Geographers use the population statistics, in addition to other relevant information, to make decisions and attempt to solve problems within their own community. In this unit, you learned about the career possibilities for someone with an education in geography. This assignment will require you achieve two objectives:

Examine a possible career in one of the geographic fields.
Step into the shoes of someone in that career, and solve a problem similar to what one would encounter in that position.
Part A:
The Association of American Geographers has generated a list of possible careers in the various geographic fields. (Although there are numerous careers listed on their website remember that this is only a sampling!) Visit What Geographers Do and select the career that interests you most.

Write a brief summary, approximately 3 to 5 paragraphs describing the job responsibilities of someone in this career, the required education, and potential earnings in your region. Also, explain why you feel this geographic field most suits you. What skills do you possess that make this career a match for you?

You can do a key word search for "jobs in geography" using a search engine to find additional resources to help you answer these questions.

Part B:
Pretend that you have completed the educational requirements for the selected career from Part A, and have obtained a position. In approximately 4 to 5 paragraphs, respond to the following prompt:

Currently, there are more than 305,000,000 people in the United States, and the nation’s population continues to increase with one birth every seven seconds. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, just a decade ago there were more than 280,000,000 living in the United States! For this reason, cities continue to expand; new communities are popping up all over.

Imagine that a new community is being developed on the outskirts of your neighborhood. As a professional working in your chosen geographic field, what are your responsibilities? What problems will you face? Consider what happens as plans are developed for the new community, as construction begins, and as people relocate to the new area. What issues will you face as the geographer and how can you resolve them? Think about transportation issues, building codes, tourism, shopping, employment, and other needs and desires of citizens in your community.