Impacts of Increased Student Career Orientation on American College Geography Programmes

Author: Zhou Yu   Smith Bruce W.   Spinelli Joseph G.  

Publisher: Routledge Ltd

ISSN: 1466-1845

Source: Journal of Geography in Higher Education, Vol.23, Iss.2, 1999-07, pp. : 157-165

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Abstract

This paper explores the connection between American college students' increased career orientation and the growth of geographic information systems (GIS) and experiential education in the curricula of US geography programmes. In essence, students have been attracted to GIS and experiential education because they believe that those skills and experiences will enhance their marketability. While greater employment opportunities for geography graduates is laudable, the discipline must be careful not to become too narrowly focused on career linkages and neglect the general intellectual development of students.