job/career opportunities for studying geography by kwabena barima antwi department of geography and...

JOB/CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDYING GEOGRAPHY

By Kwabena Barima AntwiDepartment of Geography and Regional Planning

University of Cape Coast, Ghana [Email: [email protected]: 0246-143986] August 5, 2011

1WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

mailto:[email protected]

Learning Objectives

After going through this session participants should be able to:

1) Appreciate Geography as an inter-disciplinary subject that has multiple pathways to career and professional development;

2) Recognise that Geography is among the leading Social Scientific subjects that can open more job or career opportunities for those who study it with interest and commitment; and

3) Utilize the insight gained to educate or inform others, including students and parents and policy makers about the need to perhaps make Geography a compulsory for all.

WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR 2

Outline of Presentation

o Introductiono Skill and Attributes of Geographerso What can or do Geographers doo Some Subject Combinations and Possible Career Outcomeso What can Geographers do with their Degreeso Type of Training in Geography and Regional Planning @UCCo What Job opportunities are out there for Geographerso Some Empirical Evidence of job opportunities for

Geographerso Conclusion


Introduction

Compared to other subjects, Geography graduates are among the most employable;

They possess the skills that employers look for;

In part this is because the subject combines knowledge of science and an understanding of the arts;


Skills & Attributes Of Geographers (Adapted from Pauline, 1999)

GEOGRAPHY – Understand and interpret geographic information:

•Recognise inter and intra-subject relationships•Understand the conceptual basis of geography•Understand methods for geographical investigations and their limitations

INTELLECTUAL SKILLS:-Research abilities-Reason critically-Create imaginative solutions-Synthesize diverse materials-Reflect and evaluate-Originality-Flexible in thinking and debating issues--Criticize analytical approaches

PRACTICAL SKILLS:

-IT & GIS-Field Investigations-Computer-based analysis -Laboratory investigations-Data analysis-Devise imaginative research methodologies-Professional presentations

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:-Negotiation-Ethical and professional behaviour-Networking and teamwork-Oral communication-Written communication-Empathy-Listening abilities-Manage meetings

PERSONAL SKILLS:-Career management-Self motivation-Prioritize activities-Innovation and adaptability-Self evaluation-Time planning and management-Independent work-Enterprising


What do Geographers do Conti…

GEOGRAPHERS CAN: Make a concise report Handle analyse and interprete

data Ask questions and find

answers to societal problems Make decisions about an

issue of development concern Analyse multi-disciplinary

material Organise themselves Think creatively and

independently

GEOGRAPHERS CAN BE: Good communicators Spatially aware Socially and

environmentally aware Problem solvers Good team players Computer literate Well rounded, flexible

thinkers


Some Subject Combinations & Possible Career Outcomes

SUBJECT COMBINATION

GEOGRAPHY POSSIBLE CAREER

Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Science, ICT

+ Geography

Environmental Science, Geology, Meteorology, Geophysics, Surveying, Oceanography, Hydrology, Teaching

Mathematics, Business Studies, Economics,

Languages, Leisure Studies, Travel and Tourism

+ Geography

Banking, Town and Country Planning, Insurance, Housing, Travel and Tourism, Journalism, Teaching

Mathematics, Art and Design, ICT

+ GeographyArchitecture, Cartography, Surveying, Graphic Design, Teaching


Some Subject Combinations & Possible Career Outcomes

SUBJECT COMBINATION

GEOGRAPHY POSSIBLE CAREER

Biology, Chemistry, Leisure Studies

+ GeographyEnvironmental Health, Recreational Management, Environmental Science, Teaching

Health and Social Care, ICT, Psychology,

Economics, Sociology+ Geography

Social Work, Retail Management, Personnel Management, Teaching

English, Languages, Law, Health and Social Care,

History, ICT, Media Studies, Religious Studies

+ GeographyPublishing, Law, Journalism, Social Work, Teaching


What Can I do With my Geography Degree?

MAJOR AREA OF HUMAN PROGRESS INSTITUTIONS/POSSIBLE PROFESSIONS

Development

Aid Agencies, Charities, Non-Governmental Organizations e.g. British Council, Voluntary Services Overseas, Christian Aid, Population Concern

Ecosystems and Environment

Estate Manager, Landscape Architect, Conservationist, Forester, Countryside Ranger e.g. National Parks, Environment Agency, British Trust For Conservation Volunteers, National Trust

Land and Water Processes

Hydrologist, Civil Engineer, Glaciologist, Geomorphologist e.g. Environment Agency, , British Antarctic Survey

Map work and Computing

Surveyor, Cartographer, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) e.g. Ordnance Survey (OS), other publishers of geographical information, British Library, Health Authorities


What Can I do With my Geography Degree?

MAJOR AREA OF HUMAN PROGRESS

INSTITUTIONS/POSSIBLE PROFESSIONS

Population

Demographer, Census Officer, Market Researcher, Housing Officer, Social Worker e.g. Local Authorities, Housing Associations, Office Of National Statistics

Settlement and IndustryTown Planner, Chartered Surveyor, Transport Planner e.g. Local Authorities, Transport

Tourism

Recreation and Leisure Centre Management, Tourism Officer, Heritage Manager, Travel Agent e.g. Tourism Unit within a Local Authority, Thomas Cook


Type of Training in Geography & Planning


The Department of Geography and Regional Planning, University of Cape Coast currently offers two types of degree programmes (i.e. BA Social Science (Geography) & Bsc. (Geography & Regional Planning)

BA Social Science (Geography) major can lead one to three (3) areas of choice depending on interest and capability

1) Physical Geography;2) Human Geography; and 3) Quantitative Geography. Bsc. (Geography & Regional Planning) can lead one to

exploring urban or rural issues of human development.

What Job opportunities are out there?


What do these courses offer to the geographer in terms of job opportunities?

It must be admitted that unlike such professional disciplines as:

ENGINEERING, MEDICINE, LAW OR PHARMACY: Some of the modules do not lead directly into any specific

profession apart from teaching at the secondary school level;

Research Findings & Job Opportunities in Geography


According to a research carried out between 1990 and 2000;

There are three (3) main areas where it should be worthwhile for Geography or Planning Graduates to hunt for jobs:

Business, Commerce and Industry; The public service, including the Armed Forces; and Politics.

Research Findings & Job Opportunities in Geography Conti…


The research further categorized careers under the above three major groups into three:

1) Those into which a Geographical training can lead directly, e.g. secondary school teaching, general administration and politics;

2) Those into which a Geographical training requires additional training, e.g. Estate Management, Urban and Regional Planning; Survey; Cartography; GIS & Remote Sensing, Hydrology and University Teaching and Research;


3)Finally those in which the premium is not on the specific qualification of the applicant, but on general intellectual ability and on qualities of character and personality, e.g. the Armed Forces Pilot;

From a survey carried out on 269 Geography Graduates of the three modules, the following career characteristics were observed:



RANK CAREER AREA PERCENT1 Teaching 49.42 General Administration 17.73 Urban and Regional Planning 15.74 Business Management 4.85 Auditing 2.05 Estate Management 2.06 Land Surveying 1.6



RANK CAREER AREA PERCENT7 Armed Forces 1.68 Librarianship 1.29 Educational Broadcasting & the

Publishing Trade0.8

10 Soil and Rural Survey 0.811 Cartography 0.412 Journalism 0.4



Between 1990 and 2000, another career, Hydrology, was added to the job areas;

It was also observed that the percentage for the Teaching Profession dropped from 49.4% to 43.2%; and

Urban and Regional Planning increased from 15.7% to 33.0%;

Land surveying increased from 2.0% to 3.2%; However, general administration dropped from 17.3% to

7.3.



The most important conclusions from the above statistics are:

1. The high percentage for the teaching profession generally but its decline between 1990 and 2000;

2. The sharp decrease in general administration as a profession;

3. Significant increases in the percentages for Urban and Regional Planning, Land Surveying, Armed Forces and the emergence of Hydrology as a profession for a geographer;


Conclusion

Thank You; ADAM & EVE; For Your Attention and Participation;


job/career opportunities for studying geography by kwabena barima antwi department of geography and...

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