Geography term papers

What is Geography?

Geography is defined as a specific science which studies features of the Earth, including lands, inhabitants and other phenomena. While the modern study of geography is an all-encompassing discipline, there are four general sub-spheres which make up the science, namely geography as the study of distribution, places and regions (aka area studies), man-land relationship and earth sciences research.  There are two main branches of geography - physical geography and human geography.  Physical geography examines the subject as an earth science, while human geography focuses more on the patterns and processes which shape our society.

Physical Geography

Physical geography examines physical problems and processes on Earth and includes fields such biogeography, climatology and meteorology, environmental management, hydrology and hydrography, oceanography, pedology and more.

Human Geography

Human geography focuses more on the relationship with human beings and the Earth from different perspectives (cultural, social, economic and political). Categories within this field include cultural geography, health geography, religion geography, social geography, national geography and tourism geography.

Why Study Geography?

There are many reasons why a person would choose a degree in geography.  For one, those with a geography degree are better equipped to understand topics which affect our planet such as climate change and global warming.  It also improves knowledge on global issues such as politics, and how these events shape our world. Students get a much greater picture of world regions, including specific regions' religion, culture, food, economy and politics.

Studying for a Geography Major

A proficiency in maths and sciences is helpful when seeking a degree in geography, although the field is so broad that most people interested in this major should find their niche. For example, those people who are good at computers would be attracted to courses which cover geographic information systems such as computerized mapping. 

What will the Geography Major Cover?

A geography major is not just the study of a geography map. A typical geography major focuses on the spatial distribution and interrelationships of people, natural resources, plant and animal life.  Courses also cover political geography, cultural geography, regional science, remote sensing, cartographic methods, spatial analysis and more.

Career with Geography Degree

A geography major provides students with tools to branch out into many different careers and professions. These include urban planners or community developers, cartographers, GIS specialists, climatologists, transportation managers, environmental managers, National Park service rangers, marketing, demographers and writers or researchers.  Geography majors will also find work in the field of teaching by becoming a geography instructor, either in schools or as a member of faculty.

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