Life After College

What should I select as my major?

Is it something I find interesting?

Will there be a job for me?

How do I Select a Major?

• take a variety of courses• find what interests you• research the job market• assess your strengths & weaknesses

What do I Need to Succeed?

• knowledge• good GPA • good work habits• good writing skills• good oral skills• “hot skills”• luck!

Work Ethic

Giving 100% to your academics?

Will compete with those giving 100%!

Geology Careers

• Geologists understand the Earth and its processes, hence can anticipate its future.

Geologists will be in greater demand as population increases and resources decline

• Environmental Geologists look at the interaction of humans and these processes.

Nature of Geologist’s Work

• Varied activities– Laboratory and office

work

– Work outdoors

Nature of Geoscience Work

• Travel– Domestic

– Foreign

Nature of Geoscience Work

GA Coast Grand Canyon

Meteor Crater, AZColorado

Nature of Geoscience Work

Geography

•Stereotypical Geography question:

–What country lies between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal?

•Modern question:–How do India’s culture and population characteristics make it a place for businesses to locate?

Today’s Geography

• Geography is the study of people, place and environments and the relationships among them.

• Much, much more interesting!!!

Geology and Geography

• Career fields of the 21st century.

• Why?

Reason #1

• Both fields involve a broad knowledge base.

Average American changes careers 4-6 times, hence our majors can move much more smoothly between new careers.

Reason #2

• Development of a global economy.

Offers opportunities for those with a broad knowledge base.

Reason #3

• We deal with space & resource management.

Earth’s population is 6 billion, in 2040 it will reach 12 billion.

Space & natural resources are limited!Those that can manage space & resources

are already in great demand.

Reason #4

• Our majors utilize the most powerful analytical tools related to space & resource management.

cartographyremote sensingGPS (global positioning systems)GIS (geographic information systems)

GIS (geographic information systems)

• A powerful computer tool used to manipulate & analyze ANY type of spatial data.– Agricultural land management– Delivery routes– Tax, land use information– Crime analysis– Emergency management– Epidemiology– Endless possibilities

Municipal Boundaries

GIS map layers - Savannah

Roads

Elevations

Floodplains

GIS (geographic information systems)

US Department of Labor has identified three important emerging disciplines:

NanotechnologyBiotechnologyGeotechnology

• A VERY powerful and useful tool.

Jobs in GIS

• GIS cuts across ALL disciplines!

• Very much in demand.

Geology & geography majors with GIS skills get jobs immediately upon graduation.

Geology and Geography Major

• Research the job market yourself.

• What about a GIS minor?

• Ask lots of questions!