Centre for Career and Personal Development Degree Profiles
Geography
Geography is an integrative science that explores the earth as a whole system through study of the earth’s physical environment, its resources and the human activities that occur on its surface.
Key Skills & Knowledge
Consulting with others: Finding innovative solutions to problems, advising on environmental issues; preparing regional health service plans.
Organization: Data, time and resource management; organized and able to meet deadlines.
Communication skills: inform, explain and instruct; prepare technical reports; communicate across cultures.
Visualization skills: Comprehend and create maps and graphs; skills in spatial analysis.
Technical: Computer modeling; methodical approach to using information gathering equipment; operate specialized field equipment and appropriate scientific lab techniques; utilizing statistical methods/applications; surveying techniques.
Analytical: Studying and analyzing the spatial distribution and interrelationship of physical, biological and cultural patterns, environmental phenomena, climate, natural resources and soil distribution, knowledge of the earth's physical environments and interrelationship; often specialize in these areas: economic, regional, urban, political, physical, medical, cartography.
Research skills: Data collection; process and synthesize vast amounts of data and apply where relevant; define research problems; develop research models and proposals; Identifying salient sources of information on specific topics; relating to climate, landforms, soils, vegetation, transportation systems, urban structure, resources, industry or different geographical regions.
Sample Job Titles
Please note some of these positions may require further training, certification or education. Check out the occupational profiles to review the full details for the occupations that interest you at alis.alberta.ca/occinfo
- Aerial Photo Interpreter
- Agricultural Planner
- Biogeographer
- Cartographer or Map Maker
- Census Geographer
- City/Regional Planner
- Climatologist
- Community Planner / City Planner
- Conservation Analyst
- Costal geomorphologist
- Demographer
- Digital Imaging Analyst/Technician
- Environmental Consultant/Evaluator
- Environmental Impact Analyst
- Facilities Planner
- Field Researcher
- Foreign Service Specialist
- Forestry Technician
- Geographer
- Geographic Analyst
- Geological Laboratory Assistant
- GIS Analyst / Technician
- Hazardous Waste Planner
- Health Services Planner
- Hydrographer
- Hydrologist
- Industrial Developer/Planner
- Laboratory Technician
- Land Developer
- Map Curator/Analyst/Editor
- Mapping Technologist
- Market Research Analyst
- Natural Hazards Consultant
- Natural Resource Specialist
- Park Planner
- Population Study Consultant
- Public Information Specialist
- Radar Analyst
- Real Estate Appraiser
- Recreational Programmer / Planner
- Regional Planning / Regional
- Remote Sensing Analyst / Specialist
- Researcher/Research Assistant
- Resource Analyst/Planner
- Satellite Remote Sensing
- Site Selection Consultant/Site Researcher
- Soil specialist
- Surveyor
- Teacher / Professor
- Tourism Developer
- Traffic Analyst
- Transportation Planner/Specialist
- Urban Analyst/Planner
- Waste management Coordinator
- Water Resource Planner
- Zoning Inspector
Potential Industries
- Agricultural Companies
- Conservation
- Consulting Firms
- Demography
- Electronic Mapping/Graphic Design
- Farming
- Forestry
- Geographic/Environmental Consulting
- Geological Surveying Companies
- Government
- Health Administration & Public Health
- Immigration
- International Development
- Logistics
- Market Research Organizations
- Mining and Resource Companies
- Non-Profits & NGOs
- Outdoor Recreation Companies
- Planning Agencies
- Pollution Control Companies
- Post-Secondary
- Public Utilities
- Real Estate/Construction Developers
- Recreation and Cultural Affairs
- Research Laboratories
- Scientific or Research Groups
- Transportation Companies/Industry
- Travel and Tourism Industry
- Urban and Regional Planning
- Waste Disposal Companies
- Water Management Companies
- Wildlife Conservation
Associations & Professional Development
- Alberta Geomatics Group
- Association of American Geographers
- Canadian Association of Geographers
- Canadian Association of Science Centres
- Canadian Cartographic Association
- Canadian Centre for Remote Sensing
- Canadian Council for Geographic Education
- Canadian Institute of Planners
- Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society
- Environment Canada
- Geological Survey of Canada
- GoGeomatics
- International Association of Hydrogeologists
- National Centre for Geographic Information and Analysis
- The Royal Canadian Geographical Society
Additional Resources
Did you know?
Formal Career Assessments like the Strong Interest Inventory and the Myers Briggs Type Indicator can be helpful tools for your career development. These assessments have been used for decades to help individuals choose a major, explore career options during and upon completion of a degree and to further understand yourself in relationship to the world of work. Inquire with Career Services if you are interested in these formal assessments.
Publications
Career Opportunities in Conservation and the Environment by ISBN: 9780816067428Publication Date: 2007-10-01
Careers in the Environment by ISBN: 0071476113Publication Date: 2007-03-16
Opportunities in Environmental Careers by ISBN: 9780071387231Publication Date: 2003-01-01- Careers for Nature Lovers and Other Outdoor Types byISBN: 9780658010699Publication Date: 2001-04-03
Key Contacts
Faculty Contact
Arts Students' Centre
Social Sciences Building, SS102
T: 403.220-6318
E: ascarts@ucalgary.ca
W: arts.ucalgary.ca/advising
Clubs on Campus:
Career Services
MacEwan Student Centre, Room 188
T: 403.220.8020
E: csstdnt@ucalgary.ca
W: ucalgary.ca/careers
