Geography and Sustainable Planning Career Guide

Consider joining the Human and Public Service Career Community or any other Career Community you are interested in!

Past Internship Sites:

  • Fair Housing Center of West Michigan
  • Allegan County
  • City of Mt. Pleasant
  • Hudsonville Public Schools
  • City of Grand Rapids
  • FoodCircles
  • Kent County
  • Grand Rapids public Schools
  • North Country Trail Association

Where Alumni Have Landed

  • Transportation Planner – Michigan Department of Transportation 
  • Teacher – West Ottawa Public Schools 
  • Research Institute – Ozarks Environmental and Water Resource Institute 
  • Teacher – Whitehall High School 
  • Manager of Client Services – Extend Your Reach 
  • Sales Representatives – First Horizon Pharmaceuticals 
  • Service Learning Coordinator (The LEAGUE Michigan) – AmeriCorps VISTA 
  • Program Assistant – Macatawa Area Coordinating Council
  • Various – City of Grand Rapids 
  • Quality Improvement Data Technician – Ottawa County 
  • GIS Analyst – Western Land Services, Inc. 
  • Geospatial Analyst – Kent County 
  • Associate Planner – Antrim County 
  • Planner – William & Works 
  • Survey Assistant – Andersen & Crain Inc. 

Student Organizations to Consider

  • Association of Student Geographers
  • Urban Planning Association

Study Abroad Programs

Geography is the "spatial" science - concerned with place, space, and pattern - and changes in pattern over time. At the same time, geographers study processes of change at different scales from global to local. First-hand geographical learning through experiences in diverse parts of the world is a valuable ingredient in the formation of an educated person in our globalizing world. Whether your area of emphasis is on culture, environment, GIS, planning or some combination, studying abroad can enrich your educational experiences.


Develop some of these technical and professional competencies to be successful:

  • Research Skills
  • Geospatial technology
  • Education and Trainings
  • Strong Reading Comprehension
  • Project Management
  • Team Management
  • Information Management
  • Business Strategy
  • Inventory Control
  • Production Planning
  • Quality Assurance
  • Analytical and Critical Thinking
  • Ability to conduct research         

Graduate & Professional Programs


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Page last modified December 12, 2022