CAREERS

Frequently Asked Questions

A degree from Elmhurst College's Department of Geography & Geosciences, will provide you with many exciting and interesting opportunities. Our graduates are working in urban, regional and transportation planning; cartography and geographic information systems (GIS); commercial location and marketing analysis; education and many other fulfilling careers.

A short list of our graduates various careers

Dave Andrusyk,	Class of '97	Works as a naturalist for the Tri-County State Park Visitor Center.
Candice Assell (Engelbrecht)	Class of '02	Teaches earth science/astronomy/weather & environmental at Naperville North High School.
Steven Bolduc	Class of '80	Recently retired as a commander in the U.S. Navy, where he served as an oceanographer/meteorologist.
Martha Brown	Class of '73	The city planner in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Steve Damolaris	Class of '87	A GIS planner for the city of Elgin.
Kevin Donovan	Class of '00	Works as a land surveyor at Webster, McGrath & Ahlberg.
Tom Ebesn	Class of '72	Tom is bureau chief of the Fire Prevention Division of the Fire Department of Oak Park, IL.
Linda Kuta Gray	Class of '88	A geographic specialist for the U.S. Department of the Census.
Cyndi Harper (Woltzen)	Class of '96	A transit planner for the Twin Cities Area Transit Agency.
Rick Heckman	Class of '95	Teaches geography and history at Glenbard West High School.
Eugene Laskowski	Class of '70	Eugene works for Rand McNally.
Scott Mernitz	Class of '69	Scott is an international minerals industry consultant in the environmental "Due Diligence" are for Behre, Colbear & CO. in Arvada, CO

FAQ

Is Geography a Good Choice?
You may be planning to go to university, or you may only be at the stage of choosing to study the subject further within the school curriculum. Most students enjoy the scope of the material they cover in Geography, the insights it can provide into understanding the world around us and the sheer contemporary nature of the issues it tackles. Key elements in the study of any subject are understanding and skills.
Is Geography a good choice in terms of getting a job?
The skills you use in your geographical studies make you of potential interest to a wide range of employers. The close link between the subject and the world around us makes for a long and varied list of related careers for example working with development or aid agencies, environmental work, using Geographical Information Systems, working for the census office and in tourism and recreation. However most of these areas involve only one part of the broad subject of Geography.
Statistics show that compared with other subjects, Geographers are among the most employable. Many of those leaving university with a Geography degree enter three fields of employment: administration and management; marketing or financial work. This is presumably because Geographers possess the abilities and skills that employers look for.
What sort of people do employers want and what do Geography courses provide?

Employers want people with good communication skills – Geography courses include a wide range of written and oral skills writing essays, projects and oral presentations.
Employers want people who can work in a team – Fieldwork is an essential component of Geography courses and is an ideal setting in which to develop teamwork and leadership skills.
Employers want people who can manage themselves – The preparation of a GCSE or A Level investigation fosters such skills.
Employers want people who can analyze their work - Geographical Investigations test hypotheses and involve analysis.
Employers want people who are numerate and literate – Geographers are used to manipulating and interpreting data and preparing reports which encourages conciseness and clarity in the use of language.
Employers want people who can ask questions and then find the answers – Geographers can pose problems and then investigate the answers. They can undertake complex decision making exercises using information at a variety of scales.
Employers want people who are computer literate – Geographers use ITC in many aspects of their work, for data collection, through the Internet, analyzing spreadsheets, all vital skills, especially in a commercial business environment.
Employers want people who are spatially aware – Geographers use maps all the time. Mapping has witnessed a revolution in recent years by harnessing remote sensing from satellites, and the development of geographic information systems which are increasingly used in Geography lessons.
Employers want people who are environmentally and socially aware – Geographers understand the links between places and people. They can look at complex systems in a straightforward way.

What are the advantages of studying Geography?
Geographers are taught a wide-ranging combination of skills drawing in ideas from many sources. This ability to view issues from a wider perspective is appropriate for working in many different areas. The nature of peoples’ working lives is changing. It is less likely that someone will spend all their life in one company or organization (the so-called job for life). If your career path is to be varied you will need to develop transferable skills and you will need to be flexible. Geography fosters these qualities and provides a firm base for life-long learning.