So you’ve got a So you’ve got a Geography degree…Geography degree…

Now what are you going to do Now what are you going to do with it?with it?

“ as a young man, my fondest dream was to become a geographer. However, while working at the customs office, I thought deeply about the matter and concluded it was far too difficult a subject. I then turned to Physics as a substitute.

- Albert Einstein

National Research Council, 2006

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

Geography Degrees Granted, NCES data

3700

3800

3900

4000

4100

4200

4300

4400

4500

1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 2002-2003 2003-2004

Academic Year

Nu

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f B

A d

egre

es i

n

Geo

gra

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y: U

S

Educating the Geographer at UVMEducating the Geographer at UVM

TEACHING MISSION STATEMENTTEACHING MISSION STATEMENT

To cultivate and inform an enthusiastic and critical engagement with To cultivate and inform an enthusiastic and critical engagement with the community and the world through the study of physical the community and the world through the study of physical geography, human geography, human/environment  relationships, geography, human geography, human/environment  relationships, and geographical techniques.and geographical techniques.

Students will develop skills in:   Students will develop skills in:  

1.   Identifying and framing research questions.1.   Identifying and framing research questions.

2.   Qualitative and quantitative research methods.2.   Qualitative and quantitative research methods.

3.   Geospatial technologies.3.   Geospatial technologies.

4.   Ethical and cultural competencies.4.   Ethical and cultural competencies.

5.   Societal and environmental stewardship. 5.   Societal and environmental stewardship.

Geographers at workGeographers at workGovernment

- Planning, Transportation- Health & Human Services- Housing & Urban Development- Census Bureau

Non-profit & advocacy- Smart Growth, Sustainability- VISTA/Americorps- Community-based organizations- Research Institutes/Think tanks

Education- Primary, Secondary- College/University- Museums, continuing ed.

Business- marketing- consulting

Government- Land management, planning- Environment Mgmt, Nat. Resources- Weather, Water, Space agencies

Non-profit & advocacy- Public Interest Research Group- Land Trust- Watershed Councils- VISTA/Americorps- Research Institutes

Education - Primary, Secondary- College/University- Museums, continuing ed.

Business- marketing- consulting

Human GeographersHuman Geographers Physical GeographersPhysical Geographers

So what are you going to do with it?So what are you going to do with it?

I want toget a job!

I want togo to graduateschoolI want to

try something different

(a.k.a. “the gap year”)

ConsiderationsConsiderations Where do your interests (passions) lie?Where do your interests (passions) lie?

Are your major / minor synergistic? Are your major / minor synergistic?

What skills are you developing?What skills are you developing?

How can internship, research assistantship help How can internship, research assistantship help build resume and develop a trajectory?build resume and develop a trajectory?

Who would write you a (Who would write you a (glowingglowing) letter of ) letter of recommendation?recommendation?

Thinking about internships or Thinking about internships or assistantshipsassistantships

Survey the options; talk with faculty Survey the options; talk with faculty & professionals& professionals

Conduct informational interviews / Conduct informational interviews / network (network (https://alumni.uvm.edu))

Offer to work for Offer to work for freefree

Get exposure, develop a skill, create Get exposure, develop a skill, create a product, build your resume!a product, build your resume!

Opportunities for GeographersOpportunities for Geographers

http://www.geographyjobs.com/

Opportunities for GeographersOpportunities for Geographers

http://www.gjc.org/

http://www.gisjobs.com/