Geography Bachelor's Degree

Department of Geography College of Liberal Arts 1250 Bellflower Boulevard California State University Long Beach, CA 90840-1101 USA

What is Geography?

The Department of Geography at California State University, Long Beach, offers the Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography. Geography is a diverse discipline that is equally a natural science and a social science: It studies the relationships between society and nature, as they vary among the regions of the earth. Geography brings unique tools and methodologies to its concern with the environment and human impacts on the earth: We are uniquely trained in spatial analysis and regional synthesis. Among our spatial analytic tools are maps, geographical information systems (GIS), remote sensing, spatial statistics, GPS, and qualitative methods that bring out the human meaning of place, region, and environment.

Geography is subdivided into physical geography (including biogeography, climatology, palæoclimatology, and geomorphology), human geography (including urban, economic, cultural, political, historical, medical, and social geography), techniques (including mapping, GIS, GPS, field methods, quantitative methods, and qualitative analysis), global and regional geography (the study of various regions, their global interactions, and local responses to globalization), as well as human-environment geography (including hazards and resource management).

The Department of Geography at California State University, Long Beach, sees its particular strengths as the environment (physical geography, resource and land use management, and hazards); human geography; and techniques in geography. Faculty in the Department support a wide variety of regional interests. The Department is also actively engaged in K-12 geographic education and curriculum development.

What Can You Do with a Degree in Geography?

People trained in geography are sought after in a variety of employment situations. Decades ago, geographers were almost exclusively academics, teaching in universities or colleges and in K-12 schools. Geographic education remains an important field, with many opportunities for those devoted to serving young people. The field's employment opportunities have expanded far beyond teaching, though: Many geographers with bachelor's and master's degrees work in the public, private, and non-governmental organization sectors. For example, geographers are prominent in urban planning and environmental planning, working for cities, counties, states, Federal agencies, and advocacy groups. Many geographers find their calling in international agencies and non-governmental organizations. In the private sector, geographers are highly sought after in banking, real-estate development, marketing, and utilities, working on business location problems, market area analyses, and the optimization of service networks. Many geographers work in mapping and other graphic design companies. Geography, then, offers a lot of opportunity for students with its wide range of interests pertaining to the environment, place, movement, and area (and "location, location, and location").

Our Purpose

Our aim in undergraduate education is to produce graduates who can go out with bachelor's degrees and have a positive impact on society and the environment, while developing satisfying, well-paid careers doing so. We also strive to produce graduates who will be competitive in applying for further, graduate-level education. Several times a year, we bring back some of our alumni, who talk about their careers and how they use geography in their jobs.

Internships in Geography

We seem to be achieving this goal, judging by the phenomenal success of our internship program, which always has more paid internships than we have students! Internships give students hands-on, applied experience in their areas of interest, helping them build career networks, and many internships turn into regular careers after graduation. You can learn more about our internship program by clicking here or by contacting the Internship Director, Dr. Suzanne Wechsler.

Undergraduate Programs Offered by the Department

The Department runs four programs for undergraduates. There is a 45 unit major; a 21 unit minor; a 30 unit GIScience certificate open to students of all majors; and a 24 unit urban certificate, also open to all majors. For more information on the requirements of these four programs, please contact the undergraduate advisor, Dr. Paul Laris or click on the links below:

Major

Minor

Cartography and GIS certificate

Urban certificate

Student Club

This is a very friendly and student-centered department. There is an active student club, the Geography Student Association (GSA), and you can learn more about it by contacting the undergraduate advisor, Dr. Paul Laris. They also have a presence on BeachBoard.

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This document is maintained by: Dr. Rodrigue
Last Updated: 10/28/05