Uncharted Territory: Geographic Information Science

Curiosity is conspicuously missing in many work environments, where following orders trumps personal inquisitiveness. If you haven't stopped pondering the earth's many mysteries or stopped asking why things are the way they are, don't despair. A career in geographic information science can provide an outlet for your curiosity while still allowing you to pay the mortgage.

A Wealth of Career Opportunities

A geographic information science degree program exposes you to a host of career opportunities. Physical geographers, the most well known, study climate, vegetation, soil, and landforms, and attempt to draw connections between mankind and its environment. But geographic information science concerns itself with much more than just physical stats; specialists are employed in many sectors of the economy and may be engaged in activities as diverse as mapmaking, surveying, and studying the relationship of geography to economics, politics, and even epidemics. Interested? Make sure you meet the educational requirements. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that most employers prefer a master's degree.

Online Education and Salary Information

Distance learning programs offer students of almost all ages the chance to work from home, from the library, or even from the local Starbucks. Furthermore, many online degree programs allow you to work at your own pace, which means you can keep your nine-to-five and still make it to class in time for your virtual lecture. For GIS students, online education courses cover statistics and career-specific computer technology like geographic information systems. Graduates of online degree programs often go on to enjoy ample salaries. While wages vary considerably by position, geographers earned a mean wage of $66,440 in 2007.
So, go ahead and indulge your intellectual curiosity! Earn an online degree and equip yourself with valuable career training while learning at your own pace.
Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Social Scientists, Other

Karin Hansen lives and works in San Francisco. She graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in English literature, and edits a music blog in her spare time.