Geography (MA/MS)

The master’s degree in geography (MA or MS) emphasizes broad understanding of physical and human geography and basic geographic techniques. Students develop specialized research skills during work on the thesis.

The master of arts degree requires second-year university-level proficiency in a second language. Competency may be demonstrated by a standardized test or with adequate undergraduate course work. Competency in a foreign language or a computer language may be used to meet the departmental language requirement for the master of science degree.

The master's degree option in geographic education is designed for teachers who have K–12 teaching licensure or are working toward their initial or continuing licensure. Most graduate students who take the geographic education option also have several years of teaching experience.

A committee of two geography faculty members supervises the research and writing of a master’s thesis that shows evidence of original research and writing.

Program's Admission Requirements

Please visit the program's website.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate breadth of knowledge across two or more subfields of geography and mastery within subfield of geography. Subfields here are defined as within biophysical geography (e.g., biogeography, climatology, or geomorphology), human geography (e.g., cultural, political, or human-environment relationships), or GIScience (e.g., remote sensing, data analysis and visualization, or map cognition).
  • Identify and use geospatial techniques to analyze spatial data towards problem solving or modeling, critically analyze geographic problems, ask research questions, conduct literature reviews, understand methods, and conduct independent research and analysis.
  • Conduct independent research and analysis and contribute substantial work.
  • Demonstrate effective written, verbal, and graphic communication skills.
  • Understand ethical issues and responsibilities especially in matters related to professionalism, data collection within the laboratory or field setting, and in writing and publishing theses and scientific papers.

Geography Major Requirements

Core Courses16
GEOG 611
Theory and Practice of Geography I
GEOG 612
Theory and Practice of Geography II
GEOG 613
Research Design
Select one of the following:
GEOG 594
Spatial Analysis
GEOG 595
Geographic Data Analysis
GEOG 597
Qualitative Methods in Geography
Breadth Requirement12
Three upper-division courses, at least one in each subfield (Physical Geography, Human Geography, Spatial Data Science). The phrase “upper-division” means a 300-level class or higher. Breadth requirements may be satisfied by classes already taken from another institution. Examples include: 1
Spatial Data Science: GEOG 581, GEOG 582, GEOG 585, GEOG 586, GEOG 589, GEOG 590, GEOG 591, GEOG 592, GEOG 593
Human Geography: GEOG 541, GEOG 542, GEOG 544, GEOG 545, GEOG 548, GEOG 561, GEOG 565, GEOG 568
Physical Geography: GEOG 523, GEOG 525, GEOG 527, GEOG 530, GEOG 533
Research Workshop
GEOG 608Workshop: [Topic] (each fall and spring term the student is enrolled) 24
Graduate Seminars8
Completion of a minimum of two graduate seminars (GEOG 607) from different faculty members. Graduate seminars may not be substituted with seminars from other departments unless specifically approved by both the advisor and the DGS.
Thesis
GEOG 503Thesis9
Total Credits49
1

If 300- or 400-level courses, or courses from other institutions, are used to meet this requirement, graduate credit must be made up with additional graduate coursework (electives, 605s, or research in GEOG, or graduate courses in other units on campus).

2

Students are expected to enroll in GEOG 608 every fall and spring while enrolled in the degree program.