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Careers in Geography, GIS & Planning

What can I do with a degree in geography, GIS or urban planning?

Geography, GIS and urban planning each offer principles, skills and tools to address issues that are critical to communities, individuals and the natural environment.  

Students with knowledge and abilities in these areas go on to play roles in city, regional, state and national government and in private companies and nonprofits.  

Browse these pages to see examples of our own alumni's careers, view videos and explore career information for each of the three areas.

Read about our alumni career stories

Career Navigator: Professionals describe their careers

Sample careers by degree level

Job titles
Air Quality Forecaster
Appraiser
Cartographer
Environmental Technician
GIS Coordinator
GIS Specialist
Geospatial Analyst
Informatics Analyst
Land Planner
Project Manager
Planner
Planning Technician
Urban Planner
Water Resource Specialist
Weather Forecaster/Meteorologist
Sample employers

Arizona National Guard
Arizona Public Service
ASU
Boeing International
Boston Natural Areas Network
Bradford Engineering Associates
California Department of Transportation
CB Richard Ellis
City of Buckeye
City of Centennial
City of Goodyear
City of Phoenix
City of Scottsdale
City of Surprise
EnergyGIS
EPCOR Water
Fehr & Peers

Global Water Resources
Greater Phoenix Economic Council
IBI Group
Jacobs Engineering
Landiscor Aerial Information
Macerich
Maricopa County
MIchael Baker International
National Weather Service
Network Technologies International
Northeast States Emergency Consortium
Saline County, AK
Shaw Communications
Smith Bagley, Inc
Town of Cave Creek
US Bureau of Land Management

Job titles
Biological Technician
City Planner
Intelligence Analyst
Decision Support Analyst
Economic Development Specialist
Environmental Planner
Environmental Consultant
GIS Analyst
GIS Consultant
Health Educator
Housing Analyst
Meteorologist
Planner
Project Manager
Research Analyst
Software Engineer
Spatial Analyst
Transportation Planner
Urban Planner
Wildlife Specialist
Sample employers

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
Arizona Game and Fish Department
Bair Software
BPG Designs
Cinnabar Southwest LLC
City and County of San Francisco, CA
City of Apache Junction
City of Buckeye, AZ
City of Dallas, TX
City of Flagstaff, AZ
City of Glendale, AZ
City of Lowell, MA
City of Orem, UT
City of Phoenix, AZ
City of Sedona, AZ
City of York, PA
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
Environmental Planning Group, LLC (EPG)
ESRI
Facilities Division, Public Transport Department, City of Phoenix
Fehr & Peers (Transportation Consultants)
Flood Control District of Maricopa County
Florida Department of Transportation
Fourth World Design Group
Grand Valley State University
Harris County, TX

HCP Design, Planning and Management
HDR
Kansas Department of Transportation
Logan Simpson, Inc.
Maricopa Association of Governments
Matrix Design Group, Inc.
New York City Department of City Planning
Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments
Regional Transportation Commission, Washoe County
Roanoke County, VA
San Diego Gas and Electric
Siemens, Inc.
Smithgroup JJR
SWCA Environmental Consultants
Town of Lake George, NY
Town of Queen Creek
TriMet
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
US Department of the Interior
US Forest Service
USDA Risk Management Agency
USGS Western Ecological Research Center
Utah Transit Authority
Valley Metro
Wilson & Company, Engineers & Architects
WSP

Job titles
Assistant Professor
Lecturer
Postdoctoral Researcher
Research Associate
Research Scientist
Researcher
Sample employers

PhD graduates hold positions at numerous universities in the US and worldwide, as well as in federal agencies and research organizations.