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THE MAJOR
The Geographic Science
major
is housed in the Integrated Science and Technology Department within
the College
of Integrated Science & Technology.
JMU
Concentrations: Applied Geographic Information
Science, Environmental Studies, Global Studies
Admission and Progression Standards for this major:
Click on the link to learn more about the admission and progression standards of this major: http://www.jmu.edu/advising/snapshots/SSGEOG.shtml
Description
of Major:
Geographic Science is offered as a major at
JMU through the Geographic
Science Program. Students who major in geographic sciences
can plan study in such areas as
natural resource management, geographic education, area
studies, cartography, and imagery
analysis. The Applied Geographic Information Science - AGIS concentration prepares students to
gain professional employment in government and industry, such as, regional planning agencies,
mapping organizations such as US Geological Survey, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
and intelligence agencies such as the CIA.
In the Environmental Studies concentration students
are trained in environmental and resource analysis particularly
those specializing in land-use planning, recreation
planning, and/or resource and environment management.
A student who completes the Global Studies concentration
finds employment in government and non-government agencies,
such as the State Department, the CIA, international
populations bureaus, relief agencies, economic development
organizations and Peace Corps. The Bachelor of Arts
degree in Geographic Science prepares students for graduate
school, careers in urban and regional planning, foreign
service and the travel industry. Students who chose
to gain a Bachelor of Science degree in Geographic Science
are more involved in studies emphasizing the technical
aspects of geographic study. These students are prepared
to enter graduate school, analyst careers in the defense
community or a variety of environmentally related careers
that utilize analytical skills and technology.
Tell
me more about this field of study.
Geographic Science is a discipline that attempts to
understand, through study and analysis, the geographic
similarities and differences of the human and physical
environments on the earth's surface. It is the interaction
between humankind and the physical environment as well
as between humankind (i.e., one particular society)
and humankind (i.e., another society, culture, economy,
political system, etc.) that produces the similarities
and differences. The constantly changing human and physical
environments are what provide our subject matter. Change
also creates our need to understand both the physical
and human environments, as well as, the interactions
(i.e. process) that exists between them.
Through
the study of Geographic Science, individuals may choose
to work for government agencies where land use, resource,
transportation, utility, facilities or recreational
and planning activities are conducted. Application of
remote sensing and digital image processing skills learned,
are needed by defense and military intelligence oriented
agencies. Geographic Science would also prepare individuals
to work in organizations that utilize Geographic Information
System software and hardware.
Tell me more about specializations in this field.
Specializations in Geographic Science are as broad as
the social sciences. Geographers apply their particular
approach (e.g., spatial) to the subject matter of: the
political scientist (e.g., voting patterns, boundary
types, political systems); the sociologist (e.g., distribution
of aging population, criminal activity, migration patterns);
the psychologist (e.g., perceptions of hazards, environments,
as well as resulting behavior); the historian (e.g.,
growth of cityscapes with technological advances, advance
of economic endeavors on the landscape corn belt, cotton
belt in the south west, etc.). Other
specializations concentrate on the particular skill
areas that have historically been dominated by geographers.
The primary one is the art and science of map making
(cartography). Another that all geographers are exposed
to, but one which only a few develop into a specialization,
is that of aerial photography interpretation / remote
sensing.
What
common major or minor combinations from other departments
complement this major?
Geographic Science majors commonly combine a double
major or minor in Geology, Anthropology, Biology, Computer
Science, Economics, Environmental Studies, History,
Integrated Science and Technology, International Business,
Marketing, Materials Science, Mathematics, Modern Foreign
Languages, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology,
Statistics, Technical and Scientific Communication or
Urban and Regional Studies.
CHARACTERISTICS
OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS
Curiosity about the human environment of which they
are a part and the physical environment that provides
them a place on this earth.
CAREERS
Many graduates choose typical career paths associated
with this major. However, some graduates choose unrelated
careers that utilize skills and experiences developed
during their years in college. Keep in mind, that some
fields will require graduate study or further training.
The listing below offers examples of possible career
paths and is not meant to be comprehensive.
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