Main Content
Career Paths in Geography
The following list shows possible career paths in the field of geography:
- Geoscientific Research
- Geoscientific Data: Surveying, Exploration, Information
- Education
- Environmental Consulting
- Sustainability and Responsibility (Management)
- Development, Advancement, Planning, and Conservation (Organization and Administration)
- Global Development (International Cooperations)
Significant importance
Earth. Environment. Space. Human. Geography is the science of humans in time and space. It is both a natural and a social science, which is reflected in its two main branches: physical geography and human geography. It can deal with a given space as such, with its dimensions, composition, and formation. It can also just as readily explore how humans overcome its dimensions, take advantage of its composition, and alter its formation.
Geographers are the masters of maps, which nowadays are also found in geographic information systems (GIS), but also of cadastres: the inventory of all the things we want to find distributed within a space. Geographers are also the people who scientifically examine how and why different spaces are constantly changing, what emerges from a space’s dynamics, and what influence human activities have on these spaces. That’s why geographers can be found wherever there are combinations of terms such as city, country, water, climate, environment, and transportation with other terms such as “change” and “transformation.”
Career entry even with just a bachelor‘s degree
Geography is undoubtedly one of the leading university disciplines in the field of sustainability. Early on, geographers learn the basic skills of surveying, exploration, and visualization, making career entry with even just a bachelor’s degree possible. The tasks of planning, supporting advancement, development, and protection, on the other hand, are more likely to be entrusted to those with master’s degrees. Pursuing a master’s degree comes with the added benefit of specialization and thus a more targeted entry into the professional field. Advanced knowledge of digital data processing, visualization, or project management software accompanies graduates along a career path that can lead around the globe – but does not necessarily have to.
This information is based on information provided by the BERUFENET of the German Federal Employment Agency and surveys conducted with graduates of Marburg University. We would like to thank Edgar Losse from the Marburg branch of the Federal Employment Agency for the suggestions and support.