Showing posts with label Breyer State University. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Breyer State University. Show all posts

Wednesday, 20 February 2013

Ph.D. in Geography: The great career path for faster job growth

The Ph.D. degree programs are generally based to give specific training to the students about the geographic principles and let them to be prepared to find the career path to become academics or researchers. When there is rare chance of education online degree in this field, the students are required to join the coursework of research, writing and presentation of dissertation and to pass the preliminary exams and to complete around 80 credits of academy. And most Ph.D. degree programs are preliminary based on conducting research on various geographical fields. Previous master’s degree is required in most predominantly Ph.D. degree programs and various areas of geography. And there are many students get admissions on other schools who are bachelor’s degree holders.

The pros and cons of the program
Benefits
1. The academia career requires a Ph.D.
2. Since Ph.D. programs are highly flexible, the students are free to concentrate on the subject of their interest.
3. The Ph.D. students are offered to focus on assistantships or other financial area.

Drawbacks
1. As compared to master’s degree in geography, the requirements are more rigorous for a doctoral degree.
2. The Ph.D. degree in geography requires candidates of master’s degree in geography.
3. Even if you have an advanced degree, the professional experience is highly preferred by the employers. Otherwise it may be difficult for you to find your first employment.

Basic requirements in coursework
In most cases, you will have to complete the coursework as a candidate of Ph.D. degree program in which you will have to conduct research and gain the passing credits in a preliminary exam. In addition, students have to prepare for doctorate dissertation in which they research, write and give presentation to faculty panel. For at least a semester, the students are motivated to become a teaching assistant. Typically, in a geographical Ph.D. degree program, here are some coursework for students:
1. Latest geographical trends.
2. Progress in human geography.
3. Practical and theory in geography.
4. Qualitative geographical methods.
5. Geographic data analysis.

Options of online degree
Recently, there are less options of online doctoral degree in geography and they are not available widely. In case you find accredited online Ph.D. degree program in any institution like Breyer State University, make sure you are provided with an approved and physical site for conducting research. But since December 2012, the on-campus degree programs are best option to gain Ph.D. degree in geography.

Career prospects
According to the statistics of US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the expected job growth of geographers is going to grow up by 35% through 2020 which is quite faster than other occupation’s average growth. Regardless of faster-than-average career prospect, the employment opportunities are less than 1000 over this decade. At least a master’s degree is required by most employers in this industry and most students prefer doctoral degree for higher studies and higher job prospects. Most geographers qualify for entry-level positions while the candidates of master’s degree qualify for work in academia or research fields and some hold the position out of federal government.
Via

Breyer State University

Online degree in geography: Become the master of new technologies

In order to achieve success, the students prefer education online degree in geography to gain mastery in new technologies. Geography master’s degree includes the structures of Masters of Science (MS) and Masters of Arts (MA) and other specific titles in administration. You can specialize in any particular concentration as per the type of your degree program such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS). At least master’s degree is required in the careers of Geography which is outside of the government.

The pros and cons of the program
Benefits
1. Basically, the geographers are appointed to analyze the impact on environment by humans on the point of view of public in order to gain more prominence.
2. As per the BLS, the best career prospects can be gained by the geographers of advanced degree and with having the knowledge about the concepts of business administration along with GIS working experience.
3. Geographers achieve great positions in the private sector with master’s degree.

Drawbacks
1. The job growth is as little as only 600 new jobs will be available in 2020 because geography doesn’t have a large scope.
2. Strong competition in various open positions for the applicants in the industry.
3. Since federal government hires most geographers, the job opportunities are bound to budgetary decisions.

Requirements and courses
The master’s degree programs in geography typically tied on the physical and human geography courses. Approx 45 academic course hours are required in a master’s degree program which commonly includes the concentration on mathematics, computers and statistical degree courses. Along with the coursework, the students have to complete the thesis work and related internship. Here are the sample questions –
1. Geographic data analysis
2. Environmental remote sensing
3. Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
4. Weather and climate
5. Cultural geography
6. Physical geography

Education online degree
There are some reputable online institutions like Breyer State University provide online education degree in geography and other related fields. The structures of program differ from school to school. Despite of program structure of a degree, the online degree programs generally focus on the requirements of curriculum and coursework that are quite same as conventional on-campus training programs. Remember online master’s degree programs are generally based on reading and writing coursework along with independent lectures and online learning.

Step up with the degree
The voluntary certification is provided of Geographic Information Systems to stand up in this field. The professions gain professional expertise of GIS Certification in the industry. In order to become a GIS Professional, you have to gain academic education, hands-on experience and academic certification.

Other degrees
Political science is an alternate master’s degree for the students who are interested on the coursework of graduate degree in geography. According to the US BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), the average job growth in the occupation of political scientists is expected to go around 8% from 2010 to 2020 which is quite slower than the average. But despite of career prospects according to statistics, the master’s degree holding political scientists earn around $100,000 every year.
Via

Breyer State University