Geography
One major, endless possibilities:
SFU Geography offers a tremendous diversity of undergraduate programs that let you gain a broader understanding of your world, learn about fascinating discoveries in science and prepare for a rewarding career. The richness of our program selection means that you can spend your first year or two exploring different academic options and then move on to specialize in an area that meets your goals. Our focus on interdisciplinary learning - connecting different subjects together - lets students who have a multitude of talents explore how they can maximize their university experience by learning across traditional subject area boundaries.
For more information, visit the Faculty of Geography website
Skills You Will Develop
You will acquire specific knowledge and competencies during your program of study. While the skills and knowledge may be directly applicable to your major, your other skills – research, project management, team work, and problem solving – for example, are valuable skills that you can transfer to a wide range of careers depending on what you want to do and what is important to you.
Your skill set and knowledge is not limited to your course work or academic experiences. Remember to take into account the skills that you’ve gained outside the lecture hall or seminar room -- through your work experiences, volunteering, extra-curricular and leisure activities. There are hundreds of student clubs and leadership opportunities supported by SFSS and DIRECTIONS: Explorations in Action, Leadership and Change. Check out other Personal and Professional Development Programs.
What are the Career Possibilities?
Did you know, that only about two percent of adults claim to be working in the occupation they planned when they were eighteen years old (Krumboltz, Levin, 2004)? Your future career is going to be influenced by many factors – the economy, political events, technology and chance occurrences – some of which you have no control over. In addition to investigating some of the common careers associated with your major (see the list below) why not look beyond your major and open yourself up to other possibilities.
Note: This is not an exhaustive list and some of these careers require further education and/or training/designations or experience.
Career Options
- Air Quality Specialist
- Atmospheric data technician
- Cartographer
- Climatologist
- Ecologist
- Ecology Research Technician
- Environment Researcher
- Environmental Field Monitor/Auditor
- Environmental Health and Safety Inspector
- Environmental Planner/Analyst
- Environmental Protection Officer
- Environmental Specialist
- Field Technician
- Fisheries Conservationist
- Food Safety Coordinator
- Forester/Park Naturalist
- Fundraiser for Environmental Organizations
- Geographer
- Geologist
- Government Advisor
- Habitat researcher
- Hazardous Waste Management Officer
- Hydrologist
- Industrial Advisor
- Interpretive Naturalist
- Laboratory Technician
- Museum Technician
- Natural Resources Specialist
- Outdoor guide
- Pesticide Evaluator
- Pollutant Risk Assessor
- Pollution control consultant
- Resource management specialist
- Scientific Journalist
- Soil Conservationist
- Water Quality Inspector/Controller
- Wildlife Manager
Potential Work Environments
You can advance your career in any work environment because you can build skills, gain experience and develop networks in a variety of settings, and locations. What if you are unable to land a position in your preferred career in your work place of choice? What else could you do and where could you add value to your potential career? You need not always aim for big corporations or government departments. Consider working in small to medium business and non-profit organizations. Your experience may help you get a clearer view of your preferred future, and along the way you are likely to acquire some interesting experience.
Work Environments
- Agriculture Business Corporations
- Architecture or surverying companies
- Boards of education, univiersities, colleges
- Consulting Firms
- Environmental, Forestry, Mining, Surveying Firms
- Government Departments and Agencies
- Insurance
- International trade
- Law Firms
- Magazines and newspapers
- Manufacturers and Industrial Firms
- Map Publishers and Mapping Software companies
- Market Research Organizations Media, Print, TV, Radio, Publishing
- Museums
- Non-profit Organizations and NGOs
- Oil and Utility Companies
- Outdoor recreation companies
- Private Sector (Construction, Energy, Environmental Planning, Utilities etc.)
- Real Estate Developers and Appraisers
- Scientific and Research Institutes, "Think Tanks"
- Service Management Agencies
- Transportation
- Waste Management and Chemical Companies
Related Professional Associations and Sites of Interest
Professional associations are a valuable resource for occupational research, and work search. The professional associations cited here may also offer career information, job boards, networking opportunities, and volunteer opportunities. They are invaluable in your career exploration in that they allow you to access a myriad of resources and publications, and link you to other sites of interest. Take action, do some research on these associations, and consider joining a professional organization. You never know who you might meet or where the affiliation might lead.
Associations & Sites of Interest
- Association of BC Land Surveyors
- Association of BC Forest Professionals
- Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists
- Environment Canada
- Environmental Careers Organization (ECO)
- The Canadian Association of Geographers
- Geological Association of Canada
- The Royal Canadian Geographical Society
- Geomatics Industry Association of Canada
- Natural Resources Canada
- Association of American Geographers
- Canadian Centre for Remote Sensing
- Environmental Jobs & Careers
- GeoCommunity
- EnviroLink (Online Environmanl Community)
- Earthworks Jobs
- Geography Jobs (US)
- GeoJobSource
- Eluta
- iHireEnvironmental: Employement Insider
Career Development and Work Search Resources
At any given time, anywhere between 70-80 percent of work is not advertised. There is more to a job search than searching for work in online databases. You'll want to research potential employers, read about job trends in specific careers and identify specific organizations where you want to work.
In the meantime, what follows is a short list of websites where you may begin to explore the range of current job opportunities. If you want help with your work search visit Career Services and make an appointment to see a career advisor.
Occupational & Career Information
Whether you know what you want to do or you haven't yet made up your mind, you should take action to increase the odds of making choices that will benefit you. To help you get started, click the link below to learn about your "dream" career and other careers you may want to consider. Who knows, while exploring these resources you may broaden your knowledge about what's out there and open the door to other career possibilities. What you'll notice is that there is no one plan rather a range of options.
