What is Geography (Urban Economic Emphasis) ? Geography focuses on the spatial dimensions of human activities and their interactions with physical landscapes. The interrelationships between humans and their environments uniquely allow geographers to link the social and physical sciences. Geographers analyze information represented on maps -- maps representing data produced in the traditional form (computer-generated or drawn by hand) or images generated by satellites (remote sensing). Students in the urban-economic BA track will develop specialized knowledge in urban land use models and the effects of spatial processes on historical and contemporary urban phenomena as well as how to apply fundamental economic models linked to spatial data. Success Factors Students are successful when they have an interest in learning about and understanding (1) world events, (2) local events within cities, (3) the urban, global, economic and political processes underlying world and local events, (4) human impact on the physical environment and (5) when they have the skills necessary to process, display and analyze geographic information.

Career Possibilities Geography provides a good educational background for students interested in a variety of careers in business, various government agencies (federal, state, county, city), nonprofit agencies or as college and university professors. Geography provides strong preparation for professional and graduate schools (law, medicine, business, geography or other physical or social sciences). Employment for students with strong geographic computer skills (GIS) is particularly strong. Examples of geography-related jobs in various areas include: U.S. Agency for International Development Audubon Society Bureau of Land Management Bureau of the Census Cartographer Geographic software programming Housing and urban development Market research Sierra Club Teaching Travel industry