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Students in the M.S. program emphasize the physical geographic subfields, the natural or social science aspects of environmental geography, and/or the geospatial techniques. Students use the scientific method and quantitative techniques to study geographical questions and solve geographical problems.

Within the M.S. curriculum the department has particular strengths in biogeography, geomorphology, climatology, meteorology, environmental geography, environmental planning, geographic information systems (GIS), and cartography. Students pursuing an M.S. degree in Geography may also earn a GIS certificate.

This program prepares students for professional positions in government, nonprofit organizations, or the private sector, and for further studies toward a Ph.D. 

Geography M.S. Courses & Degree Requirements

Complete a minimum of 40 credit hours. A maximum of two courses (up to 8 credit hours) may come from outside of the Geography Department.

In this two-year program, M.S. students may choose from three options for their culminating research experience: thesis, practicum, or capstone research project. 

Students also pursue required and elective coursework, which includes two seminars. The first year emphasizes coursework and the development of a research question or project objectives under the guidance of the student’s selected faculty supervisor. Students take the research and writing course in their first fall semester to help prepare them for the research-based culminating experience. Students defend their thesis, practicum, or capstone research proposal at the end of the second semester to their advisory committee.

Any remaining courses are taken in the second year along with credit hours for pursuing their culminating research experience, conducted under the mentorship of the student’s advisory committee. The thesis, practicum, or capstone project defense and the advisory committee’s final approval of the thesis typically occur in the student’s fourth semester. Because the master’s is our highest degree, our graduate students receive considerable careful and focused attention from our accomplished and award-winning faculty.

Geography Graduate Courses & Resources

Graduate Handbook

Graduate Student Directory

Graduate Student Forms

Thesis and Dissertation Services

Students must follow Thesis and Dissertation Services instructions on completing the thesis. They should familiarize themselves with the requirements and deadlines as soon as they start to write their thesis.

Complete the Exit Survey within one week of advisor's signing of Oral Thesis Examination report