1. JOB/CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDYING GEOGRAPHY
By Kwabena Barima Antwi
Department of Geography and Regional Planning
University of Cape Coast, Ghana [ ] August 5, 2011
WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

2. WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR
Learning Objectives
After going through this session participants should be able to:
Appreciate Geography as an inter-disciplinary subject that has multiple pathways to career and professional development;
Recognise that Geography is among the leading Social Scientific subjects that can open more job or career opportunities for those who study it with interest and commitment; and
Utilize the insight gained to educate or inform others, including students and parents and policy makers about the need to perhaps make Geography a compulsory for all.
WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

3. Outline of Presentation
Introduction
Skill and Attributes of Geographers
What can or do Geographers do
Some Subject Combinations and Possible Career Outcomes
What can Geographers do with their Degrees
Type of Training in Geography and Regional
What Job opportunities are out there for Geographers
Some Empirical Evidence of job opportunities for Geographers
Conclusion
WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

4. WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR
Introduction
Compared to other subjects, Geography graduates are among the most employable;
They possess the skills that employers look for;
In part this is because the subject combines knowledge of science and an understanding of the arts;
WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

5. Skills & Attributes Of Geographers (Adapted from Pauline, 1999)
GEOGRAPHY – Understand and interpret geographic information:
Recognise inter and intra-subject relationships
Understand the conceptual basis of geography
Understand methods for geographical investigations and their limitations
INTELLECTUAL SKILLS:
-Research abilities
-Reason critically
-Create imaginative solutions
-Synthesize diverse materials
-Reflect and evaluate
-Originality
Flexible in thinking and debating issues
-Criticize analytical approaches
PERSONAL SKILLS:
-Career management
-Self motivation
-Prioritize activities
-Innovation and adaptability
-Self evaluation
-Time planning and management
-Independent work
-Enterprising
PRACTICAL SKILLS:
-IT & GIS
-Field Investigations
-Computer-based analysis
-Laboratory investigations
-Data analysis
-Devise imaginative research methodologies
-Professional presentations
INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:
-Negotiation
-Ethical and professional behaviour
-Networking and teamwork
-Oral communication
-Written communication
-Empathy
-Listening abilities
-Manage meetings
WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

6. What do Geographers do Conti…
GEOGRAPHERS CAN:
GEOGRAPHERS CAN BE:
Make a concise report
Handle analyse and interprete data
Ask questions and find answers to societal problems
Make decisions about an issue of development concern
Analyse multi-disciplinary material
Organise themselves
Think creatively and independently
Good communicators
Spatially aware
Socially and environmentally aware
Problem solvers
Good team players
Computer literate
Well rounded, flexible thinkers
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7. Some Subject Combinations & Possible Career Outcomes
GEOGRAPHY 
POSSIBLE CAREER
Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Science, ICT
+ Geography
Environmental Science, Geology, Meteorology, Geophysics, Surveying, Oceanography, Hydrology, Teaching
Mathematics, Business Studies, Economics, Languages, Leisure Studies, Travel and Tourism
Banking, Town and Country Planning, Insurance, Housing, Travel and Tourism, Journalism, Teaching
Mathematics, Art and  Design, ICT
Architecture, Cartography, Surveying, Graphic Design, Teaching
WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

8. Some Subject Combinations & Possible Career Outcomes
GEOGRAPHY 
POSSIBLE CAREER
Biology, Chemistry, Leisure Studies
+ Geography
Environmental Health, Recreational Management, Environmental Science, Teaching
Health and Social Care, ICT, Psychology, Economics, Sociology
Social Work, Retail Management, Personnel Management, Teaching
English, Languages, Law, Health and Social Care, History, ICT, Media Studies, Religious Studies
Publishing, Law, Journalism, Social Work, Teaching
WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

9. What Can I do With my Geography Degree?
MAJOR AREA OF HUMAN PROGRESS
INSTITUTIONS/POSSIBLE PROFESSIONS
Development
Aid Agencies, Charities, Non-Governmental Organizations e.g. British Council, Voluntary Services Overseas, Christian Aid, Population Concern
Ecosystems and Environment
Estate Manager, Landscape Architect, Conservationist, Forester, Countryside Ranger e.g. National Parks, Environment Agency, British Trust For Conservation Volunteers, National Trust
Land and Water Processes
Hydrologist, Civil Engineer, Glaciologist, Geomorphologist e.g. Environment Agency, , British Antarctic Survey
Map work and Computing
Surveyor, Cartographer, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) e.g. Ordnance Survey (OS), other publishers of geographical information, British Library, Health Authorities
WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

10. What Can I do With my Geography Degree?
MAJOR AREA OF HUMAN PROGRESS
INSTITUTIONS/POSSIBLE PROFESSIONS
Population
Demographer, Census Officer, Market Researcher, Housing Officer, Social Worker e.g. Local Authorities, Housing Associations, Office Of National Statistics
Settlement and Industry
Town Planner, Chartered Surveyor, Transport Planner e.g. Local Authorities, Transport
Tourism
Recreation and Leisure Centre Management, Tourism Officer, Heritage Manager, Travel Agent e.g. Tourism Unit within a Local Authority, Thomas Cook
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11. Type of Training in Geography & Planning
The Department of Geography and Regional Planning, University of Cape Coast currently offers two types of degree programmes (i.e. BA Social Science (Geography) & Bsc. (Geography & Regional Planning)
BA Social Science (Geography) major can lead one to three (3) areas of choice depending on interest and capability
Physical Geography;
Human Geography; and
Quantitative Geography.
Bsc. (Geography & Regional Planning) can lead one to exploring urban or rural issues of human development.
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12. What Job opportunities are out there?
What do these courses offer to the geographer in terms of job opportunities?
It must be admitted that unlike such professional disciplines as:
ENGINEERING,
MEDICINE,
LAW OR
PHARMACY:
Some of the modules do not lead directly into any specific profession apart from teaching at the secondary school level;
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13. Research Findings & Job Opportunities in Geography
According to a research carried out between 1990 and 2000;
There are three (3) main areas where it should be worthwhile for Geography or Planning Graduates to hunt for jobs:
Business, Commerce and Industry;
The public service, including the Armed Forces; and
Politics.
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14. Research Findings & Job Opportunities in Geography Conti…
The research further categorized careers under the above three major groups into three:
1) Those into which a Geographical training can lead directly, e.g. secondary school teaching, general administration and politics;
2) Those into which a Geographical training requires additional training, e.g. Estate Management, Urban and Regional Planning; Survey; Cartography; GIS & Remote Sensing, Hydrology and University Teaching and Research;
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15. Research Findings & Job Opportunities in Geography Conti…
3)Finally those in which the premium is not on the specific qualification of the applicant, but on general intellectual ability and on qualities of character and personality, e.g. the Armed Forces Pilot;
From a survey carried out on 269 Geography Graduates of the three modules, the following career characteristics were observed:
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16. Research Findings & Job Opportunities in Geography Conti…
RANK
CAREER AREA
PERCENT 1
Teaching
49.4 2
General Administration
17.7 3
Urban and Regional Planning
15.7 4
Business Management
4.8 5
Auditing
2.0
Estate Management 6
Land Surveying
1.6
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17. Research Findings & Job Opportunities in Geography Conti…
RANK
CAREER AREA
PERCENT 7
Armed Forces
1.6 8
Librarianship
1.2 9
Educational Broadcasting & the Publishing Trade
0.8 10
Soil and Rural Survey 11
Cartography
0.4 12
Journalism
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18. Research Findings & Job Opportunities in Geography Conti…
Between 1990 and 2000, another career, Hydrology, was added to the job areas;
It was also observed that the percentage for the Teaching Profession dropped from 49.4% to 43.2%; and
Urban and Regional Planning increased from 15.7% to 33.0%;
Land surveying increased from 2.0% to 3.2%;
However, general administration dropped from 17.3% to 7.3.
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19. Research Findings & Job Opportunities in Geography Conti…
The most important conclusions from the above statistics are:
The high percentage for the teaching profession generally but its decline between 1990 and 2000;
The sharp decrease in general administration as a profession;
Significant increases in the percentages for Urban and Regional Planning, Land Surveying, Armed Forces and the emergence of Hydrology as a profession for a geographer;
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20. WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR
Conclusion
Thank You;
ADAM & EVE;
For Your Attention and Participation;
WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR