Career Opportunities in Geography

Because of having such a diversified subject matter and inter-disciplinary relations, career prospects in the field of geography are pretty broad and prosperous. There are dozens of jobs in different fields of employment; starting from academies to tourism industries, and from a cartographer or GIS analyst to a field surveyor. Being a geographer can opt for dozens of jobs in different fields of employment.

Career in Geography

After completing the geography study, the job prospects are pretty wide and diversified, which starts from an academic field to a blogger, and from geo-analyst to a cartographer, and many more.

Popular careers in geography are −

Professor

after completing the master’s degree (MA in Geography or in MSc in Geography) and subsequently passing the UGC NET exam or/and completing the PhD degree, the door opens to become a professor.

Teacher

after completing graduation (with Geography Hons.) and subsequently completing the B. Ed., the door opens to becoming a school teacher.

Research Scholar

in the field of geography, becoming a research scholar is very easy and has wide opportunities. Research scholars (in the field of geography) can get job opportunities in academic or traveling industries, or in some MNCs that deal with international trade and other related work.

Cartographer

it is one of the oldest, but still an equally lucrative job for geographers. After completing graduation, one needs to pursue a certificate course in cartography and can then apply for the post of cartographer.

GIS Specialist

Geographic information systems (GIS) specialists design, develop, and implement systems and databases to access and store geospatial data. After completing the Geography Hons., one needs to pursue a certificate course to become a GIS Specialist.

Demographer

The job of a demographer is to maintain a record of the population, its growth, marriages, births, and deaths. After completing the Geography BA Hons. or MA (Geography), one can become a demographer.

Regional Planner

the major tasks of a regional planner are to use land resources judiciously and plan better growth and regeneration over a large geographic region. Normally, one who completes one’s MA in Geography, specializing in Regional Geography, can become a Regional Planner

Urban Planner

An urban planner's main responsibilities include developing land use plans and programs that help local communities accommodate population growth in urban areas. Urban planners also revitalize physical facilities in towns, cities, and metropolitan areas. After completing an MA (Geography), one needs to pursue an urban planning (specialized) course to become an urban planner.

Geomorphologist

A geomorphologist's main job is to study different landforms, their formation, and the changes caused by rivers, winds, oceans, and ice. One who has completed his/her MA in Geography or MSc in Geography with a specialization in Geomorphology can become a geomorphologist.

Environmental Consultant

in the present world, the demand for environmental consultants is very high, as almost every industry or firm needs their services. Interestingly, one can run his or her own consultancy or join any such firm providing environmental consultancy services.

Travel and Tourism Planner and Advisor or Guide

as the travel and tourism industry expanding, the job prospects (in the field of tourism industry) is also growing exponentially.

Blogger

these days, a career in the field of blogging is very promising. If you have good knowledge of geography and are interested in traveling, then with a little investment, you can become a video blogger or/and simply a blogger. YouTube provides a free platform where anyone can make his/her channel and upload videos. If you actively work and keep on uploading interesting videos suited to different geographic regions, then you can start earning independently.

Conclusion

Since geography is an interdisciplinary subject, it incorporates a wide range of career prospects. After graduation, there are certain specified job opportunities, and after post-graduation, some more options are open exclusively in the teaching field.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the highest-paying jobs in geography?

Indeed, geographers have some of the opportunities that are highly paid, such as GIS analyst, landscape architect, geography professor, environmental consultant, etc.

Is opting geography after 12th a good career choice?

Geography is one of the subjects that gives an opportunity to work in the fields of science, social science, and other humanities activities. So, because of having such a broad prospect, one can choose geography after his/her 12th.

Which career is best for a geographer?

There are a wide range of career opportunities and most of them are quite interesting and highly paid. Therefore, based on your choice, you can choose any of them. Some of the top career opportunities are cartographer, GIS analyst, professor, town planner, environmental consultant, etc.

What are the major courses in geography?

Geography is one of the subjects that offers both B.Sc. and B.A. degrees as well as M.A. and M.Sc. degrees. Depending upon your choice, you can choose the course.