Majoring or Minoring in Geography

Geography Major Requirements (Checklist)
Geography Minor Requirements (Checklist)

Geography Links

Geography is the science of place and space. Geographers ask where things are located on the surface of the earth, why they are located where they are, how people and places differ from one another, and how people interact with the environment.

There are two main branches of geography: human geography and physical geography. Human geography is concerned with the spatial aspects of human existence — how people and their activities are distributed in space, how they use and perceive space, and how they create and sustain the places that make up the earth's surface. Human geographers work in the fields of urban and regional planning, transportation, marketing, real estate, tourism, and international business.

Physical geographers study patterns of climates, landforms, vegetation, soils, and water. They forecast the weather, manage land and water resources, and analyze and plan for forests, rangelands, and wetlands. Many human and physical geographers have skills in cartography, geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing. Collectively, these technical fields comprise Geographic Information Science (GIScience)

Geographers also study the linkages between human activity and natural systems. Geographers were, in fact, among the first scientists to sound the alarm that human-induced changes to the environment were beginning to threaten the balance of life itself. They are active in the study of global warming, desertification, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, groundwater pollution, and flooding.

From the Association of American Geographers (www.aag.org)                                    

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What are job opportunities for Geography majors/minors?

• Federal, state, and local governments
• Federal government agencies including: US Department of Agriculture, US Geological Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, The National Resources Conservation Service, Agency for International Development, World Bank, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Departments of Defense, Interior, Commerce, Agriculture, and State, Defense Mapping, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and Central Intelligence Agency
• Market research firms
• Manufacturing, wholesale, and retail firms
• Public utilities
• Consulting firms
• Real estate appraisers and developers
  
• Banks
• TV/Radio stations
• Agribusiness corporations
• Outdoor recreation companies
• Resource management agencies
• Research institutes
• Insurance companies
• Map publishers and software companies
• Peace Corps
• Companies dealing with transportation, communications, and trade
• Scientific and research groups
• Waste management companies
• Chemical companies
• Firms specializing in environmental issues or surveying
• Law firms
• Teaching from the elementary school to college level

  From the Association of American Geographers (www.aag.org)                                    

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Do I want to major/minor in Geography?

Do you like to look at maps?
The geographer's first inclination is to put information on a map in order to see how it looks spatially.

Do you prefer the window seat on airplanes?
Geography explains the constantly changing patterns of human activity and natural phenomena on the landscape.

Are you interested in foreign areas?
Many geographers specialize in a particular part of the world such as Latin America, Europe, Asia or Africa.

Do you like to work outside?
Many geographers obtain field data in environments that range from wilderness areas to cities.

Are you a problem solver?
Geographers are naturally curious about how the world is arranged. They ask questions about WHERE things are located and WHY they are found there.

Are you good at seeing connections among seemingly unrelated processes?
Geographers learn to integrate ideas about human behavior, social institutions, and the natural environment.

Can you adapt to rapid technological change?
Geography has been transformed by monumental changes in computer and satellite technology. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have revolutionized the way geographers collect, store, analyze, and present spatial information.

Are you interested in connections between humans and the environment?
Geographers see the world as the human habitat, one that we have transformed and that has transformed us.

Do you try to see the big picture?
Something about geographers' minds causes them to look for the way places fit together, interact with one another, and are influenced by larger, more global forces.  Geographers think big!

From the Association of American Geographers (www.aag.org)                                   

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What skills will I learn in Geography?

• Reading, writing, and speaking
• Managing time and resources
• Spatial perception
• Understanding geographic skills and techniques
• Conduct, understand, and explain scientific research
• Read and construct maps/graphs
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Intellectual growth
• Desire to help and influence people
• Help people adapt to their environments

Via the UWEC Department of Geography                                                                       

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