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types of institutions of higher education selected on the basis of enrollments by the United States Office of Education. Of the 31 women who were listed as instructing in geography only, almost 60 percent were in teachers' colleges and normal schools. Another 22 women, however, were teaching both geography and geology, or geography and one of the social sciences, mostly in universities and colleges of liberal arts and science. If these schools are representative of all institutions of higher education, there were about 115 women teaching geography in colleges and universities and about 125 who combined instruction in geography with the teaching of geology or one of the social sciences. The growing criticism of the inadequacy of geography teaching in elementary schools is expected to result in the introduction of more courses in the science of geography in teachers' colleges, creating more opportunities for men and women geography instructors. The increased recognition of the value of geography in the understanding of foreign peoples has also resulted in the reinstatement of geography in many high schools, usually as an elective subject, for which the demand has been growing. In some places, North Dakota for example, it has become a required subject; all ninth grade students in that State must complete a course in world geography. Men and women trained in geography are being sought for such teaching. However, the geography teacher in secondary schools must also be prepared to teach other subjects in the social studies curriculum, usually history, economics, and civics.

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Instruction in the specialized branch of cartography has also advanced rapidly, with scores of universities continuing to offer courses as compared with only a few before the war. Encouragement is offered through the distribution of surplus maps by the Army Map Service to 190 libraries designated by the Library of Congress. somewhat smaller distribution is also being made by the Navy, Army Air Forces, and the Department of State (38). These extensive map collections in turn create opportunities for a few additional women geographers to serve as map librarians in colleges, universities, and research institutions.

Although opportunities for research in the Federal Government were reduced after the war, in 1946 approximately a fourth of the employed women members of the American Society for Professional Geographers were working for the Government. They were employed in such agencies as the Department of Agriculture, the Commerce Department, the United States Board on Geographical Names, the State Department, and the War and Navy Departmen (8).

The State Department in 1946 probably employed the largest number of women geographers, many of whom were transferred to its Map Division from the wartime Office of Strategic Services. The produc

tion of maps by the United States Government continued at a high level after the war, and the demand for professional cartographers was still large (38). In agencies like the Army Map Service, the United States Geological Survey, and the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, which continued their mapping programs as peacetime functions, qualified women who had served as cartographers during the war were retained. Other agencies, like the Tennessee Valley Authority, reduced their geographic and cartographic personnel. In 1947, the United States Civil Service Commission was contemplating announcing an examination for cartographers.

Although limited in the number of positions available, geographical research, writing, and editing have proved to be favorable fields for women geographers in the past and are expected to offer even greater opportunity in the future. In 1946, 8 percent of the employed women members of the American Society for Professional Geographers were engaged in such work (8). Private research institutes, now free of wartime restraints, are planning extended research programs. The revision of geography textbooks and school maps, made necessary by changes resulting from World War II, is also expected to increase the demand for editorial assistants and cartographers.

Other areas of research for women trained in geography may be developed in private industry. Women with writing ability may find opportunity with travel agencies and travel magazines, preparing popular leaflets or popular articles. There they may also engage in research or answer correspondence from tourists inquiring about the weather, the customs, the travel facilities, or other characteristics of the various localities they wish to visit. The growing recognition given to the science of geography is expected to create opportunities with air lines, oil companies, trade associations, exporting and importing firms, and investment houses (41). For most of this work, especially that involving travel, men are usually preferred. However, women with imagination and initiative who have combined their training in geography with courses in economics, statistics, political science, or business administration will be best equipped to compete successfully for these opportunities.

But a large proportion of women trained in geography will continue to find opportunities in college teaching, where an advanced degree is usually required for appointment and is necessary for advancement.

The importance of graduate training in geography was revealed in 1946 by a census of 793 professional geographers conducted by a subcommittee of the Committee on Geographical Research of the Division of Geology and Geography of the National Research Council. Of the 136 women geographers included in this count, almost three-fourths held either the master's or the doctor's degree (35). But according

to the 1946 data of the National Roster of Scientific and Specialized Personnel, the proportion of the men geographers who had doctor's degrees was more than twice that of the women (59).

Graduate study is needed for the specialization which has become so important in geography. In 1946, economic geography and physical geography were listed more frequently as major interests by women geographers than was any other specialized field. However, there are women geographers in each of the specialties (8). (See table 4.) In human geography, for example, outstanding studies on problems of land settlement and on geographical problems arising from the repatriation of refugees have been made by women geographers (44). The contributions of geographers in the newer fields are receiving greater appreciation, and more women may specialize in them in the future.

Table 4. Major Interests in Geography of 110 Women Members of the American Society for Professional Geographers, November 19461

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1 Based upon the major interests listed by 110 women members of the Society, many of whom listed more than 1.

Source: American Society for Professional Geographers (8).

The college woman who plans to do graduate work in geography would do well to take undergraduate courses in geology, meteorology, cartography, economics, statistics, and political science, in addition to courses in physical and economic geography, as well as several courses in regional geography (76).

For those specializing in economic, human, or physical geography, field work is a necessity, since the basic facts can be secured only from direct observations of the industry, people, or topography being studied. The professional geographer is also expected to master one or two foreign languages.

Women interested in specializing in cartography need background in mathematics and civil engineering as well as courses in photogrammetry, which because of the costly stereoscopic equipment required are so far available in only a few technical institutes and universities.

Before planning to take graduate work the young college woman should seek the assistance of a professional geographer in the selection of a particular university, since opportunities for study and specialization vary, and only a few schools are outstanding in this field. In 1946, there were at least 24 colleges and universities that had granted or were planning to grant the doctorate in geography, according to a study published in the Annals of the Association of American Geographers (21). (For list of colleges and universities granting the Ph. D. in geography, see p. 7-44.)

Women with sound professional training and specialization in geography should find increasing opportunities in this small but growing field.

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