Today, geography majors can obtain a full range of social science, environmental management and science or technical degrees that lead directly and indirectly to a variety of career options.
Study options
Geography and the Environment at °µÍø51 offers many opportunities for furthering educational goals and career objectives. An Associate Degree in Geography, or one of the following Associate of Arts Degrees, provides 60 credits of university transfer courses.
Today, Geography majors can complete degrees in Human Geography, Physical Geography, Environmental Studies, Resource Management, Earth Sciences, Urban Studies, Habitat Restoration, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Spatial Information Systems, Community Development and Sustainability Planning at most universities.
Geography-related degrees
Geography-related degrees you can complete at °µÍø51:
- Geography (Associate of Arts)
- Future Teachers (Associate of Arts)
- Environmental Studies (Associate of Arts)
- Intercultural & International Studies (Associate of Arts)
- Future Professional Pilots (Associate of Arts)
- General Studies (Associate of Arts)
- Liberal Arts Diploma Program
- Lab science credits (GEOG 1110, 1120, 2210, 2220, 2230, 3311)
Course planning
Ask your geography instructors and lab techs for help with course planning, and remember to check the °µÍø51 Course Scheduling Tool below to see which courses are being offered in the upcoming semester.
Careers in geography
A Geography major ensures that students master communication and personal management skills, teamwork, information management and problem solving, with a focus on understanding the complex interworking of human and/or physical environments and processes, spatial analysis and visualization, computer software and modeling, logical and effective report and essay writing and analysis of land use and statistical data.
A Geography major offers a broad range of employment opportunities such as:
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The posts projected career salaries in Geographic fields on their website. An example from 2014 showed water resource specialists earned an average of $120,000 USD annually, geographic information systems (GIS) technicians could expect to earn on average $80,000 USD annually, urban or regional planners earned on average over $65,000 USD annually and a hydrologist could bring in $78,000 USD annually.
The estimates the following earnings in British Columbia based on full time employment.
- Meteorologists can earn between $35 and $58 per hour (about $73,000 to $121,000 CAD annually)
- Environmental consultants can earn between $23 and $46 per hour (about $48,000 to $96,000 CAD annually)
- Urban and landuse planners can receive between $28 and $47 per hour (about $58,000 to $98,000 CAD annually)
- Park rangers or conservation officers can collect an hourly wage of up to $47 (about $98,000 CAD annually)
Mapping technologists or technicians such as cartographers or GIS specialists can earn between $20 and $38 per hour (about $42,000 to $79,000 CAD annually)