Academic Resources

Explore our Geography academic resources, designed to support your academic aspirations.
Curriculum Guide

Geography Department

CLAS Advising Center

What Can I Do With This Major?

Unlock career potential in Geography! Discover resources to maximize your professional trajectory.

Career Assessment - PathwayU

Jobs via Handshake

Geography Career Information

Career Communities

Sample Geography Internship Sites

Internships provide a way for you to get hands-on, supervised experience in the world of work. You are able to apply the concepts you are learning in the classroom to a work environment.

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

Geography Internships

 General Information on Internship

Join A Student Organization

Get involved with a student organization related to your major. Student orgs are a great way to get connected and explore career options!

• Association of Student Geographers and Planners

Student Organizations

Relevant Courses and Certificates for Building Skills

Developing the relevant skills that employers seek is an essential component of a student's education. GVSU students should consider strategic elective courses and certificates to pair with their major in order to gain additional skills.

• Intercultural Competence Undergraduate Badge
• Nonprofit Leadership Graduate Certificate

Electives to Consider

Community Service Opportunities

Seek volunteer opportunities related to the field you're exploring as a way of testing out future careers.

The Civic Engagement Center keeps a list of current volunteer opportunities updated on their website. There are ongoing opportunities on a continuous basis, as well as on-campus and off-campus opportunities posted as they become available.
 

Civic Engagement Center

Geography Study Abroad Options

Through study abroad you’ll also set yourself apart from other job-seekers and graduate-school applicants in an increasingly competitive market.

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.

Geography Study Abroad

Explore Internships Abroad

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Pursuing academic, creative, and research experiences and projects outside the classroom is an excellent way to learn new skills and build a body of work in your field.

Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship

Getting Started

Fellowship Opportunities

Fellowships are high-impact, potentially life-changing opportunities for students and alumni, opening doors to careers in public service, advanced academic study, foreign service, international teaching, and other career and service pathways into meaningful and fulfilling lives.

Frederik Meijer Office of Fellowships

Finding a Fellowship

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. 

You’ve studied the patterns of people, places, and environments as an undergraduate in geography, and now you’re ready to specialize, conduct research, and apply your knowledge to real-world challenges. Graduate school offers the tools to turn your curiosity about the world into impactful, data-driven solutions.

• Master of Science (MS) or Master of Arts (MA) in Geography: These programs let you dive deeper into areas like urban planning, climate science, GIS, or human-environment interaction. You'll gain advanced research skills and the ability to analyze complex spatial data, preparing you for careers in government, consulting, or nonprofits.
• PhD in Geography: If you're driven by original research and want to explore global issues like migration, sustainability, or environmental justice, a PhD allows you to contribute new knowledge to the field. This degree is ideal for those interested in academic, research, or policy-making careers.
• Interdisciplinary Programs: Many graduate geography programs now intersect with fields like public health, environmental science, or data analytics. These options are perfect if you’re passionate about solving cross-cutting challenges such as climate resilience, urban inequality, or disaster response.