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 & Nonprofit 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:
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Last Updated: 06/06/2011
Last Updated: 06/06/2011