Geography

Geography is a spatial science that explains and describes the Earth in terms of location. All Geographers ask questions about the earth focusing on the location of a place and how that location contributes to the attributes of that place. Place names serve as the framework for this exploration. The primary tools used by geographers are maps, which show the locations, patterns and distribution of the earth features being examined. All geographers compare and contrast this locational information in order to explain the similarities and differences of the physical and cultural environments of the earth and its inhabitants. As a result, geographers are also called spatial analysts. The discipline of Geography is considered a Social and Global Science

There are two broad categories of Geography: Physical and Cultural. Physical geographers look at the earth’s physical characteristics. Included are such topics that relate to the earth’s natural environment such as earth-sun relationships, weather and climate, flora and fauna, rocks and minerals, earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain building, gradational forces and land form distribution. Cultural Geographers examine the present-day earth in terms of its people, their organizations, languages, religions, economic systems, population and settlement patterns.

Cultural Geographers examine the present-day earth in terms of its people, their organizations, languages, religions, economic systems, population and settlement patterns.

Career Opportunities

A geographer is trained with spatial awareness and geographic problem solving skills. We meld our social science skills and knowledge with our expertise in the physical and geosciences. Geospatial Technology, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), is a rapidly growing interconnected data science field and one that is applicable in many employment settings. Geographers are especially equipped to perform spatial analysis in a variety of careers. 

There are job opportunities in a wide-range of fields, as you can see below. Most of the following career paths require at least a specific certificate or a bachelor’s degree. 

• Aerial Photographer Interpreter
• Anthropologist
• Biogeographer
• Cartographer
• City Planner
• Climatologist
• County Planner
• Demographer
• Ecologist
• Economist
• Educator
• Environmental Analyst
• Epidemiologist
• GIS Specialist
• Government Analyst (Central Intelligence, Defense, Drug Enforcement, Interior, Energy, State, etc.)
• Hydrologist
• Industrial Location Specialist
• Intelligence
• International Trade Relations
• Marketing Analyst
• Meteorologist
• Paleoclimatologist
• Political Redistricting Analyst
• Political Science Analyst
• Natural Resources (Planner, Manager, Specialist, Technician)
• Soil Scientist
• Transportation (Planner, Manager, Technician)
• Travel Specialist
• Water Resources (Planner, Manager, Specialist, Technician)

Faculty

Transfer

• California State University, San Bernardino: Geography with Geography or Global Studies options major
  University of California, Riverside: Geography and Global Studies majors
• University of California, Los Angeles: Global Studies major
• University of California, Santa Barbara: Geography with Geographic Information Science option and Physical Geography majors

For the most up-to-date information on these programs and others, visit assist.org. Please stop by the Transfer Center in Building 23 or make an appointment with a counselor if you have questions.

Programs of Study

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) are statements of the kind of learning a program hopes a student will achieve. The PLOs describe the knowledge, skills, problem-solving, communication and values that apply to all certificates and/or degrees within that program. 

Upon completion of this program, students should be able to:

1. Identify and describe basic concepts and patterns related to earth’s physical and cultural environment. KNOWLEDGE.
2. Demonstrate geographic literacy and written competency in the description and analysis of geographic themes. CRITICAL THINKING.
3. Demonstrate competency in utilizing the basic tools and techniques of data collection, display and analysis. APPLICATION.

Geography Courses