Geography

Career potential

Geography, the science of space and place, synthesizes information from the physical and social sciences to understand the human condition and its relation to the environment. Geography includes studies in earth science, regional science (cultures and populations) and land use planning. Geographers often use specialized software known as geographic information systems (GIS) to construct maps and evaluate information they contain.

The University of North Texas' geography department offers courses leading to bachelor of arts, bachelor of science and master's degrees. The undergraduate program has an applied focus emphasizing geographic techniques, research methods, topics in earth and regional science, and internships that will prepare you for employment in the public and private sectors.

Career fields include regional and urban planning, retail and industrial site location planning, environmental consulting and regulatory work, transportation planning, among others. If you plan to become a researcher in geography or teach at a university, you should obtain a master's degree and perhaps a doctoral degree.

UNT's Career Center can help you prepare to pursue your career. The center has information about jobs and employers, and the staff can assist you with resume and letter writing, job search strategies and interview preparation.

Majoring in geography

As a geography major, you will take courses in regional science, earth science, and geographic techniques, as well as quantitative techniques and research methods. Regional science courses examine the spatial patterns produced by political, urban, economic and social processes on the landscape. Topics include human populations, the geography of cities, disease and health care delivery systems in nations, the economic development of regions and nations, and environmental policy.

Earth science courses focus on resource management, the interaction between people and the physical environment, and physical geography. Course work includes topics in:

• environmental geology
• physical and historical geology
• meteorology and climatology
• surface and groundwater hydrology
• soils
• geomorphology (landforms)

Techniques courses include cartography (mapmaking), geographic information systems and remote sensing (imaging the Earth with aircraft or satellites).

The department has laboratories to provide instruction in computer graphics and cartography, geographic information systems, remote sensing, geomorphology, and hydrology. As a geography major, you may become involved in the Geography Club or be inducted into the UNT chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon, the national geography honor society.

Faculty members include outstanding researchers and teachers. Collectively, they have expertise in such areas as environmental modeling, groundwater hydrology, coastal processes, climate patterns, geographic information systems and remote sensing, economic development, disease patterns and health care delivery, environmental policy and archaeology.

For example, one faculty member made major archaeological discoveries of the oldest known human groups in northern Texas and the Republic of Georgia. The discoveries captured the attention of National Geographic and Nature magazines, and the faculty member won the highest honor given by UNT for his research.

Another faculty member was one of 25 faculty members in the nation to receive a Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award. The award is given to faculty members with research in engineering and applied science, life sciences, mathematics and computer science, physical sciences and policy management, and education.

Minoring in archaeology or geology

The geography department offers academic courses and research opportunities in archaeology. You may obtain a minor in archaeology or take archaeology courses as part of a major in geography or anthropology.

UNT archaeologists study remains from past human settlements to reconstruct interrelationships among people, animals and the environment. Research currently involves projects in Texas, New Zealand and the Republic of Georgia.

While seeking a geology minor, you may select six courses in physical geology, historical geology, environmental geology, Texas geology, geomorphology, soils geomorphology and groundwater hydrology.

Getting hands-on experience

As a geography major, you may intern with:

• an environmental consulting firm
• local or state government offices
• a private business conducting retail site selection
• surveying companies
• utility companies
• a variety of other geography-related firms

You also may work and conduct research in the geography department, the Institute of Applied Sciences, or affiliated labs and centers. Many geography courses involve hands-on fieldwork. The department has five field schools (six-hour courses). The schools visit the British Isles, Ghana, Mexico, Spain and archaeological sites in north Texas.

Preparing for UNT

If you are a high school student, we suggest you prepare for college by becoming computer proficient and taking:

• English … 4 years
• Math … 4 years
• Social science — economics, geography, government, history … 4 years
• Science … 3 years
• Foreign language … 3 years
• Fine arts … 1 year

You will need to take courses in most of these subjects under the university core curriculum required of all undergraduates, in addition to your major courses. Talk with your high school counselor about preparing for college, including the entrance exams (SAT Reasoning Test or ACT) that you should take during your junior year.

As a benefit for transfer students, UNT participates in the Texas Common Course Numbering System. This system makes it easier to transfer credits for general academic courses from one Texas institution to another.

If you're attending a Texas community college, you should consult the UNT Transfer Guide, the UNT Undergraduate Catalog and an academic counselor to discuss your degree plan. Proper planning will help you receive the maximum amount of transfer credits.

Charting your path with academic advising

Department of Geography faculty members will help you each semester select courses necessary to earn your degree. The department office is in the Environmental Education, Science and Technology Building, Room 210.

Curious about courses and other features of this major?
See the current catalog.