Geography and Environmental Studies Jobs

Despite a relatively tight job market, a degree in the Department of Environmental, Earth and Geospatial Sciences (DEEGS) at North Carolina Central University has a diversified set of job prospects, ranging from urban planners and environmental scientists to geophysics. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers offered through the DEEGS such as environmental scientists, environmental engineers, environmental technicians (biological or chemical). urban planners, geographers / mapping technicians (including GIS Specialists), atmospheric scientists, hydrologists, petroleum engineers and geoscientists have excellent outlooks and experience 'faster than average' average growth. Allied fields such as archaeologists, surveyors, sociologists, historians, business analysts and epidemiologists may require technical skills such as GIS offered through the DEEGS program.

A degree from the DEEGS at NCCU will not only provide students with the skills for employment in the workforce after NCCU, but the opportunity to pursue graduate studies at the Master's or Ph.D. level.

Recent DEEGS graduates are employed by the City of Durham, local environmental firms, as well national organizations such as the CIA. Other recent NCCU DEEGS grads are pursing graduate studies at NC State University, Oregon State University, the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill and the University of North Carolina - Greensboro.

Geography and GIS

Many contemporary issues in today’s every-changing world have geographic aspects. The potential for practicing geography in private enterprise and government has grown considerably in recent years with the increasing need for technical skills such as GIS, spatial analysis, remote sensing and statistical analysis. Examples of careers include:

• Environmental Geography: Environmental geography is a branch of geography that examines the spatial aspects of interactions between humans and the natural world.
• Land Planning: Land use planning involves the scientific, aesthetic, and orderly disposition of land, resources, facilities, and services with a view to securing the physical, economic and social efficiency, and health and well-being of urban and rural communities.
• Geospatial Technologies: Geospatial technologies, which include Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and Remote Sensing are powerful tools used to store, analyze, visualize, and present spatial information. Together with appropriate cartographic techniques and principles, geographers are using geospatial technologies to better understand the interaction of various factors across space.
• Economic Geography: Economic geography is based upon their diverse knowledge and skills related to location analysis. Economic geographers play a key role in a vast array of business ventures, such as helping to make decisions about where to build the next Walgreens drug store or determining the most time-efficient route for a UPS delivery driver.
• Health Geography: Health geography is the application of geographical information, perspectives, and methods to the study of health, disease, and health care. The health of human populations reflects the complex interplay between population characteristics and the environment.

Environmental Science and Environmental Health

Examples of Careers as Environmental Science Majors include:
Air Pollution Analyst, Air Quality Inspector, Geochemist, Occupational Safety Specialist, Organic Farmer, Paleontologist, Aquatic Environmental Scientist, Geologist, Park Ranger, Aquatic Toxicologist, Geophysicist, Pollution Prevention Specialist, Radioactive Waste Engineer, Recycling Coordinator, Conservation Systems Analyst, Hazardous Waste Specialist, Seismologist, Energy Efficiency Consultant, among others. With a more advance degrees such as Master’s of Ph.D., the career options can be further specialized.

Examples of Careers as Environmental Health Majors include:
Environmental Health Specialist, Toxicologist, Industrial Hygiene Specialist, Environmental Consultant, Environmental Auditor, Hazardous Waste Manager, Public Health Specialist, Environmental Enforcement Officer, Environmental Protection Specialist, Health and Safety Officer, Environmental Education Specialist, Environmental Risk Assessor, Ecological Risk Assessor, Bioremediation Specialist, Water Treatment Manager, Wastewater Treatment Manager, Science Teacher, Chemistry Teacher, Biology Teacher, and Pharmaceutical Sales among others. With a more advance degree, the career options can be expanded into various pathways including biomedical sciences and engineering.