Bachelor in Geography

Geography is the study of Earth’s landscapes, environments, peoples, and places; it is the study of the world in which we live. Geography can be divided into two sub-categories:

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• Human Geography: human geography deals with how people plan and use space. Human geographers may work in urban planning, community planning, or real estate development.

• Physical Geography. Physical geography focuses on studying characteristics of the environment, including water, soil, land formations, and weather patterns. Physical geographers analyze weather patterns as meteorologists or climatologists, and advise corporations about the environmental effects of their activities.

What is a Bachelor in Geography degree?

The bachelor’s degree in geography is an undergraduate degree program which bridges the social sciences with the natural sciences and explores the dynamics of cultures, societies, and economies, as well as the dynamics of physical landscapes and the environment. Enrolling in this program may help you learn about:

• Our natural environments and the pressures they face
• The places and communities in which we live and work,
• How and why the world is changing
• The options that exist in managing our world for the future

This program may possibly open up a number of career paths for you by providing you with knowledge of geographic techniques, skills, concepts, and their application in numerous subfields of geography. Once you complete this degree program, you may qualify for work in geographic information systems, the environment, planning, consulting, tourism, mapping, international relations, government, or business.

What courses will I study in a Bachelor in Geography degree program?

The bachelor’s degree in geography allows you to focus your studies in human geography, physical geography, geographic techniques, or choose to mix coursework across these areas. Some of the topics you may study are:

• Geography of Crop Plants
• Social Geography
• Geography for a Changing World
• Geography of Europe
• Geography of Africa
• Introduction to Human Geography
• Climatology
• Principles of Geographic Hydrology
• The Global Environment
• Foundations of GIS (geographic information systems)
• Geographic visualization, GIS, remote sensing, or field methods

You can also take courses in one of three tracks:

• Environmental Studies
• Health & Society
• Geographic Information Science

What are the prerequisites to enroll in this program?

To get admissions in a bachelor’s degree in geography program, you must:

• Submit an application with ACT or SAT scores
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Take high school or college prep classes in mathematics and science

What career paths can I pursue with a Bachelor’s degree in Geography?

Graduates of a bachelor's degree may possibly choose from a number of opportunities in business, education, technology, and other fields. Two examples of careers graduates may choose are:

• Cartographer. Employment of cartographers is projected to grow 20% from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Median annual wage (2012): $57,440 (BLS)

• Surveyor. The demand for surveyors is projected to grow 10% from 2012 to 2022, about as fast as the average for all occupations (BLS).

Median annual pay (2012): $56,230 (BLS)