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Studies & Degrees in Applied Geography

Applied geography uses the methods of geography to answer practical questions: where to build, which areas flood, how a city should grow, where a service is missing. Geographers study the Earth and the distribution of its land, features and inhabitants, and the applied branch puts that knowledge to work in planning, resource management and public policy.

The main working tools are maps and spatial data. Students learn cartography, geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing and statistics, and they do fieldwork. The US Geological Survey defines a GIS as a computer system that analyses and displays geographically referenced information. The Royal Geographical Society adds that geography remains a field-based subject, in which students plan, undertake and report on fieldwork in a wide range of environments.

Qualifications and levels

  • Associate degrees and certificates. In the United States, community colleges offer two-year programmes aimed at employment. Montgomery College in Maryland has an Associate of Applied Science degree in Applied Geography, with a suggested course sequence of four semesters, and two certificates: Cartography and GIS, and Geographic Education. The degree covers four related disciplines: geography, cartography, geographic education and GIS.
  • Bachelor's degrees. Applied content is usually part of a general geography degree. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, geography programmes may include courses in physical and human geography, statistics or mathematics, remote sensing and GIS.
  • Master's degrees. The University of Madras offers an M.Sc. in Applied Geography, which it describes as a specialised programme with heavy inputs on GIS, environmental impact assessment (EIA) and remote sensing. Applicants need a B.Sc. in geology, geography, physics or chemistry, and the intake is limited to 20 students. The same department has an M.Tech. in Geoinformatics structured into four semesters.
  • Doctorate. The Ph.D. programme in Madras emphasises socially relevant research, with topics such as watershed management, groundwater resources, natural hazards and climate change, urban and metropolitan problems, and health care delivery systems.

Where to study applied geography

SpainExchange lists three active schools for applied geography, one each in India, the United States and the United Kingdom.

The Department of Geography of the University of Madras, in Chennai, was established in 1932 and introduced its M.Sc. in Applied Geography in 1976. It has worked with state bodies in Tamil Nadu, including the State Planning Department and the Ground Water Department, and reports links with national institutions such as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Survey of India.

At Montgomery College, students of the programme have access to the Cartography and Geographic Information System Lab on the Rockville Campus. The college notes that the skills of cartographers and GIS specialists are used by professionals employed in federal mapping and related agencies in the Washington metropolitan region.

For the United Kingdom, the Royal Geographical Society notes that geography is well placed for joint or combined degrees, for example with data science, environmental science, economics or planning. The programmes described here are published in English; confirm the language of instruction and the English requirement with each school.

Careers

Applied geographers work under many job titles. Montgomery College lists cartographer, geospatial analyst, GIS specialist, GIS technician and census data jobs as career possibilities, and notes that some positions require a bachelor's degree or higher. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics adds that people who study geography and use GIS may also be employed as surveyors, cartographers and photogrammetrists, surveying and mapping technicians, urban and regional planners, geoscientists or hydrologists.

The official US projections differ by occupation. The occupation of geographer itself is small, about 1,500 jobs in 2025, and employment is projected to decline 2 percent from 2025 to 2035. Employment of cartographers and photogrammetrists is projected to grow 7 percent and that of urban and regional planners 4 percent in the same period. Planners typically need a bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited planning programme. For the United Kingdom, the Royal Geographical Society cites the Prospects report 'What do graduates do?' 2023/24, according to which geography graduates are less likely to be unemployed after their degree than graduates of almost any other subject.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between geography and applied geography?

Applied geography concentrates on practical uses of the subject, such as planning, resource management and mapping, and gives more weight to technical tools like GIS, remote sensing and cartography.

Do I need a geography degree to take a master's in applied geography?

Not always. The University of Madras admits holders of a B.Sc. in geology, geography, physics or chemistry to its M.Sc. in Applied Geography. Requirements differ by university.

Can I study applied geography without a full bachelor's degree?

Yes. Montgomery College offers an associate degree and two certificates in the field. For some jobs a bachelor's degree or higher may still be required.

Which software and techniques will I learn?

Expect GIS, remote sensing, cartography and statistical and spatial analysis. Montgomery College also mentions mapping software packages and graphics tools in its cartography and GIS certificate.