Possible Geography major

Parent Cafe
1

<p>-My daughter is very interested in land/water issues and how they affect the people/animals that live there. -I can see her working long term with people in a developing country re: agricultural issues for example, but I can't see her as a GIS expert. ( but I could be wrong)</p>

<p>I imagine that grad school will be required ( although I know she really is eager to be done with school & in the field) but we are both trying to get a sense for this field & where the jobs would be.</p>

<p>Im posting here rather than in the majors forum- hoping that I can draw some lurkers out. :)</p>

2

<p>My nephew got his degree in Geography and did internships in the field almost every summer - mostly with Professors. He is in graduate school now getting a degree in Urban Planning. Started out in Landscape Arch but given the economy he switched. His emphasis in UP is on green spaces/sustainability, etc.</p>

3

<p>I’m no expert, although I have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express, and my S is interested in geography also so I have done a fair amount of research on the topic…</p>

<p>Yes, I think a graduate degree would be essential but probably not in geography unless she wants a Phd or an MS degree in GIS/GeoInformatics. </p>

<p>Many of the entry level jobs in the field apparently require a heavy science background so a degree in Env Science or engineering might be better. Here is a program we are looking at. Note the classes in Watershed Hydrology and Watershed Mgt. More science than policy.</p>

<p>[Environmental</a> Science: Iowa State University](<a href=“http://www.ensci.iastate.edu/undergrad/prostudents/curriculum.html]Environmental”>http://www.ensci.iastate.edu/undergrad/prostudents/curriculum.html)</p>

<p>Iowa State also has a program in global agricultural studies.</p>

<p>[The</a> College of Agriculture: Iowa State University](<a href=“http://www.global.ag.iastate.edu/]The”>http://www.global.ag.iastate.edu/)</p>

<p>The other option is a degree in geography with an emphasis on Human Environment Interaction. Fewer science courses and more policy type courses. Often these human environment interactions involve heavy spatial modeling through GIS. See this program as an example of that. Similar program would be a degree in Env Studies.</p>

<p>[Environment-</a> UI Department of Geography](<a href=“http://www.uiowa.edu/~geog/environment/environment.shtml]Environment-”>http://www.uiowa.edu/~geog/environment/environment.shtml)
[url=&lt;a href=“http://catalog.iastate.edu/collegeofliberalartsandsciences/environmentalstudies/]Environmental”&gt;Environmental Studies | Iowa State University Catalog]Environmental</a> Studies<a href=“note%20that%20some%20of%20these%20courses%20are%20cross-listed%20with%20Env%20Science.”>/url</a></p>

<p>If my son decides to go this route, I would recommend to him either Env Science or GIS.</p>

<ul>
<li>I have an MPA degree with an emphasis in urban planning so if you have questions about that, I may be able to help.</li>
</ul>

4

<p>I have a geography major myself and found lots of useful info on the American Association of Geographers website.
[Jobs</a> and Careers | AAG](<a href=“http://www.aag.org/cs/careers]Jobs”>Jobs & Careers - AAG)</p>

5

<p>Yes, the AAG site has been very helpful for us also.</p>

6

<p>My brother has a degree in geography and I have a degree in geology. I was very impressed with this program at Texas A&M. My son looked at it for a while, but chose to go with a straight geology curriculum.</p>

<p>[Spatial</a> Sciences Undergraduate Degree Program](<a href=“http://ss.tamu.edu/]Spatial”>http://ss.tamu.edu/)</p>

7

<p>She would be going through the environmental college at her university, rather than a straight geo degree. It’s entitled Geography- International: Society & Environment emphasis.</p>

<p>I was never involved with her sisters choice of major- the advantage of a small college I guess, if you are going to major in a science & it wasn’t chem or physics- so it must be bio. ;)</p>

<p>Ill have to remind her to find out how often they offer some of the upper division courses that she wants. I know some of them might only be offered every other year or so</p>