Geographers study human activities either in one location or in a regional or global context. The geographic method of inquiry is not distinguished by particular objects or institutions, but by the way a geographer asks questions about the location of multiple phenomena and the interconnections among spatial distributions.
For example, if a geographer is curious about variations in the incidence of rural and urban poverty, it will be necessary to examine the patterns of social, economic, cultural and physical factors to develop an acceptable explanation of the observed differences from place to place.
Geographers view the world as a complex mosaic of interconnected people, things and activities. This complex mosaic is expressed as the great variety of places and landscapes we see around us every day.
Geographers raise and resolve questions such as: n
How to understand and respond to environmental change: How are we changing the physical environment of Earth’s surface? How can we best preserve biological diversity and protect endangered ecosystems? How are climate and other environmental changes affecting the vulnerabilities of coupled human environment systems?
n
How to promote sustainability: Where and how will 10 billion people live? How will we sustainably feed everyone in the coming decade and beyond? How does where we live affect our health?
The Princeton Review picked K-State among the best colleges in the country. K-State is a national leader among state-supported universities in its total of Rhodes, Marshall,
Truman, Goldwater and Udall scholarship winners.
n
How to recognize and cope with the rapid spatial reorganization of economy and society: How is the movement of people, goods and ideas changing the world?
How is economic globalization affecting inequality? How are geopolitical shifts influencing peace and stability?
n
How to leverage technological change for the benefit of society and environment:
How might we better observe, analyze and visualize a changing world? What are the societal implications of citizen mapping and mapping citizens?
n
How can we use remote sensing (satellite imagery and/or aerial photography) to tell us about conditions in different parts of the world? What procedures can be used to analyze imagery from different times to help us understand ongoing changes in the n world around us?
How can global positioning systems (GPS), computer-generated maps and geographic information systems (GIS) be used to document and analyze differences among places? How can GIS and other geospatial technologies be used to assist in planning urban growth or natural resource use?
Career opportunities in geography are diverse, and employment prospects after graduation are excellent. Employment opportunities vary from positions in business and government to jobs in planning and education. Others choose to use their knowledge and energies in programs such as the Peace Corps. Because of the breadth of the discipline, many students choose to specialize in a subfield such as community studies, natural resources and environmental sciences, GIS and spatial analysis or geographic education, whereas others may select a specific region of the world such as Latin America or
Africa as a focal point for their studies.
Career opportunities in business and local governments are varied: n
Demographer n
Market researcher n
Cultural resource specialist n
GIS manager n
Cartographer n
Sales projector n
Ecologist n
Location analyst and consultant
These are just some of the varied job titles held by geographers. Students with geographic training form a high proportion of new people hired in planning agencies each year at community, city, regional, state and federal levels. Some students may wish to pursue a college or university teaching career. This requires work beyond the bachelor’s degree.
Career opportunities for geographers with expertise in environmental studies are numerous. Federal and state agencies such as the U.S. Geological Survey, Environmental
Protection Agency, Kansas Department of
Health and Environment, Army Corps of
Engineers, National Park Service, Kansas
Department of Wildlife and Parks, the National
Imagery and Mapping Agency, and Bureau of Land Management employ numerous geographers each year.
Geographers interested primarily in urban, social and demographic problems are enjoying expanding employment opportunities with the
U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development.
International organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization, UNESCO and the Organization of American States have continuing programs in resource evaluation.
State and city governments list positions in this field, primarily in their conservation agencies and urban and regional planning boards.
The geographer’s training in location analysis, social and environmental problems, issues associated with clustered human settlements and a variety of spatial analysis techniques (e.g., cartography, computer mapping, field study, GIS and remote sensing) make for particular value in the private sector.
We have conducted a K-State geography alumni employer database for 378 of our alumni and found that 53 percent are employed in the private sector, 11 percent in higher education
(as faculty, research associates or graduate students), 15 percent in federal government,
7.5 percent in local government, 3 percent in
K-12 education, 6.5 percent in state government, and 4 percent in regional and county governments.

Despite the variety of careers available, undergraduate training in geography for these careers contains a number of common elements.
Students majoring in geography must satisfy the basic College of Arts & Sciences requirements.
Students may pursue a traditional major in geography or choose the geography preplanning option. A number of geography students select a minor in another field or a secondary major such as natural resources and environmental sciences or international studies to complement their degree.
Faculty members in the Department of
Geography possess a unique blend of experiences, interests and qualifications that allow them to provide meaningful learning opportunities for students.
One indication of the quality of our academic program is the performance of our students.
Each year Gamma Theta Upsilon, a national honorary society for geography students, provides five awards nationally to a graduate and undergraduate geography major. During the past 30 years, 22 K-State students have won this award, more than any other university.
In addition, nine of our students have been awarded prestigious internships by the National
Geographic Society, and a K-State geography major has been designated a Rhodes scholar.
Incoming students may apply for the Huber
Self Scholarship, the Milton and Emma Jean
Rafferty GTU Scholarship, the Robert H. Williams
Scholarship, the William Grimm Scholarship or the H.L. Seyler Scholarship. Undergraduate students also may apply for the Steve Kale
Undergraduate Fellowship in support of undergraduate research. Other university and departmental awards and scholarship opportunities exist for geography majors.
Contact the department for details.
Requirements for a traditional major in geography:
Hrs. Course
3 GEOG 100
3 GEOG 200
4 GEOG 221
3 GEOG 302
World Regional Geography
Human Geography
Introductory Physical Geography
Cartography and Thematic
2 GEOG 495
4 GEOG 508
Mapping
Capstone Seminar in Geography
Geographic Information Systems I
6 One course from two of the following three groups:
Earth System Science: (GEOG 235, 445, 535,
725,740, 761, GEOL 520)
Human-Environment Interaction: (GEOG 340,
360, 460, 718, 720, 725, 761, 765, 770)
Human/Regional Geography: (GEOG 300, 310,
332, 450, 500, 505, 510, 620, 622, 640, 650, 660,
690, 750, 780)
12 Geography electives (3 hours must be at 700 level; GEOL 520 may be used as elective)
37 credit hours required
Geography is an appropriate discipline for students who pursue a career in a planning-related field. The geography course requirements for the preplanning option include the following:
Select one of the following (three hours):
Hrs. Course
3 GEOG 602
3 GEOG 605
3 GEOG 608
Computer Mapping and
Geographic Visualization
Remote Sensing of Environment
Geographic Information
3 GEOG 700
Systems II
Quantitative Analysis in
Geography
Select one of the following (three hours):
3 ECON 555 Urban and Regional Economics
3 POLSC 618 Urban Politics
3 SOCIO 531 Urban Sociology
From the department of regional and community planning (15 hours):
3 PLAN 315
3 PLAN 715
Introduction to Planning or
Planning Principles
3 PLAN 752
3 PLAN 753
Physical Process of Plan
Implementation or
Planning Law
9 Three additional planning courses
21
Completion of the pre-planning option also yields a minor in community planning.
Hrs. Course
3 GEOG 100
3 GEOG 200
4 GEOG 221
3 GEOG 302
Introductory Physical Geography
Cartography and Thematic
Mapping
6 At least two additional geography courses at the
400 level and above
16
World Regional Geography or
Human Geography
The undergraduate certification in geographic information systems, as distinct from the minor in geography, is focused on meeting the needs of students who want to acquire grounding in geospatial analytical tools (cartography, remote sensing and GIS).
The certificate helps students prepare for an entry-level position in the private sector or government.
Hrs. Course
3 GEOG 302
4 GEOG 508
3 GEOG 602
3 GEOG 605
3 GEOG 608
Cartography and Thematic
Mapping
Geographic Information Systems I
Computer Mapping and
Geographic Visualization
Remote Sensing of Environment
Geographic Information
Systems II
3 One additional class with 50 percent (or more)
GIS content
19
Department of Geography
Kansas State University
118 Seaton Hall
920 N. 17th St.
Manhattan, KS 66506-2904
785-532-6727 geog@k-state.edu k-state.edu/geography
Office of Admissions
Kansas State University
119 Anderson Hall
919 Mid-Campus Drive North
Manhattan, KS 66506-0102
1-800-432-8270 (toll free) or
785-532-6250 k-state@k-state.edu
k-state.edu/admissions
Notice of nondiscrimination
Kansas State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex (including sexual harassment and sexual violence), sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, ancestry, disability, genetic information, military status, or veteran status, in the University’s programs and activities as required by applicable laws and regulations. The person designated with responsibility for coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries concerning nondiscrimination policies is the University’s Title IX Coordinator: the
Director of the Office of Institutional Equity, equity@k-state.edu, 103 Edwards Hall,
Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, (785) 532-6220. The campus
ADA Coordinator is the Director of Employee Relations, charlott@k-state.edu, who may be reached at 103 Edwards Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
66506, (785) 532-6277.
2016