Our Students

Undergraduates

Geography majors have two options available to them in order to fulfill the requirement of Geography Capstone experience.

Option A. Portfolio

Each student is required to complete a resume, plus:

  • A short paper (10pp more or less), that contains data, data analysis, map, discussion and results, OR
    A field journal, based upon a field experience that must also include background reading of books and articles pertaining to the experience.

Option B. A Research Endeavor

Each student is required to complete a resume, plus:

  • A senior thesis as an extended research paper, or
  • A paper presented at a national or regional AAG meeting, or
  • A poster presented at a national or regional AAG meeting

Other Information

Geog 5000: Geography Capstone I (3 credit hours), scheduled in the spring semester, is required for all geography majors who will be seniors in the following year.
Geog 5007/5008 (2 credit hours), offered as independent studies, is required for all seniors to complete Capstone experience requirements as outlined in Option A or Option B above.

The geography department prides itself on personalized student advising.

Generally, undergraduate majors are expected to meet with the department's director of undergraduate studies every semester, especially if they have a problem.

They are encouraged to meet during priority registration. During this time the director of undergraduate studies has extended office hours daily, where students and the undergraduate advisor will review the student's timely progress towards completing both the major and college requirements, as well as career goals. Such meetings also permit students to learn about internship possibilities arranged by the department. The director of undergraduate studies is also available throughout the semester during office hours or by appointment for consultation.

Graduate students are likewise expected to meet with the department's director of graduate studies every semester if they have a problem, and are encouraged to meet during priority registration. Once a student has chosen a thesis or dissertation advisor, the student is required to meet with the advisor as well at least once a semester. These meetings are designed to insure that a student is making timely progress towards their degree. The director of graduate studies is also available for consultation.

All first-year graduate students are also afforded the opportunity to meet during finals week of fall semester with all the faculty they have worked with during their initial semester of graduate students. These meetings are designed to give students an early evaluation of their progress and to give faculty an opportunity to hear students' reactions to our program. A graduate student may request similar interviews anytime during a student's course of studies.

If you have more questions about the College of Arts and Sciences advising, please visit the A&S Advising page.

Employment for geography majors (BA, BS) is varied and strong particularly for students with good computer and computer mapping skills. Geography graduates (BA) are employed as market analysts locating a variety of retailing establishments (branch banks, discount stores, restaurants), demographers (U.S. Bureau of the Census), area specialist for the tourist industry and for federal agencies (CIA, Agency for International Development), and socio-economic impact analysts for environmental consulting companies. Physical geography (BS) graduates have employment opportunities with NPO's (Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club), environmental consulting companies (GIS, remote sensing, environmental impact analysis), and numerous federal agencies as exemplified by the Bureau of Land Management (GIS, remote sensing). The undergraduate program also provides an educational background for students interested in graduate school in geography and related disciplines.

  • Environmental impact analyst
  • Industrial location
  • Urban/regional planning
  • Weather forecasting
  • Market research (mapping demographic trends)
  • Retailing site selection, store location
  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS), (data base acquisition/mapping)
  • Cartographer/computer mapping
  • Remote sensing analyst
  • Teaching/elementary, secondary, college
  • Travel industry, tourism
  • Geographic software programming/technical support
  • NPO's—Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club (environmental assessment & advocacy )
  • State, county, city government agencies-computer mapping/GIS
    • Federal Government
    • CIA (area specialist, remote sensing analyst)
    • Bureau of Land Management (physical geography, GIS/remote sensing)
    • Corps of Engineers (physical geography, GIS/remote sensing)
    • National Imagery and Mapping Agency (Cartography, GIS/remote sensing)
    • Agency for International Development (area specialist)
    • Department of Agriculture (physical geography, soils, GIS/remote sensing)
    • Environmental Protection Agency (physical geography, GIS)
    • Forest Service (GIS/remote sensing)
    • Bureau of the Census (demography, GIS)
    • NASA (remote sensing)

For jobs in geography and related fields, check out these websites:

The department regularly receives notifications for local, regional, and national internship opportunities in GIS, physical geography, urban planning, and more. Our students have recently completed internships with a number of organizations including:

  • CAGIS (The Cincinnati Area Geographic Information System)
  • OKI Regional Council of Governments
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission
  • Planning and Development Services of Kenton County
  • Hamilton County Community Development Division
  • Local planning offices (City of Monroe, Village of Indian Hill)

Our BS degree programs also offer an optional co-op track for students interested in gaining real-world professional experience as they pursue their degree.

To join our department listserv and receive internship announcements or for more information on the department’s co-op subplan and potential co-op opportunities, contact the Undergraduate Director (Dr. Jeffrey Brewer at brewerjy@ucmail.uc.edu).

Graduate Students

 

Graduate students in the Geography Department have number of research and participation opportunities

The Geography Graduate Student Association (GGSA) is the Geography branch of the official Graduate Student Government. GGSA meets a few times a semester to discuss important departmental and grad school updates as well as foster professional development. We get together for fun social events such as trivia nights, Halloween parties or football games. We are also involved in the undergrad Geography Club and the planning of GIS Day.

  • President: Hannah Dahlke
  • Vice President: Dasuni Raapathi Arachchige
  • Treasurer: Whitney Yeboah
  • Secretary: Tuhin Chowdhury

For more information, view GGSA's GetInvolvedUC page.

Meet Our Graduate Students