Geography Degree

The geography program at San Jose State University prepares students for a career as an urban planner, community developer, cartographer, GIS specialist, climatologist, transportation manager, environmental manager, or a writer or researcher. The program focuses on the systematic study of the spatial distribution and interrelationships of people, natural resource, plant and animal life. Program courses include: historical and political geography, cultural geography, economic and physical geography, regional science, cartographic methods, remote sensing, spatial analysis, and development studies. Get more details below including other California colleges that offer geography degrees.

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San Jose State University

2100 Moorpark Ave, San Jose, CA

San Jose State University (SJSU) is located in downtown San Jose, California, the heart of what is known as "Silicon Valley" - a busy area for the high-technology industry. The SJSU location is halfway between San Francisco and Monterey, California.  SJSU is one of 23 campuses in the California State University system, and offers more than 134 undergraduate and graduate degrees in 110 concentrations or areas of emphasis.

SJSU boasts many famous and illustrious alumni including author Amy Tan, Olympic medallists Lee Evans and Chuck Adkins, and gorilla researcher and author Dian Fossey, among others.  SJSU is one of the top 200 research universities in the U.S.

History

San Jose State University was founded in 1857 as a frontier school that trained teachers.  Over time it matured into a metropolitan university.

Academics

San Jose State University follows the semester-format academic calendar, with a fall and spring semester.

Colleges and Schools

San Jose State University offers 69 undergraduate and 65 graduate degrees in a full range of majors, with a selection of minors, from its seven colleges and many departments, including:

• Applied Sciences & Arts
• Business
• Education
• Engineering
• Humanities & the Arts
• Science
• Social Sciences

SJSU also offers many certificate programs.

Student Life

San Jose State University offers its students the opportunity to participate in more than 150 clubs and organizations as well as NCAA athletics. SJSU also offers on-campus access to many student resources including student housing and dining, events, study abroad programs, student advising and learning assistance, career advising, a health center, and more.

Athletics

The SJSU athletics department competes in many intercollegiate sports with its "Spartans" teams, including:

Men's Sports:

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Cross Country
• Football
• Golf
• Soccer

Women's Sports:

• Basketball
• Cross Country
• Golf
• Gymnastics
• Soccer
• Softball
• Swimming/Diving
• Tennis
• Volleyball
• Water Polo

Community Life

Students from San Jose State University benefit from the campus's location in the heart of "Silicon Valley" through the many research programs and internships offered at local Silicon Valley companies.  Further, San Jose is a cultural metro center with many opportunities for recreation, arts and entertainment.  It also is conveniently located to San Francisco and coastal cities like Santa Cruz and Carmel.

Students Enrolled in the Geography Program

Get more details below regarding enrollment, academics, and school demographics. San Jose State University has offered the following degree levels for students:

• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree

Students by Academic Level (2019)

Students by Gender (2019)

Students by Race (2019)

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.

Career Options for Graduates

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Description

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Geographers

Description

Study the nature and use of areas of the Earth's surface, relating and interpreting interactions of physical and cultural phenomena. Conduct research on physical aspects of a region, including land forms, climates, soils, plants, and animals, and conduct research on the spatial implications of human activities within a given area, including social characteristics, economic activities, and political organization, as well as researching interdependence between regions at scales ranging from local to global.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, geographers employment is expected to shrink at a rate of -1.6% from 2014 to 2024

Geography Teachers, Postsecondary

Description

Teach courses in geography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Source: Job descriptions, estimated salary and wages, and projected job growth are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).