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I have posted here several times before, but I'd like to get some feedback this time about what my choice of major. I am currently in my second semester at a community college with the intention of transferring to the U of GA to obtain a B.S. in Geography (with a focus in GIS). I love geography and always will, but I wonder sometimes if it's something to make a career out of or simply a hobby. I know the job market is tough and I definitely want to land a good job after college and I'm thinking I should possibly change my major and minor in geography, double major with geography and something else, or major in geography and pursue a master's.
Because my parents' home is not far from either school, I am able to live at home while going to cc and when I transfer to U of GA which saves a ton of money. I am also lucky that as long as I live at home I don't have to work and will more than likely have no or very little debt after graduation. I'm not big into partying, so I put a lot of time into my studies and definitely plan to take summer courses. This would mean that a double major wouldn't be completely unrealistic seeing as I also have AP courses so I'm about a semester ahead than someone without AP's.
Here are the possible majors/minors I'm thinking of pairing or replacing Geography with:
-Economics
-Statistics
-Risk Management
-Geology
Any advice on how to go about this process of picking a major?
Geology would be practical, in these days of fracking, intensified oil exploration, and other resource extraction.
Economics would also be good. Some Geography departments offer a concentration in Economic Development. With this you could get a job working for foreign aid agencies, both governmental and non-profit.
Georgia? If you lean towards economic development, you might be able to get an internship with the Carter Center--you know, President Carter's foreign aid and human rights organization? They also have graduate assistantships/internships, if you decide to get an MA. (For government work, you'd need it.)
Double-majoring may or may not keep you an extra year or so. I think this depends on if they let classes overlap (if they have any classes that can) or not. With that being said, I don't think Economics or Statistics have any overlap and this can be an issue. If you can, I'd try to get a hold of the advisors for the majors and ask them. Geology may have the most overlap out of your options.
I think this is more of a matter of what you would like to do with your geography major. Some career choices may be better with a geology background, some with a more business-like background.
Why do you think you wouldn't have a career with GIS? I'm curious because I'm choosing Geography/GIS as I think other fields/degrees are too competitive or overly saturated. Mind you, I don't necessarily "like" Geography so I'm sort of going into it half-blind, but I feel that the subjects I naturally enjoy will not offer much return on investment ie. humanities. Are you just trying to cover your ground by having a fall back option? Or do you really think you won't have much of a long term career with GIS?
Why do you think you wouldn't have a career with GIS? I'm curious because I'm choosing Geography/GIS as I think other fields/degrees are too competitive or overly saturated. Mind you, I don't necessarily "like" Geography so I'm sort of going into it half-blind, but I feel that the subjects I naturally enjoy will not offer much return on investment ie. humanities. Are you just trying to cover your ground by having a fall back option? Or do you really think you won't have much of a long term career with GIS?
I think there are careers in GIS, but I'm just thinking it may be wise to broaden my skills so I am able to adapt to the job market. You did make a great point though, other fields such as finance or psychology are heavily saturated.
I think perhaps a double major would be an excellent idea. Geography and Geology make sense together. Environmental Science is another big field that uses GIS. Or perhaps Georgraphy as a minor. I think GIS is a good field to get into. I am not particularly sure of the job market but I know tons of fields use it. I've taken a GIS course and I really enjoyed it.
Geology was a little too difficult for me with the math levels, but if you think you can handle it go for it!
I have posted here several times before, but I'd like to get some feedback this time about what my choice of major. I am currently in my second semester at a community college with the intention of transferring to the U of GA to obtain a B.S. in Geography (with a focus in GIS). I love geography and always will, but I wonder sometimes if it's something to make a career out of or simply a hobby. I know the job market is tough and I definitely want to land a good job after college and I'm thinking I should possibly change my major and minor in geography, double major with geography and something else, or major in geography and pursue a master's.
Because my parents' home is not far from either school, I am able to live at home while going to cc and when I transfer to U of GA which saves a ton of money. I am also lucky that as long as I live at home I don't have to work and will more than likely have no or very little debt after graduation. I'm not big into partying, so I put a lot of time into my studies and definitely plan to take summer courses. This would mean that a double major wouldn't be completely unrealistic seeing as I also have AP courses so I'm about a semester ahead than someone without AP's.
Here are the possible majors/minors I'm thinking of pairing or replacing Geography with:
-Economics
-Statistics
-Risk Management
-Geology
Any advice on how to go about this process of picking a major?
I personally go to UGA and am an economics (and cs) major here, so I can help you. Econ and risk management are both in Terry. Terry is a full load onto itself and it's hard to double major (unless within the college itself) or you have come in with a lot of credit and take summer school. I personally choose this option, and it hasn't been easy (I came to college with around a year and a half worth of credit). While risk management isn't exactly a popular option, I'm fairly sure UGA is the number 1 school for it, so that always helps. Finance and Accounting obviously lead in terms of jobs available after college. Usually the terry name helps in terms of employment around Georgia. Most people I know who are risk management majors team it up with either economics or finance.
There's a BA degree for Economics as well. It's in the school or arts/science rather than business. You take the same upper level classes (6 classes), but you take liberal arts classes as electives (literature, foreign language, etc). Geography is in the same college, so a double major here is quite feasible. I think to make a economics major look good on a bachelor's level, you need to take the corresponding business classes rather than liberal arts classes. If you plan on getting a master's in econ (it doesn't look like you are), a BA is the better option, imo as you can double major or minor in math (you need a ton of math classes to get into a MA in econ).
Statistics is again in arts/science. Erm, it's probably not going to be easy to double major as one need to take a few calc courses (calc 1-3), cs 1301, and then around 10 stat classes. Minors are easier, i think its only 5 classes on top of stat2000 (which you probably already have to take). I've personally taken stat2000 and then the first calc based stat class (Stat4510- not a necessary class for either the major or minor). Erm. stat2000 is a joke, and then it gets hard. Stat is used a lot in data analysis - I'm constantly being retaught basic stat in my business classes. I'll confess I know little about geography, but if data is a big player (it wasn't in my intro geography class, but it might be), you may want to look into this option. Stat will come in handy.
Geology. I've never taken a geology class in my life minus earth science in middle school. Rocks bore me. Sorry. I can't give you anything besides its in the arts/science school. The only geology major I know wants to go to law school. He's a geology major to get a high GPA (he has told me so).
....I'd personally recommend a minor or a certificate in comp sci. GPS is a big thing, and it seems like geography is getting more intertwined in comp sci. The minor is rather long (its only 4 classes short of the major), so I'd recommend the certificate (it's only 4 class, 2 of which are a joke - csci1100 and csci1301). I think a certificate in comp sci and GIS will bring you to the top for geography (from what I hear).
I hope I helped. PM me if you want to know more about UGA.
Last edited by stellastar2345; 03-13-2014 at 11:43 AM..
I personally go to UGA and am an economics (and cs) major here, so I can help you. Econ and risk management are both in Terry. Terry is a full load onto itself and it's hard to double major (unless within the college itself) or you have come in with a lot of credit and take summer school. I personally choose this option, and it hasn't been easy (I came to college with around a year and a half worth of credit). While risk management isn't exactly a popular option, I'm fairly sure UGA is the number 1 school for it, so that always helps. Finance and Accounting obviously lead in terms of jobs available after college. Usually the terry name helps in terms of employment around Georgia. Most people I know who are risk management majors team it up with either economics or finance.
There's a BA degree for Economics as well. It's in the school or arts/science rather than business. You take the same upper level classes (6 classes), but you take liberal arts classes as electives (literature, foreign language, etc). Geography is in the same college, so a double major here is quite feasible. I think to make a economics major look good on a bachelor's level, you need to take the corresponding business classes rather than liberal arts classes. If you plan on getting a master's in econ (it doesn't look like you are), a BA is the better option, imo as you can double major or minor in math (you need a ton of math classes to get into a MA in econ).
Statistics is again in arts/science. Erm, it's probably not going to be easy to double major as one need to take a few calc courses (calc 1-3), cs 1301, and then around 10 stat classes. Minors are easier, i think its only 5 classes on top of stat2000 (which you probably already have to take). I've personally taken stat2000 and then the first calc based stat class (Stat4510- not a necessary class for either the major or minor). Erm. stat2000 is a joke, and then it gets hard. Stat is used a lot in data analysis - I'm constantly being retaught basic stat in my business classes. I'll confess I know little about geography, but if data is a big player (it wasn't in my intro geography class, but it might be), you may want to look into this option. Stat will come in handy.
Geology. I've never taken a geology class in my life minus earth science in middle school. Rocks bore me. Sorry. I can't give you anything besides its in the arts/science school. The only geology major I know wants to go to law school. He's a geology major to get a high GPA (he has told me so).
....I'd personally recommend a minor or a certificate in comp sci. GPS is a big thing, and it seems like geography is getting more intertwined in comp sci. The minor is rather long (its only 4 classes short of the major), so I'd recommend the certificate (it's only 4 class, 2 of which are a joke - csci1100 and csci1301). I think a certificate in comp sci and GIS will bring you to the top for geography (from what I hear).
I hope I helped. PM me if you want to know more about UGA.
I did a major in geology because I loved the science. I did a minor in GIS while I was at it. I figured that I needed to know what to do with all my field data (the college I went to had a strong emphasis on fieldwork). I also thought the GIS was a good back up career option, it's a good job skill.
Most of my GIS classmates also were geology students. I think that was mostly because the GIS dept was part of the geology dept at that school. There were also biology and environmental science students in there.
I think that if you are going to do any sort of field science you need to know basic GIS. ESRI. Almost all companies use it.
I'm now working as a GIS Specialist for an archaeological consulting company, it's not geology but I like. (Back-up career option, indeed!)
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They also have graduate assistantships/internships, if you decide to get an MA. (For government work, you'd need it.)
