WHAT IS GEOGRAPHY?
Geography is the study of the spatial aspects of human existence. . . . Geography has much more to do with asking questions and solving problems than it does with rote memorization of isolated facts.
[Geography] is an integrative discipline that brings together the physical and human dimensions of the world in the study of people, places, and environments. Its subject matter is the Earth's surface and the processes that shape it, the relationships between people and environments, and the connections between people and places.
The Five Traditional Themes of Geography:
1. Location: Where a place is. Every point on earth has a specific or absolute location that can be precisely determined by using the imaginary geographic grid of parallels (lines of latitude) and meridians (lines of longitude). The geographic coordinates (Latitude, Longitude) pinpoint the absolute location of every point on the planet.
While absolute location tells exactly where a place is, there is another aspect of location that is often very important, and this is relative location or how one place is related to other places. Relative location deals with the interaction that occurs between and among places. It refers to the many ways that places are connected to, or isolated from, other places.
2. Place: "Place" refers to the personality or special characteristics of a particular site. Every place is unique in this respect. Characteristics derive from the natural environment and from the people who live there. Human characteristics of a place include architectural styles, patterns of livelihood, land use patterns, and communication and transportation networks that all leave their imprint on the landscape.
3. Society and Environment: Geographers study human/environment interactions to look at all the effects--positive and negative--of human occupation on the land, atmosphere, and biosphere. Some these interactions are local in extent, some regional, others may be global.
4. Movement: People, resources, products, other life forms, information and ideas move from location to location. This is the way we interact with other peoples and places; and, by moving things around the Earth, we also affect our environment.
5. Regions: A basic unit of geographic study is the region., an area on the Earth's surface that is defined by certain unifying characteristics. These unifying characteristics may be physical, human, or cultural. Geographers are interested not simply in delineating regions but in how regions develop and how they change.
Five Geographic Skills:
- Asking geographic questions: Successful geographic inquiry involves the ability and willingness to ask, speculate on, and answer questions about why things are where they are and how they got there.
- Acquiring geographic information: Geographic information is information about locations, the physical and human characteristics of those locations, and the geographic activities and conditions of the people who live in those places. The skills involved in acquiring geographic information include locating and collecting data, observing and systematically recording information, reading and interpreting maps and other graphic representations of space and places, interviewing, and using statistical methods.
- Organizing geographic information: Once collected,
geographic information should be organized and displayed in ways
that help analysis and interpretation. . . . Maps play a central
role in geographic inquiry, but there are other ways to translate
data into visual form, such as. . . graphs of all kinds, tables,
spreadsheets, and time lines.
Geography has been called "the art of the mappable." - Analyzing geographic information: Analyzing geographic information involves seeking patterns, relationships, and connections.
- Answering geographic questions: Successful geographic inquiry culminates in the development of generalizations and conclusions based on the data collected, organized, and analyzed. . . . Generalizations are the culmination of the process of inquiry, and they help to codify understanding. Students should also be able to communicate clearly and effectively. . .using pictures, maps, graphs, and narratives.
Professional organizations involved in geographic education have collaborated to establish national standards in geography for developing geographically informed citizens.
1Excerpts from Geography for Life, National Geography Standards, 1994. © National Geographic Research & Exploration, 1994, on behalf of the American Geographical Society, Association of American Geographers, National Council for Geographic Education, and the National Geographic Society.
Descriptions of the Five Themes of Geography based on an exercise on Cultural Exchange prepared by Bob Preissler and Beth Vos for the West Virginia Geographic Alliance.
The spatial perspective of geographers is in demand in a wide variety of fields. Here is just a sample.
Area Specialist: geographers with considerable knowledge of particular countries and their cultures bring their expertise and understanding of issues to US foreign policy, international development, and international business. Such geographers have often complemented their major in geography by developing a proficiency in a foreign language and by having taken advanced coursework in anthropology, history, economics, and/or political science.
As professionals, area specialists may interpret information from the foreign media, intelligence reports, and aerial photography and then brief diplomats, investors, businessmen, and policymakers in a variety of governmental and private agencies, such as the US State Department, the Central Intelligence Agency, World Bank, and -- increasingly -- companies with business overseas.
If this type of work sounds interesting, consider our general geography concentration.
Environmental manager, technician, advocate, or analyst: The environmental field is extremely diverse and can accommodate a wide variety of interests and skills. A background in geography with a specialization in environmental coursework can lead to jobs in resource conservation and environmental management, planning, law, regulation and enforcement, monitoring, advocacy, or education. Specializations include wildlife management, energy conservation, air and water quality management, solid waste management, conservation of biotic diversity, soil conservation, and disaster planning.
For careers in the environmental field, geographers also need coursework in chemistry, biology (especially ecology), geology, and/or physics; statistics; natural resource or environmental economics; government or public policy; and written and oral communications. Cartography and GIS skills also enhance employability.
Environmental specialists work in federal, state and local governmental agencies, non-government conservation organizations, industries, and private consulting firms.
If this type of work sounds interesting, consider our environmental studies concentration.
Cartographer or Geographic Information Systems specialist: Map making today is done mostly by computer. Agencies and companies hiring cartographers include the US Geological Survey, National Imagery and Mapping Agency, the Bureau of the Census, planning departments and agencies, utility companies, and producers of road maps such as the American Automobile Association.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are computerized systems for compiling, storing, displaying, and analyzing mapped information. GIS is widely used by municipalities, utilities, developers, businesses, and conservation organizations.
If working with computers and maps sounds interesting, consider our technical concentration or at least taking some of the technical classes offered in the geography department. Planning courses also enhance your chances of finding employment as a cartographer or GIS specialist.
Urban or Rural Planner: Planners guide the development of cities, towns and rural communities while promoting wise use of resources, economic sustainability, environmental quality, and efficiency in the delivery of public services. Specialization may be in urban planning, rural planning, environmental planning, transportation planning, solid-waste disposal systems, emergency services, social services, and so forth.
In addition to geography, planners need to understand public administration and finance, government, economics, and factors that influence the value of land and real estate. Planners find work in all levels of government, and with developers, consulting firms, and non-government organizations.
If planning attractive, efficient, ecologically benign, and economically sound communities interests you, consider our planning concentration.
Other employment categories: Geographers also find jobs as educators (primary, secondary, and college level), retail location experts, market analysts, real estate agents, travel agents, map librarians, and peace corps volunteers.
Since many of these positions are filled by geographers with broad backgrounds in the field, if any of these occupations is appealing, consider our general concentration.
More on
Careers in Geography
from the Association of American Geographers.
Includes information on career preparation, internships, construction of
portfolios, and so forth.
See
also
Where Geography Can Take You, an interactive CD-ROM project
supported by the Oklahoma Geography Education Fund.
Contact the Department of Geography:
Sarah Madden, Administrative Support: Phone:540-831-5558 Fax: 540-831-5254