Geography is the spatial study of the Earth’s physical and cultural environments. Geographers study the Earth’s physical characteristics, inhabitants and cultures, phenomena such as climate, and the Earth’s place within the universe. Geography also examines the spatial relationships between all physical and cultural phenomena.
Furthermore, geographers also look at how the Earth, its climate, and its landscapes are changing due to cultural intervention. Geography is a much broader field than many people realize. Most people think of area studies as the whole of geography. Geography studies the Earth, including how human activity has changed it.
Geography involves studies much broader than merely understanding the shape of the Earth’s landforms. Physical geography affects all the planet’s physical systems. Human geography incorporates studies of human culture, spatial relationships, interactions between humans and the environment, and many other research areas involving geography’s different subspecialties.
Students interested in a career in geography would be well served to learn geospatial techniques and gain skills and experience in GIS and remote sensing, as they are the areas within geography where employment opportunities have grown the most over the past few decades. ♦
