Geography

Triton College

Counseling Department

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 Map Analyst

Teacher Climatologist Traffic Manager

Geographic Information Systems Map Curator/Librarian 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 Environmental Impact Analyst International Business Rep

Real Estate Agent/Broker/Appraiser Environmental Quality Specialist International Investment Analyst

Remote Sensing Analyst College/University Professor

Related Major Skills

Project Development Interpersonal Research/Analysis

Plan long-term projects                               Interview skills                                            Gather & organize data
Develop project designs                               Understand group dynamics                         Examine data
Write grant proposals                                  Observe human interactions                         Conduct field studies
Evaluation                                                  Recognize similarities                                  Apply non-intrusive