Double Major? (Geography and ???)

College Majors Humanities Majors
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What does everyone think of double-majoring with a Geography and _________?

Quick summary of my college history: I did two years at South Dakota State for Electrical Engineering but burnt out. I’ve been working as an electrician for the last two years and now I’m headed back to college after figuring out that the energy/engineering/electricity thing just wasn’t for me and I’d be much happier in the humanities and working with people and the Earth.

For fall 2017 I’m headed to Missoula College to complete a one year program that combines surveying, ArcGIS, and CAD programs to introduce me to the software and techniques geography requires. The other benefit is that I will have the chance to prove myself with much better grades (A’s instead of D’s and F’s).

The thing though is that I’ve been told just getting a BA in Geography won’t cut it for some of the better jobs out there and so I should either specialize or double major, I’m thinking about doubling up. I like various geographic-related subjects from Demographics to environmental impacts. I like the concept of surveying, not to mention geology. I have a thing for politics too, so I’d be fine working up close with politicians. Of course, I love to travel and hope to do a lot of that in my lifetime, especially the South Pacific, Africa, and South America.

I’ve also come to appreciate what it means to have a decent education and I’m willing to go to school until I’m satisfied with what I’ve learned. I may have one degree, I might keep coming back to tackle other subjects.

Other majors I’m thinking about include:

Geology
Political Science
Environmental Science
Biology
Sustainable Construction (associates)
Climate Change studies (minor)
Ecosystem Sciences and Restoration (with a Master’s option)
Forestry
Geosciences

And then I could get a Masters’ by continuing in Cartography/GIS or Community and Environmental Planning or Physical Geography.

So the main question I am wanting to ask is this:

Has anybody here earned, or know of anybody that has earned a degree in Geography? What else did they take to expand their education? and where are you/they now?

Thanks for the time guys! I’ve got plenty of time between now and then, but I’d like to get a clear path laid out as to what I’m doing and where I’m going.

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Hi @James2795,

I can’t answer your question directly, because I’m not knowledgeable about the job prospects. I would imagine any combination of these could send you into different (but interesting) paths. Also, I would think that internships would be very important. My question to you is: have the people who have advised you to specialize or double major given their opinions as to which combinations would make you most employable? Also (maybe most important) what appeals to YOU most strongly? Are you pulled more to the study of science itself (i.e. biology, ecosystems, forestry) or political science? How likely is it that you would want to go to graduate school later? What about environmental policy (either as undergrad double major or graduate school?)

You sound to me like a good candidate to consider Peace Corps service overseas after you graduate, which can lead to great opportunities and competitive status for getting into graduate programs or employment. Check out the Peace Corps website at https://www.peacecorps.gov/

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well if your heading into a career involving physical geography geology would probably be the best option if your looking into human geography sociology or political science possibly anthropology would be good options