2013-2014 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

Geography and Planning

Chair: Wagendorp. Professors: Cole; Associate Professors: Joseph, Lioubimtseva, Wagendorp; Assistant Professors: Gang, Ma, Penn, and Sun.

Web Site: www.gvsu.edu/geography

This program includes the Geography major, Geographic Techniques (GIS and remote sensing) minor, the City and Regional Planning minor, and the Geography education at the secondary level minor (teachable minor).

Geography is one of the most ancient fields of study - and one of the most contemporary. Geography is the study of the spatial variation of physical and cultural phenomena on the Earth. Geography addresses the questions of where, when, as well as why phenomena occur in particular locations. Geography is the "spatial" science - concerned with place, space, and pattern - and change in pattern over space and time. At the same time, geographers study processes of change at different scales from global to local. Geography draws upon and contributes to numerous other disciplines taught at GVSU making it among the richest and most connective fields of study in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the university at large.

Our department specializes in a number of areas of study including globalization and development, geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, cartography, city and regional planning, the environment, land use and natural resource conservation, and regional and global studies.

Due to the revolution in geospatial information technologies and spatial data analysis, geographers are very much in demand in the job market and in graduate school. Please consult the department's web site for student "success stories."

Degrees Offered

B.S. and B.A. in Geography. Minors: City and Regional Planning, Geographical Techniques, Geography Education at the secondary level (teachable minor). A teachable major with elementary and secondary education is also offered in Social Studies with a geography emphasis.

Students seeking teacher certification geography should note that besides geography, the new Michigan State Board of Education standards require basic knowledge of economics, history and political science. Students should take ECO 211, PLS 102, and HST 206 or the equivalent to obtain basic knowledge in economics, political science and history.

Career Opportunities

Career opportunities in geography and planning are many and extensive in the public, private, local, state, national, and international levels. Areas of employment include teaching, urban and regional planning, computer cartography, spatial analysis using geographic information systems and remote sensing, community analysis and development, and resource and environmental management and conservation. Both Geography and Planning majors have the conceptual principles, analytical skills, and technical skills to be competitive for a wide range of jobs, much too extensive to enumerate here. Students interested in exploring career options should consult with an advisor from the department. In addition, the prospective student should consult the departmental website (http://www.gvsu.edu/geography) under "Careers" and the Association of American Geographers highly detailed listing of geography.

Representative Occupational Titles of Geographers (Source Association of American Geographers)

Geographic Methods

Aerial Photo Interpreter
Cartographer
Cartographer-Geographer
Cartographer-Illustrator
Geographic Analyst
GIS Analyst
GIS Specialist
GIS Technician
Imagery Analyst
Intelligence Analyst
Map Analyst
Remote Sensing and Image Analyst
Research Analyst
Research Coordinator
Research Geographer
Research Technician

Urban and Regional Planning

Community Development Specialist
Community Planner
Economic Development Analyst
Economic Development Planner
Environmental Planner
Industrial Developer
Planner
Land Economist
Land Use Planner
Regional Planner
Transportation Planner
Urban Geographer
Urban Planner

Environmental Geography

Agricultural Geographer
Climatologist
Ecologist
Environmental Analyst/Planner
Recreation Geographer
Recreation Resources Planner
Resource Analyst/Economist/Geographer
Site Analyst
Site Researcher
Soil Geographer
Soil Conservationist
Surveyor

Global/Regional Studies

Teacher
Travel Agent
Tour Director

Other

Agricultural Geographer
Business Geographer
Demographer
Development Planner
Economic Geographer
Editorial Assistant
Geographic Engineer
Health Planner
Humanitarian Assistance Analyst
Marketing Analyst
Material Procurement Agent
Map Curator
Map Editor
Map Librarian
Medical Geographer
Political Analyst
Population Geographer
Recreation Geographer
Research Analyst
Research Officer
Research Coordinator
Research Geographer
Research Technician
State Department Analyst
Trade Analyst

Graduate School Opportunities

Consult with an advisor from the department. See the website (www.gvsu.edu/geography) under "Careers."

Participating Programs

The Department of Geography and Planning participates in the Social Studies Major. The major in Social Studies is designed for students seeking teacher certification in secondary or middle school social studies or in elementary education. The major includes a minimum of 42 credit hours in economics, geography, history, and political science. Students seeking teacher certification also complete an appropriate minor and the professional program offered by the College of Education. The social studies major meets State of Michigan content standards for teacher preparation in social studies, which require at least six credit hours and two courses in each of the four disciplines and at least 18 credits and six courses in one of the four areas.

Student Organizations

Geography Student Organization. See the Chair of the department for further information.

Honors Organizations

Gamma Theta Upsilon, the International Geography Honor Society. See the Chair of the department for further information.

Program Requirements

The following programs are available:

If you are in need of assistance please submit any questions or comments.

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