Geography

What is a Geographer?

Geographers are spatial thinkers who integrate many kinds of information. They are excellent team players, because geography intersects almost every other field of study. Geographers analyze locations for business, governments, schools, and non-profits. They research markets, plan traffic and transportation and they develop and manage real estate. They manage manufacturing, publishing, communication and distribution systems. Because geographers understand how the humans and the environment fit together, they manage environmental projects, conserve open space, operate parks, and monitor hazardous sites. They study ground water, surface water, and ocean water – and how water relates to human health, industry, and agriculture. Geographers read maps, make maps, connect maps, and analyze maps, using Geographic Information Systems, Global Positioning Systems, and satellite imagery. Geographers teach children, college students, and resort and cruise-ship customers about the world. They help farmers, community groups, historic preservationists, and even sports teams do their work more effectively. Many geographers become school principals, college deans, and corporate executives because they learn to develop connections across disciplines. Geographers make excellent librarians, guides, and Peace Corps or Americorps volunteers.

Employment Opportunities for Graduating Seniors

The Earth Sciences & Geography Department regularly receives information from prospective employers (check out our blog-spot at bsc-geography.blogspot.com ). We also maintain a list of firms in New England that are likely to employ students who graduate with degrees in Earth Science and Geography. You should check this site regularly for new postings. Please note that we are in the process of building this site. A complete list of job opportunities can be found on the bulletin board just down the hall from the ES&G department main office.

Internship Opportunities

Students in both earth sciences and geography have participated in a wide variety of internships. Students have worked as paid and unpaid interns in many private firms, non-profit organizations, and local, state, and federal government agencies. ES&G Geography faculty members have established an impressive network of contacts in the region. Check out our blog-spot at bsc-geography.blogspot.com to identify those contacts and specific internships that are currently open.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities 

Students at Bridgewater State University are increasingly involved in their own research projects. Participation in independent research is a great way to distinguish yourself when applying for future employment or graduate school. Check out our blog-spot at bsc-geography.blogspot.com for professors taking on students and the Office for Undergraduate Research (OUR) for sources of funding. http://www.bridgew.edu/OUR/ . These pages lists specific opportunities to engage in research, including many funding sources that are available only to BSU students.

Educational Opportunities for Current Students  

Students who exhibit the initiative to complete one or more optional training programs will be better positioned to embark on their careers or pursue graduate education. This page (http://www.bridgew.edu/LicensureFieldPlacement/ ) short courses, summer field camps, and various professional certifications. The programs are ideally taken by undergraduate students in Earth Science or Geography during their junior or senior years.

Geographers at Bridgewater State College

In short, a geographic education opens a world of opportunity. The geography department at Bridgewater is proud of the contributions of its alumni who put their geographic education to work around the corner and around the world. Whether they take a few courses or complete the minor or major, geography has a lasting impact on those who study it.

The people of the department include full-time and part-time professors with decades of experience in all of geography’s specialties. They have worked, studied, and taught not only in Bridgewater and Brockton and Taunton and Boston – but also in Bangalore, the Amazon, Ireland, South Africa, Spain, the South Pole, the Canadian Rockies, Brazil, and in scores of countries on every continent.

Keeping up with the Department Online

The best way to stay informed about the most current activities and opportunities of our very active department is to connect to our blog at bsc-geography.blogspot.com. The blog is both a permanent archive and a frequently-updated news source about internships, jobs, special events, conferences, alumni achievements, research projects, and more. Visit the blog, sign up to be a “follower” and be sure to search the blog for previous postings. Other links under the Activities section direct you to information about the Geography Enthusiasts’ Organization (our student organization to organize field trips, GeoBowl teams, and build our student geography community), EarthView (our giant inflatable globe that travels to schools throughout Massachusetts to promote geographic literacy), our ongoing US-Brazil Consortium (an exchange program between geography programs here and in Brazil to increase cross-cultural understanding), the BSC Weather Station (keeping track of current and long-term weather info for Southeastern Massachusetts), and the contact info you need to become part of the BSC Geography family.

The department web site at www.bridgew.edu/Geography is used for permanent information, including links to course and program descriptions, faculty web sites, professional organizations, and relevant databases.

Being a Geographer and interested about Data on Places/Regions, go to www.census.gov.

Professional Associations:

Job Postings:

ECO (Environmental Careers Organization) go to www.eco.org

For more information on this major contact:

Chairperson: Dr. Robert Hellstrom
Administrative Assistant: Brenda Flint
Web Site: Geography
Phone: 508.531.1390
Fax: 508.531.1785
Building: Marshall Conant Science Building (24 Park Avenue)
Floor: 3rd floor, Room 308