GEOG 240. Focus Seminar: Defining an area of interest

Instructors:

Dr. Susan Woodward (swoodwar@radford.edu)
Office: Brown House 202                                 Office phone: 831-5234
Office Hours: Monday 3:00 to 4:00 pm; Tuesday 3:30 to 4:30 pm; Wednesday and Friday, 9:00 to 10:00 am and by appointment

Dr. Rick Roth (rroth@radford.edu)
Office: Brown House 103                                 Office phone: 831-5443
Office Hours: Monday 2:00 to 4:00 pm; Wednesday: 2:00 to 3:00 pm; and Friday, 12:00 to 1:00 pm and by appointment

Required text: The Complete Guide to Environmental Careers in the 21st Century
Also required: Radford University Undergraduate Catalog; 2000–2001

Course objectives:

• To identify and understand the components and requirements of the Geography Major and its environemntal studies concentration.
• To determine or clarify the issues or field within the broad scope of environmental studies you wish to become involved with. This will be expressed in an "Area of Interest statement."
• To map a course of action to acquire the knowledge, skills, and experience to qualify you for an entry level position or a graduate program in the field of your choice. This includes preparing a individualized 18 hour Area-of-Interest component in the environmental studies concentration.

 Activities:

1. Reading, writing and discussion sessions in which to answer the following questions:

1. What is my area of interest, what do I want to do with it, and how can I develop expertise in this field?
2. What will be my marketable assets with respect to graduate school or the workplace?

 2. An investigation of course offerings at Radford and of other means of acquiring desired knowledge and skills. This includes interviewing faculty in different departments on campus.

3. Information interviews of workers in environmental fields.

4. Introduction to academic and career services and programs on campus that will help you develop appropriate skills

• Library and on-line research
• Some basic computer skills such as using Powerpoint and html; workshops offered by the Multimedia Center on campus.
• Geographic techniques courses
• Career services

5. Resume and cover letter preparation

Attendance: Required. Each absence will result in loss of one letter grade.

Final Product: A well-conceived, well-written Area of Interest statement and appropriate course of study approved and signed by your advisor.

Grading: Everyone starts with an A in the course. Failure to meet attendance requirement or assignment schedule will result in lowering of your grade. Failure to produce an acceptable course of study and area-of-interest statement will automatically result in an F in the course.

Environmental Careers: Links

• Environmental Careers Organization: ECO provides career services, placement services, internship possibilities, and help with resume writing. Also news on the status of various environmental careers. Check it out.
• ECO's hotlinks to other environmental career related sites. Includes links to professional associations, environmental organizations and agencies, and a GIS jobs clearinghouse.

Created August 19, 1999 by Susan Woodward. Last modified 09-01-00 by slw.