GEOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS BACHELOR OF ARTS www.ryerson.ca
A WHY ARE GEOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS SKILLS IN SUCH DEMAND? Experts in Geographic Analysis provide answers to a remarkably diverse number of practical questions and issues that confront government, industry, commerce and environmental organizations. Questions such as: How do we respond to the challenges of global warming? How can the integrity of natural areas be protected? Where should we place retail power centres? A Where are the markets for megaplex cinemas? What is the impact of a new sports facility? How do we address the problem of the homeless? Can cities be made sustainable? What is the best balance between public transit and automobile use? How should we dispose of toxic waste? Can we predict the incidence of urban crime? Where will elderly populations reside? Are municipal parks fairly distributed? What are the impacts of hospital restructuring? What laws and regulations protect Canadians from environmental harm? How will digital technologies change patterns of retail commerce? As professional geographers, graduates from Ryerson s Geographic Analysis Program address these and many other contemporary issues through a combination of research skills, computer expertise, and in-depth professional insight. Their work influences public policy, corporate thinking, economic decision-making and helps to improve standards of living. That s why Geographic Analysis graduates are widely sought throughout the banking, real estate, retail, industrial, government and environmental sectors. C Student work of GIS application > D
Field work in the Alps > STUDIES SUIT INDIVIDUAL CAREERS Geographic Analysis begins with an examination of issues, processes and concepts that concern professional geographers, along with instruction in the analytical, informational and communication techniques geographers use. All Geographic Analysis students take courses in: Location Analysis Urban Analysis Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Environmental and Resources Management Tourism and Recreation Management Once these foundation courses are completed, you choose electives suited to individual career plans. Throughout your studies at Ryerson, you will have the opportunity to select liberal studies courses such as economics, music, sociology and psychology. Additional professionally related options from across the University include environmental health, hospitality and tourism, urban and regional planning, and landscape architecture. Minors are available in marketing, economics and public administration....several Canadian geography departments, following the strong European (United Kingdom) tradition of business geography, incorporate both applied and economic geography program specialties (American Association of Geographers Guide, 2005). Of these Canadian programs, perhaps Ryerson University in Toronto has the most dynamic curriculum in business geography. From Geospatial Solutions Magazine, Educating Business Geographers, May 2006. In your third and fourth years, you will be able to hone your studies with a focus on two or more of the following areas of specialization: Retail/Industrial Location Analysis: examines problems and issues related to the location and development of retail and industrial activities at local, regional, national and international levels. Many alumni in this specialty find work in the private sector determining the best locations for operations such as shopping centres, franchises, big-box retailers and bank branches. Tourism and Recreation Management: examines economic, social and environmental factors that influence urban and rural recreation, park planning, recreational resource management, market research and regional tourism development. This specialization offers broad career opportunities in federal and provincial governments and tourism consulting including developing master plans for parks and looking at the economic impacts of events such as conventions, entertainment facilities and athletic competitions. Environmental and Resources Management: examines policies and strategies designed to help resolve issues involving society s economic and environmental goals. Many professional opportunities are available in the areas of conservation, impact assessment, ecological capacity, environmental auditing and resource allocation. Urban Analysis: examines the components of an urban environment such as residential patterns, business and industrial developments and transportation systems, relating them to urban change and the location of such public facilities as libraries, child care centres and hospitals. Career areas include development, real estate, housing, social agencies, local government and planning authorities.
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) - THE FUTURE IS HERE A Foundation at Ryerson You benefit from our three state-of-the-art Geographic Information Systems (GIS) computer labs consisting of dedicated servers, digitizers, scanners and more than 80 workstations. The GIS labs at Ryerson are the finest of their kind in the country. Beginning in first year, progressive exposure to software licensed from market leaders enables students to incorporate Geographic Information Systems, cartographic design, image processing, remote sensing, environmental auditing, statistical analysis and spreadsheet packages in joint and individual research. The Department of Geography s systems administrators and lab assistants support student use of the facilities and access to diverse data sources, including commercial providers (like DMTI), conservation authorities and all levels of government (e.g. Statistics Canada). All Geographic Analysis spaces on campus have free WiFi access for students. The Keys To Your Career Regardless of specialization, a working familiarity with the latest advances in digital technologies plays a crucial role in the work of the contemporary geographer. That is why Geographic Analysis integrates GIS into your curriculum. Sometimes referred to as Geomatics or Geotechnology, GIS is the fastest growing area in contemporary professional geography. GIS software enables you to store, manipulate, analyze and map spatial data for environmental, economic, urban, recreational and social analysis. GIS also allows you to undertake sophisticated processing of satellite imagery and aerial photography. You learn how digital imagery can be applied to environmental and resources management, urban design, recreational planning and the visualization of spatial surfaces. Working with Global Positioning Systems (GPS), for example, is just one example of many of the exciting and growing fields that modern-day Geographic Analysis graduates are involved in. GPS is fast-becoming the modern must-have technology - found everywhere from cars to computers, from deep-sea mapping projects to the study of earthquakes.
REAL EXPERIENCE You complete 350 hours of paid professional work through our summer internship (or co-op) program. Professional Insight Members of the professional geography community are actively involved in shaping the Geographic Analysis Curriculum. With smaller-than-average classes, you get full access to your professors. Since they often work as consultants and researchers they can give you an informed, insider s view of industry as well as career and graduate study opportunities. You participate in field trips to destinations in countries that include Canada, the U.S., the Caribbean and Europe. Scholarships The Geography department awards a number of entrance scholarships to qualified candidates every year. Numerous other awards are available for current students as well. For more information, please go to www.ryerson.ca/financialaid. You participate in your final year in a consulting project for a private- or public-sector client. Map: Oukaimeden Ski Resort Slope Analysis, Morocco You may participate in international study exchanges that are available in the U.K. and France. The Geographic Analysis program has a close association with the Centre for Study of Commercial Activity. The CSCA researches retail and commercial activities across Canada.
GROWING OPPORTUNITIES IN A DYNAMIC FIELD Our alumni enjoy a consistently high employment rate in both the private and public sectors working as planners, analysts, economists, researchers, appraisers, teachers, forecasters, managers, directors and in many other positions. Some start their own business ventures. There are also many digital geography career opportunities in a cross-section of industries that rely, for example, on the use of GIS and satellite imagery in environmental management or classification of urban land uses, or the use of photographic or satellite images as backdrops when visualizing spatial data. Graduate work opportunities exist at Ryerson as well as at other universities in Canada and abroad. Geographic Analysis provides an excellent foundation for advanced studies in a variety of areas such as business, environmental studies, urban planning, geography applications and teaching. ERICA BEASLEY 05 RESEARCH ASSISTANT, ARCTICNET PROJECT, RYERSON UNIVERSITY As a student, I traveled to Havana, Cuba to participate in a development project while learning about community planning. With the Geography Field Camp, I got to see Arizona s beautiful Grand Canyon and study travel and tourism in Las Vegas, Nevada. What I enjoyed most was being part of a small program where I really got to know the other students and professors. The classes were participatory and faculty were always available to answer questions. My internship as a research assistant led me to the work I do today, studying the impacts of climate change in Arctic communities. My job has entailed a seven-week visit to the NWT and collaborating with other researchers on publications. When that project is complete, I will be travelling to Paris, France for another internship relating to agriculture policy and biodiversity conservation. Ryerson has given me the versatile skills I need to realize my professional goals. DAN CAMPBELL 05 GIS SPECIALIST, TOTTEN SIMS HUBICKI ASSOCIATES, (TSH) ENGINEERS ARCHITECTS PLANNERS I wanted a career that involved technology, but not a career about technology. Combined with my interest in geography this made Geographic Analysis the right fit. It helped me develop the ability to understand real world challenges, and provided me with the analytical techniques and technical skills to participate in the creation of practical solutions. My four years at Ryerson were truly enjoyable. I made life-long friends and developed skills that have helped me meet the demands of a challenging career.
ANDY CHARLES 00 MANAGER, RETAIL PRINT DISTRIBUTION, SEARS CANADA As manager of pre-print (flyer) distribution, I am required on a daily basis to employ concepts, techniques, approaches and models from marketing and geography, most of which I learned during the Geographic Analysis program. Many competencies developed in the Geographic Analysis program are utilized in the execution of my job - project management skills, demographic modeling, statistical analysis, Geographical Information Systems and cartographic skills to name a few. Even after graduating from the program, and the Masters of Spatial Analysis program the following year, the professors and staff still have an impact on my professional development. Professors have helped me secure two jobs over the last four years by providing invaluable references. CARA SANDERS 06 JUNIOR ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYST, SENES CONSULTANTS LIMITED I really enjoyed the diversity of the information associated with geography (i.e. human geography, physical geography, the environment and maps). The education I received from Ryerson University definitely prepared me for the challenge of my job. The members of the faculty are all great and always available to aid in my success. I have already been involved in many aspects of the consultation process. I recently participated in an Aquatic Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) in Snow Lake, Manitoba assessing water and sediment quality, benthos, fish and fish contaminants. Having just completed my BA, I m looking forward to returning to Ryerson to start my Master of Spatial Analysis in September. MATTHEW COLE 99 GIS SPECIALIST, THE TORONTO STAR The Geographic Analysis program provided me with an education in the practical aspects of a variety of GIS applications, and a diverse academic background to support it. Working with advertising, circulation and editorial departments of The Toronto Star, I am exposed to a wide variety of projects - projects that call upon various skill sets that are built upon the foundation that the program provided. Graduating from the program, with real world work experience was an undeniable asset to me. QUYEN VUONG 00 SOURCING CONSULTANT, STRATEGIC SOURCING, SCOTIABANK I recently completed my MBA and am now with the Strategic Sourcing group within Scotiabank. I am a Sourcing Consultant and work with different business lines on various sourcing initiatives to source for products and services for Scotiabank. Our role as the Strategic Sourcing department is to assess and coordinate purchasing requirements across the organization and identify opportunities for cost reduction and process efficiencies.
GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT CENTRAL TO US City Hall > Yonge Street > RYERSON UNIVERSITY The Ryerson University campus, located in downtown Toronto, thrives in the heart of Canada s largest urban region. We are steps away from many companies, professional contacts, and organizations that offer field trip, internship, project and work opportunities. Many commercial and government resources are on your doorstep, together with diverse cultural and recreational opportunities. OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION www.ryerson.ca/undergraduate/admission Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, 416-979-5036 < CN Tower Rogers Centre > Additional Program Information info@geography.ryerson.ca www.geography.ryerson.ca Toronto Harbour NOTE: Admission Requirements and program offerings are subject to change. Please refer to Ryerson s Official Undergraduate Calendar(s) at www.ryerson.ca/undergraduate/calendars. Yonge Street, Downtown Immediate answers to your questions > ask.ryerson.ca Personalize your own portal page > choose.ryerson.ca Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto ON, Canada, M5B 2K3 AUGUST 2006 (48309)