• Requirements for the B.A. Degree in Geography
• Requirements for the B.A. Degree in Geography Education
• Advisement
• After College

Geography courses at Delaware and in most other American universities fit into three categories:

Physical geography primarily covers natural processes that create the background environment in which human activities occur. Physical geography includes climatology (study of weather patterns and how they provide energy and moisture), land surface processes (literally the shape of the land, how hills and valleys and other topographic features form and change), biogeography (how naturally occurring plant and animal populations are influenced by these other parts of geography), and other combinations of subareas.

Human geography encompasses understanding of how all aspects of human activity fit into and respond to their environments. Human geography may include the social, cultural, economic, political, and historical aspects of human activity. Sometimes, human geography focuses on the essentials of human existence (how people acquire food and shelter) and other times it focuses on the uniquely human aspects of culture--how the arts and humanities help human societies define their place in the universe.

Although geographers use an eclectic mix of techniques borrowed from many disciplines, we also have a set of technical methods developed for our unique, place-oriented view of the earth. Geographic methods include all aspects of map making, map analysis, and data analysis techniques that are specialized for use with geographic data. Over the past two decades, a computerized mixture of mapping, spatial data analysis, and spatial database handling known as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has grown from a research area to a multibillion dollar industry with a thriving job market.

Students in the B.A. program in Geography or Geography Education are required to take introductory courses in all three major areas--specialization into one of the three areas is allowed but not required at the advanced level. For a longer, more detailed essay on the nature of geography and its subfields, go here. 

Advisement

Students considering a major in Geography should talk to an Undergraduate Adviser or to the Chair or Associate Chair. The Geography major offers a wide range of possibilities, so early and regular advising can help create a program of study that meets your interests, but also provides a well-rounded education in geography. You can arrange an initial advising meeting by visiting the Geography Department office (216 Pearson Hall) or sending a note to our general information email address, info@geog.udel.edu. Many students come into this major based on experiences and interest from one of our introductory courses. Any of our faculty will be happy to talk to students in their courses about the major, so feel free to make your initial inquiry to a professor you already know. 

After College

Graduate Study. At the graduate level, nearly all disciplines require a student to become more specialized, and not all departments offer graduate study in all areas. This department offers M.A. and M.S. degree programs in selected areas of Geography (primarily climatology, land surface processes, cold regions research and human/cultural/environmental geography) as well as a Ph.D. program in Climatology. Other programs and subareas can be found in The Guide to Geography Programs in the United States and Canada. The department always keeps a current copy of this annually updated guide for use by students. Students with an undergraduate major in Geography may also be prepared to undertake graduate study in fields other than geography, such as landscape architecture, history, American studies, urban or regional planning, resource management, or environmental policy. In any case, students should be investigating graduate schools no later than the start of their senior year. 

Employment. Most jobs for geographers do not bear "Geographer" as a job title, but geography, particularly for those with technical skills (GIS in particular) has been a good basis for a career. The Association of American Geographers maintains an excellent web site about careers in geography. Geographers are employed in all levels of government, including with environmental, planning, natural resource agencies, water resource commissions, emergency planning agencies, and transportation agencies. Secondary schools have an increasing need for geography teachers; this career path usually requires the Geography Education major in order to obtain state certification. Private firms dealing with transportation and marketing, especially the location of plants and stores, also employ geographers. Increasingly, for any business that needs to develop a new location, any government agency that has any land management aspect, and any public or private utility that maintains a physical network (roads, sewers, wires) on the land, GIS has become an absolutely essential tool.