Geographers’ specialties can be broken into several large sections. Physical geography specializes in understanding the natural patterns and processes of the Earth’s surface, including the integration between people and their environment. Human geography specializes in understanding cultures, activities and landscapes of the human population across space and place. And geographers who specialize in geospatial technology use equipment like geographic information systems, remote sensing and aerial photography to capture data and model, measure and analyze features on Earth from the local to global scale. Some geographers will focus in one of these specialties, and others will use their knowledge in all three to perform their jobs.

Candice Luebbering, senior research geographer with the Association of American Geographers, says there are many misconceptions about geographers. "We get teased about being lost, and we get quizzed on state capitals," she says. But there is much more to geography than directions and state capital trivia.

Luebbering, who has earned both a master’s degree in geography and a Ph.D. in geospatial and environmental analysis at Virginia Tech, is working to promote and advance the field of geography at AAG. Currently, she is researching geospatial privacy issues and disaster management as it relates to geography. She’s also helping manage a nationwide educational outreach on geographic information systems to grades K-12.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 1.1% employment growth for geographers between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 0 jobs will be lost.

If an applicant has prior work experience and a deep knowledge of GIS (a computer hardware and software that collects, stores, retrieves, manipulates, analyzes and displays spatial data), he or she might be able to land an entry-level position in the federal government or a nonprofit with a bachelor’s degree. However, other jobs require a master’s degree in geography. These geography programs include coursework in physical and human geography, statistics and mathematics, as well as geospatial technology, such as GIS and remote sensing (a method of capturing data of the earth from a distance using airplane sensors or satellites). Other courses might include business, economics and real estate, as geographers are increasingly specializing in these areas of private industry. Geographers may need to hold a Ph.D. for research or teaching positions.