{"id":2,"date":"2015-01-16T14:02:56","date_gmt":"2015-01-16T14:02:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/geography-dev\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2026-03-03T06:34:38","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T11:34:38","slug":"geography-home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/geography\/","title":{"rendered":"Geography — Meteorology, GIScience, Planning and more!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Discover the Adventure of a Geography Degree: Explore the World, Shape the Future<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
Marshall University\u2019s Geography Department emphasizes transforming passion for geography into a profession through academic rigor and hands-on expertise. The program bridges natural and social sciences, leveraging tools like Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, and drones, alongside traditional analytical methods. It\u2019s designed to equip students with critical thinking, technical skills, and practical experience to tackle real-world issues like climate change, urban planning, resource conservation, and economic development.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Chart Your Future: Transforming Passion into Profession with Marshall’s Geography Department – Where Academic Excellence Meets Career-Ready Geography Expertise!<\/i><\/p>\n

Career Opportunities<\/h2>\n

The geography degree program opens doors to various fields, with strong job prospects in both public and private sectors. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a> (BLS) data cited, demand for GIS professionals and atmospheric scientists is expected to grow faster than average over the next decade. Here\u2019s a quick look at the career paths mentioned:<\/p>\n

GIS Analyst: Uses mapping software to solve problems and create digital maps\/reports. Median salary (2020): $68,380 (as cartographers\/photogrammetrists).<\/p>\n

Meteorologist: Tracks atmospheric phenomena and generates weather forecasts. Median salary (2020): $99,740.<\/p>\n

Geography Educator: Teaches earth and human systems at schools or universities.<\/p>\n

City Planner: Develops infrastructure and zoning plans based on community needs. Median salary (2020): $75,950.<\/p>\n

Nonprofit Professional: Works on community improvement projects locally or globally.<\/p>\n

Other Fields: Natural resource management, economic development, environmental conservation, cartography, international business, and IT.<\/p>\n

Degree Programs and Flexibility<\/h2>\n

Marshall offers a range of geography programs, available both on-campus and 100% online, catering to different needs:<\/p>\n

Bachelor\u2019s (BA\/BS)<\/a>: Suitable for undergraduates or transfer students.<\/p>\n

Master\u2019s (MA\/MS)<\/a>: 34 credit hours.<\/p>\n

Certificates<\/h3>\n

Undergraduate: Meteorology<\/a> (19 credits), GIScience (18 credits), Geography Education (18 credits).<\/p>\n

Graduate: GIScience (16 credits), Meteorology<\/a> (16 credits), Human Geography<\/a> (18 credits).<\/p>\n

The flexibility to study online or transfer credits makes it accessible for diverse students. A degree or certificate from Marshall U. is very affordable<\/strong>:\u00a0 cost of attendance<\/a> and tuition<\/a>.\u00a0 Online tuition<\/a> is the same as in-state, so you can attend from Africa, Micronesia, Canada, or right in your West Virginia living room.<\/p>\n

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GIS Analyst<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
GIS (Geographic Information Systems) analysts use mapping software for practical problem solving and produce digital maps and reports.<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t
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Meteorologist<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
Meteorologists track and measure atmospheric phenomena, generate weather reports and forecasts.<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t
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Geography Educator<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
Geography teachers and college professors help their students understand how the world works, including earth systems, human systems, and the interaction between the two. <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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City Planner<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
Urban and regional planners collect information from community stakeholders and create models to make infrastructure and zoning laws work well for everyone. <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t
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Nonprofit Professional<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
Geographers help improve local, national, and international communities while growing personally and professionally. <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t
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Continuing Education<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
Maintain or enhance your professional qualifications, keep up with the latest technology, or meet licensing and certification requirements.<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n
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A Geography degree prepares you for a fulfilling life.<\/h2>\n

Geographers seek to understand why things vary from place to place and how their distributions change over time. We use the latest Geospatial Information Science and Technology<\/a>, Remote Sensing, and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) as well as traditional social science and natural science analysis. While you earn your Geography degree, you become a professional who does not merely “know” geography, you practice it. Geographers address key challenges of society such as economic development, globalization, and territorial conflict. Geographers also tackle human-environment challenges such as severe weather, climate change, sustainability, land use, and natural resource management. Geography bridges the natural and social sciences, as well as the STEM disciplines.<\/p>\n

See what students and alumni say about their experiences as a Geography major<\/a> at Marshall University.<\/p>\n

Major in Geography<\/h2>\n
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Choose a Geography degree, then…<\/div>\n
Apply<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Undergraduate Degree (Bachelor’s)<\/a><\/div>\n
Apply BA\/BS<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Graduate Degrees (Master’s)<\/a><\/div>\n
Apply MA\/MS<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Earn your bachelor’s degree in geography<\/a> in the classroom or 100% online<\/a>. Want to go farther? Get your master’s degree in geography<\/a> (also available 100% online<\/a>).<\/p>\n

You can also transfer your college credits to Marshall and finish your geography degree at Marshall University, home of The Thundering HERD!<\/p>\n

Geography equips you for careers in both the public and private sectors. For example, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that demand for trained GIS professionals<\/a> and atmospheric scientists<\/a> will grow faster than average over the next decade.<\/p>\n

Fields open to you include:<\/strong><\/p>\n