Geography
College: College of Arts and Sciences
Degrees: B.A., minor, M.A.
See Also: Department of Geosciences
Geography has a long tradition of integrating the physical, human, and behavioral sciences, thereby providing the liberal arts student with many useful perspectives for intellectual development. Geographers receive training in both the physical and human elements of the field. Human geographers examine settlement patterns, the connections between people and places, and the cultural and economic interdependence of the world system. Physical geographers emphasize the study of weather and climate, landforms, water resources, the impact of the physical environment on human behavior, and how human behavior affects the natural world. Finally, Geography also includes the study of cartography, the science and art of mapping.
Career Opportunities
The computer and telecommunication fields provide additional opportunities for geographers to work as database managers, graphics specialists, production managers, and geographic information systems (GIS) specialists. With the diversity of their liberal arts training, geographers also qualify for professional management positions as well as more traditional work as teachers or professors in educational institutions.