Geography and Environmental Studies — MS

Graduate study in geography is directed toward the master of science degree. The MS degree provides an advanced understanding of key geographical concepts of space, scale, and distance in human and physical processes along with training in advanced geospatial analysis in preparation for employment in industry and government or further academic pursuits. The curriculum is oriented toward a broad applied geographic training with opportunity for specialization through electives, directed studies, and thesis or capstone research.

Admission into the master’s program requires a bachelor’s degree in geography or related discipline from an accredited institution, an acceptable undergraduate GPA, satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination general test, and three letters of recommendation. Undergraduate course deficiencies may be required and can be made up during the student’s first year in the degree program.

The thesis option MS degree requires a minimum of 30 semester hours and the successful completion of a thesis. The 30 hours include:

Code	Title	Hours
GEOG 6800	Geographic Thought	3
GEOG 6700	Quant Meth & Spatial Analysis	3
Graduate-level Geography Courses		6
Graduate Level Electives 1		18
Total Hours		30

¹

12 hours must come from geography.

The non-thesis option requires a minimum of 39 semester hours and the successful completion of a comprehensive written and oral examination by the faculty committee. The 39 hours include:

Code	Title	Hours
GEOG 6800	Geographic Thought	3
GEOG 6700	Quant Meth & Spatial Analysis	3
Graduate Level Electives 1		33
Total Hours		39

¹

18 hours must come from geography.