Geography Career Guide
Explore Options: A Menu of Major-Specific Experiences and Sampling of Related Career Paths
Academic Resources
Explore our Geography academic resources, designed to support your academic aspirations.
Curriculum Guide
Feeling like you don't know what to do with all of this great information? We highly encourage to make an appointment with your academic advisor and career advisor. Another great starting point is the Self-Guided Career Exploration Tool.
Unlock career potential in Geography! Discover resources to maximize your professional trajectory.
Menu of Experiences
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Geography Career Spotlights
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.
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Career Community- Education, Nonprofit & Public Service
There are no upcoming Career Community- Education, Nonprofit & Public Service at this time
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Consider joining the Human and Public Service Career Community or any other Career Community you are interested in!
Beyond Undergraduate: Graduate or Professional Programs
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.
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Career Center Resources
Looking for other career resources? The Career Center Resources page contains resources related to careers, resumes, internships, job search, interviewing, networking, and more.