The Department is also actively engaged in K-12 geographic education and curriculum development. People trained in geography are sought after in a variety of employment situations. Decades ago, geographers were almost exclusively academics, teaching in universities or colleges and in K-12 schools. Geographic education remains an important field, with many opportunities for those devoted to serving young people. For example, geographers are prominent in urban planning and environmental planning, working for cities, counties, states, Federal agencies, and advocacy groups.
Many geographers find their calling in international agencies and non-governmental organizations.
In the private sector, geographers are highly sought after in banking, real-estate development, marketing, and utilities, working on business location problems, market area analyses, and the optimization of service networks. Many geographers work in mapping and other graphic design companies. Our aim in undergraduate education is to produce graduates who can go out with bachelor's degrees and have a positive impact on society and the environment, while developing satisfying, well-paid careers doing so. We also strive to produce graduates who will be competitive in applying for further, graduate-level education. Internships give students hands-on, applied experience in their areas of interest, helping them build career networks, and many internships turn into regular careers after graduation.