineers, utility companies, state agencies, construction companies, surveyors, architects and ordinary citizens. One of the fastest growing areas is the use of computers to generate maps and store map-related information. College geography programs are the primary vehicles for instruction in cartography or mapmaking.

Cartographers generally begin with a grid such as the familiar one based on latitude and longitude to which they add information such as transportation systems, populations and physical features. Many cartographers are employed by the U.S. government to make maps for various purposes. The Defense Mapping Agency has large cartography operations in St. Louis, San Antonio and Washington D.C. The Bureau of the Census collects, maps and analyzes data on the population of the U.S. The U.S. Geological Survey employs people to make topographic maps which show terrain and key cultural features. Cartographers are also employed by private corporations to make and sell a variety of maps.

A Geographic Information System Specialist works with a specialized hardware and software system (geographic information system or GIS) used to store, display, analyze, and map information. Geographers, planners, land developers, real estate agents, employees of utility companies and municipal officials all use these systems. In fact, modern planning cannot move forward without these systems and those trained to run them. The field of GIS is frequently listed as one of the top ten fastest growing professions in the United States.

Remote-Sensing Analysts interpret aerial photos and the digital images of satellites for government agencies and mapping corporations. Virtually all modern maps of large areas are based in part on remote sensing.

Urban and Regional Planning
Geographers often work as planners to ensure that communities develop in a way that protects the quality of life for all residents. Planners must be able to develop subdivision and housing projects. They need to understand all the factors that affect the value of land and real estate.

Urban and Community Planners work to make cities and neighborhoods pleasant and attractive places in which to work and live. They deal with zoning laws, traffic patterns, building density, recreation facilities and the management of waste materials and water. Planners work closely with builders and developers to ensure that sites are developed in accordance with the master plan. They need geographic information to make this all come together. Most planners get a master's degree in one of the sub-specialties of planning after getting their bachelor's degree in a discipline such as geography. There are a large number of planners with master's degrees in geography.

Transportation Planning is a large sub-category of urban planning. Transportation Planners focus their efforts on ways to balance the use of private vehicles and public mass transit by developing multiple-mode systems utilizing cars, buses, trains, subways and pedestrian movements.

Health Service Planners perform a wide variety of tasks related to the delivery of health services. For example, they may help determine the best locations for new hospitals, clinics, and garages for emergency medical service vehicles

Economic Geography
Economic geography is concerned with the location and distribution of economic activity. It focuses on the location of industries, retail and wholesale business, transportation and trade, and on the changing value of real estate.

Location Experts determine the best locations for all kinds of business activity. Location is one of the most important factors in a company's success. These professionals use GIS and examine demographics, transportation, availability of labor, local shopping habits and plans for urban expansion.

Market Researchers determine the sales potential of various areas. They develop this understanding by studying buying habits, regional sales characteristics and customer preferences. There are a large number of market research firms that employ many people. In addition, many large retail corporations have entire divisions devoted to market research.

Traffic Managers/Route Delivery Managers arrange for the shipping of a company's products. They oversee the process that supplies the corporation with goods and ensure that the corporation's product is delivered to its customers in a timely and cost effective fashion.

Location is the most important factor of the real estate industry. A geographer is particularly well-equipped to evaluate the price of land and real estate as a Real Estate Agent/Broker/Appraiser. Most real estate professionals need special licenses to practice and must take special courses in the practice of buying and selling real estate. Geographical knowledge makes realtors especially effective.

Geographic Education
The need for teachers of geography has risen dramatically in the past decade. While teaching is not the highest-paid profession, there are numerous benefits, including time off for travel or personal development, and the satisfaction of making a difference in the growth of our cultures.

Elementary/Secondary Teachers: A great many new teachers will be needed in the next decade to replace the retiring teachers of the baby boom generation and to staff the growing number of geography courses. In addition to a geography degree, it is necessary to obtain a teacher's license to teach in public schools. In many schools, teachers are expected to teach more than one subject. The breadth of geography makes it the ideal major for future social studies teachers.

College Professor:To teach at a college, one should have a Ph.D. in geography because professors both teach and conduct geographic research within their special fields. They are expected to create new knowledge and be leaders in their communities by sharing their knowledge of the world.

Physical Geography, Earth Science and Environmental Studies
Environmental problems have become a growing concern for citizens and government officials. The delicate balance between nature and the human use of the land is threatened and, as a result, hundreds of new jobs have been created in the field of environmental management and monitoring.

Environmental Managers are involved in the control of water, air quality, soil energy, land reclamation, coastline protection, river basins, and solid, hazardous and toxic waste disposal. Environmental Managers work for governments or private industries. Many work in the federal Environment Protection Agency or state departments of natural resources. To work in these fields, geographers need courses in biology and chemistry.

Forest Technicians manage the timber industry of the United States. They work for private lumber companies or branches of government. Most foresters have been trained in special college programs and geography is a complementary program for their work.

Park Rangers have the responsibility of enforcing the laws designed to protect the environment and make the nation's and states' natural beauty and recreational resources available to all citizens. In order to do their job, rangers need to understand forest and wildlife conservation and geography.

Camp Directors and Outdoor Educators have the responsibility of educating young people about both the intricacies of the environment and the concepts of environmental stewardship. Many geographers with managerial skills enjoy the lifestyle of camps and take satisfaction in the educational components of camp programs.

Weather Forecaster: Many geographers enhance their training with the study of meteorology and join the specialized profession of weather forecasting. A bachelor's degree in geography is an ideal background for this profession; a master's degree in meteorology is required to work in the field.