Geography

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Become a vital part of the world around you.
Find solutions to the world’s biggest environmental and social challenges.

Ever wonder why things are where they are, or where they will be in the future? Curious about what resources might be hidden right beneath your feet? The bachelor’s degree program in Geography at Frostburg State University brings you the education and experience to start your career and begin answering some big questions.

Geography is the study of the Earth as our habit and home. It is an extraordinarily relevant field, influencing everything from bustling city centers to national forests. With an increasing global population and changing climate, the world is looking more than ever to geoscientists to lead it into the future.

Frostburg State is uniquely suited to offer you a great geography program, reinforced with in-the-field projects, experience with the tools of the discipline and adventures out into the geologically rich mountains and diverse communities of Western Maryland. At FSU, you will use critical thinking, inquiry and observation skills to better understand our planet's diverse human and natural systems.

Geography is the academic discipline which explains "the why of where." You will be able to map phenomena on Earth and develop evidence-based explanations for why such patterns exist. With our faculty scholars, you will explore such questions as -- how and why do places differ? What processes formed the physical, cultural and biological landscapes around us? What are the consequences of various human interactions with the natural environment? You will explore the answers to these questions on local, regional, national and global scales.

 

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Geography Program Highlights

  • Join a well-rounded and thorough program that has alumni working as educators, urban developers, geographic information scientists and cartographers with the private sector, state and federal agencies.

  • Engage in hands-on and field-based learning and develop your skills in FSUs facilities which include a geochemistry laboratory, an unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and remote sensing laboratory, and the Western Maryland Regional GIS Center. Our courses include field activities in local environmental sites.

  • Choose to take part in a direct exchange program with Northumbria University’s Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences in Newcastle, England.

  • Join our Gamma Theta Upsilon Honors Society in department and community service projects, including hosting a YouthMappers chapter, which is a global, web-based humanitarian mapping project.

What can I do with a geography degree?

$85,220

Median pay for geographers graduates (BLS 2021)

Related Occupations 

Cartographer 

Park Ranger

Surveyor 

As a geographer, you will bring a spatial perspective to your profession and will be experienced in understanding natural and social interactions, interconnections and their implications. You can choose to study natural processes and work in areas as diverse as conservation, climate change, geology, meteorology, hazards and natural resource management. You will also be able to analyze the ways in which people interact within our built environments and communities, working to enhance emergency management capabilities, community resiliency and social equity. You can also focus on global affairs and find rewarding careers in international development, foreign service or geo-intelligence. For profiles of professional geographers, visit the American Association of Geographers.

What You'll Learn

You will learn an understanding of human-environment interactions and a foundation in the various subfields of geography (physical, cultural, regional) and enhance your geographic skills, including capabilities in geographic information systems (GIS) and other geospatial technologies, cartography, spatial statistics and field techniques. You will also gain the ability to see and find meaning in spatial patterns and networks at various scales (local to global).

  • Study general geography or concentrate in Climate System Science, Global Systems Analysis or Mapping Science
  • Delve into the field with passionate professors who conduct original research and present to the geoscience community at conferences.

When I was first applied, I knew I wanted to do geography or science. When I saw all the cool research we have and the testing that we do, I wanted to get out there and do it.

Meredith Johnson, Geography Alum

Our Alumni

Our geography graduates have gone on to a variety of successful careers. 

Job Titles

  • Community clean water action plan coordinator
  • GIS analyst
  • GIS technician
  • Environmental specialist
  • Hydrologic technician
  • Logistics analyst
  • Natural Resources police officer
  • Scientific programmer
  • Survey CAD technician

Employers

  • Adams County (PA) Conservation District
  • LMI Logistics
  • Montgomery County Parks
  • NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
  • National Park Service
  • St. Mary’s County Government
  • Triumvirate Environmental
  • U.S. Geological Survey

 

FROSTBURG STATE GEOGRAPHY

Students, alumni and faculty discuss geography at Frostburg State University.

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A Frostburg State education: more valuable than ever.

With nationally recognized academic programs, real-world learning experiences, a top-notch support system, and a thriving student life, Frostburg State is a place where you can discover yourself, define your goals, and prepare for your future.

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