Graduate Schools:
Why, how, where to apply: explore your options at Chico State's Graduate Studies(opens in new window) or at one of their spring Expos!
San Diego State University (SDSU)(opens in new window) Geography Master's and PhD Applications open usually in December. Funding is available through graduate assistantships, teaching assistantships, and scholarships and grants. All Ph.D. students are funded for 4 years, including salary and tuition at SDSU. Research assistantships are also available for grant-funded projects. Students in SDSU graduate programs perform original research and write theses and dissertations in a variety of subjects including:
- Geo information science: cartography, visualization, big data analytics, remote sensing, spatial analysis and modeling, geo-computation, spatial decision support systems, participatory GIS;
- Human geography: cities and urban environments, food, media, migration and borders, political ecology and livelihoods, children and youth geographiesEnvironmental geography: climate resilience, agent-based modeling, coastal planning and policy, agroforestry and agriculture; and
- Watershed science: hydrologic and climate modeling, fire, water resources, climate change, vegetation mapping.
UC Davis' Transportation Technology and Policy (TTP) MS and Ph.D. program(opens in new window) has the following deadlines: January 15, 2024 (Priority), April 1, 2024 (General), and June 1, 2024 (Space Available). For more information, contact JoAnna Lewis, jrlewis@ucdavis.edu, or call 530-752-0247.
University of Denver's Department of Geography and the Environment(opens in new window) has a strong PhD program, plus doctoral research assistant positions in "Indigenous forest management in a non-stationary climate.” Contact Matthew Taylor(opens in new window) for additional information.
UC Santa Barbara's Global Studies(opens in new window) graduate program is competitive but well funded and features geography courses prominently.
Clark University Graduate School of Geography, PhD program(opens in new window) (Worchester, MA)
Central Washington University (Ellensburg, WA) has a two-year Cultural and Environmental Resource Managment(opens in new window) interdisciplinary MS graduate program that integrates faculty and course work from Geography, Anthropology, and Economics to research policy change issues. Deadline to apply for Fall 2024 was February 1, 2024 but late applications may be accepted.
Masters Degrees in Environmental Policy(opens in new window)
Current Job Opportunities and Places to Watch:
- Alta Planning + Design(opens in new window) employees people all over the United States in planning, transportation, landscape architecture, and engineering design. They had a fall 2023 posting for a Multimodal Planner(opens in new window) in their Oakland office.
- American Planning Association(opens in new window)
- Butte County Association of Governments(opens in new window) is an ideal place for environmental planners and transportation career enthusiats.
- Butte County Department of Development Services(opens in new window), Planning Division periodically has openings for assistant planners.
- Butte Environmental Council (BEC)(opens in new window) is a non-profit, member-driven community issues advocacy organization.
- California Department of Conservation(opens in new window) has program analyst and planner positions.
- California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)(opens in new window) hires statewide.
- California Strategic Growth Council supports healthy, thriving, and resilient communities for all.
- CivicSpark(opens in new window) seeks emerging professionals want to gain real-world experiences, launch a social purpose career, and make a lasting impact in communities. Civic Spark's Fellows program(opens in new window) usually opens in the spring. Check out their Frequently Asked Questions(opens in new window).
- CollegeCorps(opens in new window) is an excellent way to work for a worthy cause and get paid for it! Their climate action and other teams will soon be expanding.
- Environment California(opens in new window) is a non-profit organization that works to provide clean air, clean water and open spaces for everyone.
- GreenCorps(opens in new window) is a place to find your life's calling in environmental sustainability and organizing.
- Green DOT Transportation Solutions(opens in new window) is hiring Assistant or Associate level Planners in February 2024! Green DOT specializes in transportation planning, bicycle/pedestrian planning, GIS, community outreach, grant writing, data analysis and more. Email resume to Jeff@GreenDOTTransportation.com.
- National Geographic Society(opens in new window) in Washington, D.C. usually has both jobs and internships for geography majors. And you can't beat the international learning experience! Apply by March 1, 2024.
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)(opens in new window) is a federal agency that combines applied GIS, national security, and military service skills backgrounds. Be a geographer in direct service to your country. Check out their Student Opportunities(opens in new window) page.
- Northeast Information Center(opens in new window) (NEIC, based in Chico) maintains a detailed inventory of California's historical anthropological resources and is one of nine regional centers in the state.
- North State Planning & Development Collective(opens in new window) (NSPDC) has a Chico-based Geographical Information Center (GIC)(opens in new window) as part of its organization. The NSPDC is an auxiliary member of Chico State, operating independently of the university. Check the GIC year-round for student or alumni employment or internship opportunities (Chico State Enterprises jobs(opens in new window)).
- The Geographical Information Center also has a new research position/internship (PDF) for upper division undergraduates or recent grads. Assist with literature reviews under a variety of projects, primarily habitat restoration and forest health. Additional opportunities for field visits, community meetings and data analyses or mapping efforts as time and capabilities allow. To apply, email resume to Rebekah Casey(opens in new window) at the GIC by February 29, 2024.
- Get paid to be an activist for social change! Student Public Interest Research Groups(opens in new window) ("PIRGs") hire for positions to make a difference on important problems facing our Californian communities. Submit an interest inquiry(opens in new window) or apply at @jobs.studentpirgs.org.
- Oroville (City of) occasionally has jobs for GIS Specialists and Planners. An Assistant Planner(opens in new window) job was open in fall 2023.
- Public Lands Transportation Fellows Program (PLTFP)(opens in new window) provides paid opportunities annually to advance the field of transportation. Check for openings in fall/winter.
- Shasta Regional Transportation Agency(opens in new window)
- Stillwater Sciences often employs GIS Analysts(opens in new window) statewide or in West Coast regions.
- California Coalition for Rural Housing (CCRH)(opens in new window) runs an affordable rural housing program (PDF) that offers a paid internship in Chico (PDF) for hybrid project and training experiences plus work summits, beginning June 2024 through May 31, 2025. The CCRH seeks an individual committed to community development, affordable housing, or solutions impacting low-income and diverse communities. Priority applications (PDF) accepted through April 5, 2024.
- California Housing Partnership Corporation(opens in new window) offers summer positions as Equity Policy Research Fellows. The spring deadline has passed but consider this for next summer!
- California Planning Foundation(opens in new window) has scholarships, usually in the spring.
- City of Santa Rosa Planning Department(opens in new window) (periodic openings) or Google any "[City, State] + Planning Department internship"
- First Carbon Solutions Internship(opens in new window)
- Geographical Information Center (GIC)(opens in new window) has PAID INTERNSHIPS(opens in new window) available for the Spring semester. Ideal candidate(s) should have ERSI software experience and have completed the following: GEOG 211, Introduction to Geographical Information Systems; GEOG 219, Introduction to Geographic Methods; and GEOG 313, Introduction to Cartography. Interns would work on a variety of GIS projects including CalTrans, USGS Elevation Derived Hydrography, CPUC, city and county GIS, etc. Interested students: email Erik Fintel(opens in new window) at the GIC. State your academic skills and request an interview.
- The Geographical Information Center also has a new research position/internship (PDF) for upper division undergraduates or recent grads. Assist with literature reviews under a variety of projects, primarily habitat restoration and forest health. Additional opportunities for field visits, community meetings and data analyses or mapping efforts as time and capabilities allow. To apply, email resume to Rebekah Casey(opens in new window) at the GIC by February 29, 2024.
- Glenn County Irrigation District(opens in new window) seeks an engineering intern (PDF) this Spring 2024 for ArcGIS, AUTOCAD, SonTek RiverSurveyor Live software assistance and field work surveying experiences. Position is open until filled.
- International and Foreign Language Education program: study geography while living abroad! Applications due March 18, 2024.
- National Geographic Society(opens in new window) in Washington, D.C. also offers internships
- National Park Service(opens in new window) offers Intergovernmental Internship Cooperatives(opens in new window), many of which are GIS-related. Check in summer for 2024 opportunities.
- Phillip Lee Phillips Society Fellowships(opens in new window) for summer 2025. Conduct research at the U.S. Library of Congress, the largest and most comprehensive cartographic collection in the world! The 8-week residency includes an $11,500 stipend with possibility of an additional $2,000 honorarium for a lecture and publication. Applications accepted April 15, 2024 through September 15, 2024.
- San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency has summer internships for on-the-job experience in transportation planning and engineering(opens in new window). Plan, design and implement bicycle, pedestrian, safety or "complete streets" programs. Internship includes field trips and seminars, and team building. Check in the fall for application deadline.
- U.S. Forest Service (USFS) offers summer internships in natural resource management, physical science, administrative and office support, general USFS service. Check in the spring.
- Volunteering Abroad with GoEco(opens in new window)
Join GRID Alternatives and Women of Renewable Industries (WRISE) at the nation’s largest trade show(opens in new window) (held annually in the fall) to meet companies seeking workers in the growing clean energy industry.
