Geography is more than just the study of where places are located. The term “geography” comes from the Greek term geo meaning “the earth” and graphia meaning “to write." So literally, geographers are writing and describing the earth in all of its many aspects.
Geographers ask important questions about human activity and movement, and they seek to understand why people arrange and distribute themselves as they do. Geographers look at the world from a spatial perspective, even though they might use a variety of techniques, from statistics to interviews, to do their work.
At Oakton Community College, we offer a geography pre-major for students interested in beginning their studies in geography and who plan to transfer to a four-year institution to complete their bachelor's degree. We offer a number of easily transferable introductory and advanced courses that will prepare you for work as an educator, research assistant, geographer, tourism developer, urban planner or any number of other careers.
Geography is generally divided between human and physical branches. At Oakton, our curriculum focuses on the human aspect. (The physical aspects of geography are taught in the Earth Science department).
The following pre-major is recommended for students who are considering completing a Bachelor’s degree in Geography after transferring to a four-year institution. It is designed for students who have not decided upon a specific four-year college or university.
Employment of geographers is projected to show little or no change from 2020 to 2030.
Despite limited employment growth, about 100 openings for geographers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
The median annual wage for geographers was $85,430 in May 2020.
Potential Careers
• Educator
• Research Assistant
• Geographer
• Tourism Developer
• Urban Planner
Meet our full-time faculty:
George Lungu
Chair, EGHPS (Economics, Geography, History, and Political Science)
Distinguished Professor, Political Science
A.A. Oakton Community College
B.A. University of Chicago
M.A. University of Chicago
Areas of Specialization: International Relations, Security Studies, American Forgein Policy, and Area Studies: Middle East and Central Asia
lungu@oakton.edu
847.376.7136
Office: 2831, Des Plaines
Valeria Benson-Lira
Assistant Professor of Earth Science and Geography
B.S. Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Mexico
M.A. Geography, Arizona State University
vbensonlira@oakton.edu
847.376.7258
Office: 202 Lee Center DPC
Meet our part-time faculty:
R. Cary Capparelli
Lecturer
B.A.J. Drake University
M.S.J. Medill, Northwestern University
M.A. Northeastern Illinois University
Ph.D. Birkbeck, University of London
rcapparelli@oakton.edu
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines
Milan Spasojevic
Lecturer
B.S. University of Belgrade
M.S. University of Belgrade
Ph.D. University of Belgrade
mspasojevic@oakton.edu
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines
Joseph Tokosh
Lecturer
B.A. Indiana University of PA
M.S. Indiana University of PA
Ph.D. Northerin Illinois University (2021)
jtokosh@oakton.edu
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines
The Geography department is part of the Division of Liberal Arts. If you have questions, please contact:
George Lungu
Department Chair
847.376.7136
lungu@oakton.edu