Requirements
Areas of primary concentration are urban geography, physical geography, resource management, culture, environment and society, GIS, and cartography. The MA and MS degrees are in part designed to meet the needs of students preparing for careers in research or administration in government and industry, urban and regional planning, and in secondary education and community college teaching. The MA and MS degrees also provide a predoctoral program in geography for students planning to take advanced work leading to professional careers in university teaching, research, or public service. Students are encouraged to follow a program that combines breadth of knowledge with depth in one field of interest.
Students will plan a program of study with an advisor and other members of the supervisory committee during the first term of residence (the first term after admission to the program). The program of study must include a minimum of 45 graduate credits for thesis students and 54 graduate credits for non-thesis students. Of these, a minimum of 30 graduate credits must be in geography for the thesis option, to include 6-9 credits of Geog 503 (Thesis); a minimum of 34 graduate credits must be in geography for the non-thesis option, including 3 credits of Geog 501 Research. Both thesis and non-thesis programs must include the following: Geog 521, Geog 522, and Geog 523.
Core Courses
- Geog 521 Geographic Thought
- Geog 522 Research Design
- Geog 523 Geographic Research and Applications
MA Degree Requirements
- Students seeking the MA degree must demonstrate their competence in the use of a foreign language for geographic research.
- Students must complete and present a thesis of independent research into a topic approved by their graduate committee. It normally involves field work and is an original contribution to knowledge in the field of geography. A final oral examination by the student’s committee includes defense of the thesis.
- Students must take a minimum of 45 graduate credits with a minimum of 30 credits in geography, including 6-9 credits of Geog 503 (Thesis).
MS Degree Requirements
- Students seeking the MS degree must show proficiency in advanced skills in geography or an equivalent research technique (8 credits of Techniques/Skills coursework).
- Students may choose between thesis and non-thesis options:
- The thesis option requires the presentation of the student’s independent research into a topic approved by the student’s graduate committee. It normally involves field work and is an original contribution to knowledge in the field of geography. A final oral examination by the student’s committee includes a thesis defense. Students must take a minimum of 45 graduate credits with a minimum of 30 credits in geography, including 6-9 credits of Geog 503 (Thesis).
- The non-thesis option requires students to work closely with their advisor on writing a paper, which must be approved by their advisor and two additional readers from the Geography faculty. A final oral presentation of the paper is required for completion of the degree. Students must take a minimum of 54 graduate credits with a minimum of 34 graduate credits in geography, including 3 credits of Geog 501 (Research).
Note: All graduate students, whether in thesis or non-thesis programs, are encouraged to attend the academic area’s speaker series.