Online Geography Degrees

From government research to higher education to minerals extraction, a geography degree can lead to a number of career paths. The degree or certificate program students choose in geography can help determine their career path. Take a look at popular degrees and certification programs in the field:

1. Certification: Geographic information system, or GIS, certification is a popular addition to bachelor's degrees and can help graduates find employment as GIS analysts, GIS specialists and more.
2. Associate degree: Though rarely offered as a stand-alone degree, the associate degree in geography can help graduates move efficiently to a bachelor's degree program.
3. Bachelor's degree: Known as the standard for entry-level careers for cartographers, analysts and specialists, this degree is often paired with GIS certification.
4. Master's degree: This graduate degree allows students to focus on areas like land management, environmental studies and resource management.
5. Doctoral degree: Reserved for those wishing to carry out high-level research or higher education teaching and scholarship.

Working online to earn a geography degree comes with specific benefits. Interacting with other students from across the country and around the world means gaining new perspectives on local geography. Geographers also rely on technology to help with mapmaking, surveying and representing geographic data. GIS careers in particular require facility with cutting-edge technologies, and online degrees in geography are one way for students to learn first-hand about the use of computer modeling and digital maps in geography.

Successful geography students have a spatial knowledge and curiosity that leads them to take an interest in both the natural and manmade world. Increases in technology mean that those with a high level of technical skill are likely to succeed using GIS programs. Because the profession evolves with changing technology, workers should be willing to continue their education in the field.

Though the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the 1,300 geographers working in the U.S. earned mean annual wages of $72,890 in 2010, that's just the beginning of potential careers for those with geography training. Any career that deals with mapping and spatial awareness--from 911 coordinators to real estate agents--can benefit from geography training. Take a look at other popular geography careers, with mean annual wages from 2010 by the BLS:

• Cartographers: $60,970
• Hydrologists: $79,280
• Urban and regional planner: $66,020
• Real estate agents: $52,490
• Travel agents: $33,950

While some of the above careers may require further education and training, they represent the true range of ways in which a geography major can apply their interests. Geography is truly a degree program that helps students cross borders.

• Key certification: Geographic information systems, or GIS, certification combines geographical knowledge with high-tech skills
• Mean annual salary: $72,890
• Common career paths: urban planning, surveying and mapping, research, teaching
• Common employers: Government, real estate developers, scientific and research groups, law firms, environmental groups