Geography

What is Geography?	Related Career Titles
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Miscellaneous Resources	UNCW Dept. of Geography & Geology

What Is Geography?

According to the Association of American Geographers, Geography is the science of place and space. Geographers ask where things are located on the surface of the earth, why they are located where they are, how places differ from one another, and how people interact with the environment.

There are two main branches of geography: human geography and physical geography. Human geography is concerned with the spatial aspects of human existence - how people and their activity are distributed in space, how they use and perceive space, and how they create and sustain the places that make up the earth's surface. Physical geographers study patterns of climates, land forms, vegetation, soils, and water. They forecast the weather, manage land and water resources, and analyze and plan for forests, rangelands, and wetlands.

Related Career Titles

Aerial Photo Interpreter	Facilities Planner	Land Developer
Site Researcher	Agricultural Extension Agent	Forestry Technician
Land Economist	Soil Conservationist	Air/Water Quality Control Manager
Geographer	Land-Use Analyst	Surveyor
Cartographer	Geographic Area Specialist	Location Expert
Systems Analyst	Cartography Compiler	Geographic Attache'
Map Analyst	Teacher	Climatologist
Geographic Information Systems	Map Curator/Librarian	Traffic Manager
Coastal Zone Manager	Geophysics Assistant	Map Editor
Transportation Analyst	Community Developer	Hazardous Waste Planner
Market Research Analyst	Transportation Manager	Computer Mapper
Health Services Planner	Natural Resources Spec.	Travel Agent/Specialist
Computer Programmer	Health Services Organization Manager	Outdoor Guide
Urban/Regional Planner	Demographer	Hydrologist
Park Ranger	Weather Forecaster	Earth Scientist
Industrial Developer	Peace Corp Volunteer	Wildlife Manager
Ecologist	Industrial Planner	Property Manager
Writer/Author	Editor	Intelligence Agent
Public Utilities Specialist	Zoning Investigator	Env. Impact Analyst
International Business Rep	Real Estate Agent/Broker/Appraiser	Environmental Quality Specialist
International Investment Analyst	Remote Sensing Analyst	College/University Professor
GIS Analyst	Geospatial Office Technician

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Related Major Skills

Project Development	Interpersonal	Research/Analysis	Communication
Plan long-term projects	Interview skills	Gather & organize data	Summarize results
Develop project designs	Understand group dynamics	Examine data	Write clearly
Write grant proposals	Observe human interactions	Conduct field studies	Present/defend position
Evaluation	Recognize similarities	Apply non-intrusive methods	Communicate across cultures
Maintain records	Surveying & sampling	Computer modeling	Understand societies
Read/construct maps/graphs	Identify value systems	Utilize statistical applications