Post on 26-Mar-2015
JOB/CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDYING GEOGRAPHY
By Kwabena Barima AntwiDepartment of Geography and Regional Planning
University of Cape Coast, Ghana [Email: k_bantwi@yahoo.co.uk: 0246-143986] August 5, 2011
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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.
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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
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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;
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Type of Training in Geography & Planning
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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?
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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
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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…
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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;
Research Findings & Job Opportunities in Geography Conti…
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:
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Research Findings & Job Opportunities in Geography Conti…
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
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Research Findings & Job Opportunities in Geography Conti…
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
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Research Findings & Job Opportunities in Geography Conti…
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.
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Research Findings & Job Opportunities in Geography Conti…
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;
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Conclusion
Thank You; ADAM & EVE; For Your Attention and Participation;
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