If you are planning to get a specialized degree in geography, people may have teased you regarding your degree.
However, in reality, a degree in geography helps you gain in-depth knowledge and strong analytical and research skills, which various employers greatly regard.
In addition, if you want to have a positive impact, having a geography degree is an excellent place to start.
Careers in geography offer many avenues that help you come up with solutions to some of the pressing problems in modern society.
While the career path you opt for may depend on if you have studied human geography or physical geography, the former is a social science, and the latter is a natural science.
And it is natural to educate yourself about the career options if you plan to get a geography degree before you enroll in a course for majors or specialization.
Read on to find out why you study geography, what do geographers study, and what you can do with a geography degree.
Why Study Geography?
The subject of geography revolves around so many other aspects than mere maps.
It can help you prepare for careers in which you can develop solutions to some critical issues faced by society currently.
This includes climate change, natural disasters, multicultural integration, and urban expansion.
Coursework hones your analytical and research skills, both of which are highly valued by employers in various fields.
So what do geographers do? Essentially, geographers study landforms, climates, soils, vegetation, and water patterns. When it comes to human geographers, they learn human existence's spatial aspects.
In both subspecialties, geographers may leverage tools like Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and online mappings like Google Earth and Remote Sensing.
There are an array of geography-related sub-specialties that can help you get ready for a variety of different career options.
Specialties include political, economic, population, cultural geography, natural hazards, spatial statistics, and human-environment interaction, to name a few.
What Do Geographers Study?
A geography degree module may comprise topics on:
- Sustainability
- Rivers
- The Physical Environment
- Environmental Modeling
- The Making Of The Advanced City
- Climate Change Politics
- Geopolitics
- Political Geography
- Coastal
- Economic Geography
- Energy Resources
- Environmental Hazards
In addition, geography degrees also include field visits, with institutions requiring fieldwork in different countries to engage students in environments locally so they can apply the concepts and knowledge learned in courses.
Trips may also improve group and independent research skills.
Many units depend on assessments performed as a field trip's part, while several universities have associations with overseas institutions to broaden the range of possible fieldwork destinations.
The subject of geography hones analytical, critical thinking, and observational skills.
Careers In Geography
Geographers' varied skill-set makes them highly appealing to employers from various sectors.
So, irrespective of the specialization you opt for to apply your skills or to stay in the field, you will always have ample avenues and opportunities at hand.
It is possible to get a job with an undergraduate degree in geography.
However, since the job market is highly competitive, those with higher-level degrees, specialty training, or field experience may have more opportunities.
Thanks to the academic knowledge and transferable skills that you gain from geography courses, you will have plenty of career paths to opt from.
Geography education bridges the gap between the social and natural sciences. You can go places with a geography degree if you have what it takes to succeed in a fiercely competitive job market.
You can opt for and enjoy a well-paying profession while balancing family and work.
Environmental Consultancy
If you aim to save the world and want to do your part, the environmental geography degree can help you make a difference and impact.
This is perfect for individuals who specialize in environmental and physical geography.
Environmental consultants partner with local authorities, companies, and various other organizations to help them reverse or minimize damage to the environment.
While you can switch to environmental consultancy right after completing your geography degree by taking on an entry-level role, you will be an appealing resource to employers if you get a master's degree.
As an environmental consultant, you must ensure that your government or commercial clients adhere to the regulations and address various environmental issues.
This is a diverse role, usually focusing on recognizing whether a land area, water, or air is polluted and its impact, with the help of fieldwork and desk-based research.
As a career option, the environmental consultancy provides an organized path with the potential to specify your interest area.
In addition, prior work experience will be helpful for this role with prospective employers such as the government and water-related companies.
Cartography
Cartography involves producing and developing different maps and generating related charts, diagrams, travel guides, and spreadsheets.
As a cartographer, your role may also comprise the restoration of historical documents and old maps.
Also, cartographers have to work in various areas, including government, publishing, conservation, and surveying.
Today, this field also leverages a range of advanced technologies, like digital-mapping techniques and geographical information systems.
Typically, you will not require any previous experience or a postgraduate degree to pursue this job role.
However, it is helpful to have a specialized degree and experience in a subject like remote sensing.
Advanced study, such as a master's, will be beneficial while helping you develop relevant skills, prove your interest, and augment your employability.
Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Officer
Along with the environment, if you are interested in analytics, computer systems, and data, this role might suit you.
For example, geographic information systems are computerized systems for storing, collecting, managing, presenting, and analyzing complex geographical information, for instance, radar.
A geographical information system officer gathers and examines the geographical data obtained by GIS.
Then, to make well-informed decisions beneficial for the environment, you can apply this data in various areas, such as meteorology, defense, gas, oil, transportation, and telecommunications.
It is good to have previously studied GIS as a module in your degree to enter this role. Several employers also consider a relevant postgraduate degree and work experience valuable.
Government And Policy
Geography degrees, specifically those studying human geography, are excellent to gain knowledge and develop skills useful for a political career or the non-profit sector.
So, if you have an interest in politics, it's good to be connected with political groups at your institute and opt for leadership roles in different societies.
If the geography careers mentioned above aren't appealing to you, you can find plenty of other options out there.
Geography as a career is a vast field, and the skills you gain during your degree will also be beneficial for employment in many industries, from the public sector and commerce to tourism and transport.
You can find a well-suited role for yourself within environmental affairs, international development, agriculture, and more.
A brilliant way to get started in government and politics is to enroll in a competitive degree program that leads to an almost fail-safe job in your expertise, anything from diplomatic service to finance.
It's a strong career option with decent geography salaries.
Conservation Officer
Suppose you are passionate about making a difference in the environment by playing your part and aim to motivate others to safeguard the natural ecosphere.
In that case, you may go for a conservation officer career option.
In this career, you work to defend a natural environment and increase awareness of the methods in which local communities can enjoy their settings without having an adverse impact.
In the same way, sustainable development officers will promote their specific employer's sustainability practices in the vicinity.
Therefore, it is vital to gain relevant work experience via voluntary or paid work, and a sustainable development master's degree may be helpful.
Town Planner
Town planners have to develop and manage towns, villages, cities, and rural areas.
You'll have to use your environmental knowledge and analytical skills to enhance current infrastructures, figure out solutions to ecological issues, and ensure new developments are aligned with various regulations and policies.
A significant part of your job is to satisfy the needs of local communities and businesses needs while making sure that natural environments are optimally preserved, and development is sustainable.
You will need a postgraduate qualification to become a chartered town planner to augment your prospects.
Teacher
You may like to pass on your geography-related knowledge and skills to the next generation that you can achieve by being a geography teacher in a college, educational institution, or school.
This will require a focused teaching qualification or specialized Ph.D. or master's like other coaching roles. Furthermore, you will need excellent creativity, commitment, and communication skills for your subject.
Finally, you will have to stay updated with the new advances in geography and arrange field trips for practical learning methods.
You can also teach geography and other related courses as a private tutor where you help students hone their skills in the subject matter, those who are passionate about it.
Geography Degree: Skills For CV
By studying geography, you gain valuable insights into an array of social, practical, environmental, and economic issues.
Geography provides you the opportunity to tackle some of the most critical problems facing current society, from natural disasters and climate change to urban expansion and overpopulation.
Moreover, besides gaining skills in equipment handling, fieldwork, and preparing diagrams and maps using data, you will also have to develop various vital skills related to several sectors and jobs.
Some geography degrees combine human geography with measurable analysis methods like specialized population geography.
These degrees provide you with the essential quantitative skills rare amongst the social sciences, specifically in careers requiring social research skills.
These comprise of:
- Data collection, research, evaluation, and analytical skills
- Computational skills
- Oral and written communications abilities, including data presentation and report writing
- IT skills like the use of spreadsheets and databases and computer cartography
- The ability to comprehend abstract and articulate concepts to different audiences
- Problem-solving skills
- The ability to recognize the ethical and moral issues involved
- Self-reliance and self-motivation
- Work autonomously as well as a competent team member
- Time management
Apply For A Geography Degree Program
Whatever career option you pursue, it is advisable to get prior work experience in your preferred field to be aware of employers' roles and expectations.
In addition, fieldwork is a beneficial way to develop your practical skills and gain hands-on experience.
Typically, a good geography degree offers a range of optional modules to choose from, both at postgraduate and undergraduate levels.
A private tutoring platform like Superprof can help you personalize your geography course as per your needs, requirements, and specialized area of interest.
Whether you aim to learn more about the planet's pressures or earth's principles, it's up to you.
Once you identify your particular talents and skills, and thought regarding what you aim to get out of your geography degree course, you'll be able to achieve your academic as well as professional goals.
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