Geography MS

Overview

The School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences offers a program of study and research leading to a Master of Science in Geography.

Admission Requirements

1. Applicants must have a 3.0 (4.0 scale) grade point average over the last sixty (60) hours of undergraduate study.
2. Applicants whose native language is not English must achieve a official TOEFL score of 560 or higher.
3. Students with a non-geography degree may be required to take courses to cover their deficiencies. In exceptional cases, students may be admitted conditionally. Such students must earn a 3.0 on the first nine (9) semester hours of coursework numbered 500 or above or on all coursework taken while completing this nine (9) hour requirement in order to qualify for regular admission.
4. Applicants must also send three letters of recommendation to the School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, care of the graduate coordinator.
5. Applicants must upload a resume or curriculum vitae into the application.
6. Applicants must also send a personal statement as to why they want to enter the program. This statement should be limited to 750 words and should also be sent to the Geography graduate coordinator in the School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences.

See Academic Requirements and Procedures  for other requirements

Program Requirements and Academic Policies

1. A minimum of thirty-six (36) semester hours in graduate-level geography courses with at least eighteen (18) hours of work in courses at the 600-level (or higher). With the approval of the major professor, the student has an option of taking (outside the department) up to twelve (12) semester hours of cognate courses within the minimum hourly requirements.
2. GHY 710 and GHY 780. These courses are required of all students.
3. Demonstrated proficiency in cartography and statistical/quantitative methods. Proficiency is generally established (on an individual basis) by evidence of satisfactory completion of coursework in these areas sometime in a student’s academic career, at either the graduate or undergraduate level.
4. A thesis or a paper of professional quality. The thesis will confer six (6) semester hours credit to be counted as part of the total minimum hourly requirement for the degree. The paper, which will normally be the end product of work begun in a seminar, will confer no credit hours toward the minimum required for the degree.
5. Successful completion of an oral and written comprehensive examination on the student’s academic program. Students writing a thesis will take an oral defense of the thesis which includes an oral comprehensive exam. Students choosing the option of preparing a paper of professional quality will have the paper reviewed by the school faculty and will present it orally before the combined faculty.
6. A 3.0 GPA required for graduation
7. Students must meet the requirement for continuous enrollment specified in the front section of this Bulletin.

See General Degree Requirements  and General Academic Information  for other requirements and procedures.

Course Requirements (36 hours)

• GHY 698 - Thesis 1-6 hrs. for a total of 6 hrs.
• GHY 710 - Seminar in Research Techniques and Presentation of Geographic Data 1-3 hrs.
• GHY 780 - Seminar in History and Development of Geographic Thought 3 hrs.
• Elective (24 hrs.)