MS Geography

The MS in Geography offers a setting for you to work closely with faculty, students, and the community to develop a set of skills and a global perspective to help you build a dynamic career solving social and environmental issues. These include a keen understanding of the geographic features of Earth and how they interact with social systems, as well as technological skills related to map-making, geo-location, and terrain analysis. The curriculum spans social justice, globalization, geographic information systems, atmospheric science, and community and regional planning. Students also have the opportunity to gain valuable internship experience with state and city government and the private sector, working on community development, hazards impacts, coastal issues, and other topics.

There are three available concentrations within the MS Geography:

  1. Geography Concentration: There are several major areas of study in the Department from which students can choose in the geography concentration: environmental, human, atmospheric science, geospatial techniques, and community and regional planning. This concentration offers both a thesis and a non-thesis option. The thesis option requires a minimum of 30 s.h. of 5000- and 6000-level courses, with 18 s.h. at the 6000-level. The non-thesis/internship option requires 36 s.h., with 21 s.h. at the 6000-level.
  2. Planning Concentration: The planning concentration offers students both the theoretical background and practical skills and experience applicable to the planning profession at all levels of government and the private sector. This concentration offers only the non-thesis/internship option and requires a minimum of 36 s.h. at the 5000- and 6000-levels with a minimum of 21 s.h. at the 6000-level.
  3. Professional Science Master’s in Geographic Information Science (GIS): The professional science master’s concentration allows students to pursue advanced training in logistics, management information systems, marketing, or public administration while simultaneously developing professional skills valued by employers. The concentration is modeled on recommendations by the National Professional Science Master’s Association (NPSMA). This concentration offers only the nonthesis/internship option and require a minimum of 36 s.h. at the 5000- and 6000-levels with a minimum of 21 s.h. at the 6000-level.

Graduate Catalog

Degree Requirements

Minimum degree requirement is 30-36 s.h. as follows:

Core (6 s.h.)

  • GEOG 6100: History and Philosophy of Geography (3)
  • GEOG 6110: Research Design in Geography (3)

Research Skills (3 s.h.)

(Choose a research skills/methods course related to the area of study and intended research)

  • ANTH 5015: Advanced Ethnographic Methods and Theory (3)
  • GEOG 6150: Quantitative Methods in Geography (3)
  • GEOG 6160: Field Geography (3)
  • HIST 5960: Introduction to Oral History (3)
  • Other course can be selected in consultation with the advisor.

Concentrations (6 – 15 s.h.) – Choose one

  1. Geography Concentration: 6 – 12 s.h.
    • Thesis Option (6 s.h.): Choose a minimum of 6 s.h. in the major area of study at the 5000- and 6000-levels. Students are encouraged to take at least one course outside their selected major area of study. Courses in other departments may be selected in consultation with student’s advisor.
    • Nonthesis/Internship Option (12 s.h.): Choose a minimum of 12 s.h. in the major area of study at the 5000- and 6000-levels in the major field areas. Students are encouraged to take at least one course outside their selected major area of study. Courses in other departments may be selected in consultation with student’s advisor.
  2. Planning Concentration: 15 s.h.
    Choose 3 s.h. from the following.

    • PLAN 6018: Internship in Planning (1)
    • PLAN 6028: Internship in Planning (2)
    • PLAN 6038: Internship in Planning (3)

Note: Choose 12 s.h. PLAN electives at the 5000 and 6000 levels. Students register with their advisor for internship hours.

  1. Professional Science Master’s in Geographic Information Science Concentration: 15 s.h.
    • GEOG 6400: Seminar in Geographic Information and Analysis (3)
      Choose 12 s.h. from the following.
    • GEOG 6410: Advanced Cartography (3)
    • GEOG 6420: Advanced Remote Sensing (3)
    • GEOG 6430: Advanced Geographic Information Systems (3)
    • GEOG 6440: Spatial Analysis of Coastal Environments (3)
    • GEOG 6460: Advanced Digital Terrain Analysis (3)

Electives (9 s.h.) – Choose electives according to concentration area

  1. Geography Concentration: 9 s.h.
    Choose a minimum of 9 s.h. in the major area of study at the 5000-6000 levels.
  2. Planning Concentration: 9 s.h.
    Choose a minimum of 9 s.h. in the major area of study at the 5000-6000 levels.
  3. Professional Science Master’s in Geographic Information Science Concentration: 9 s.h.
    Choose a minimum of 9 s.h. of courses in one of the following: Logistics, Management Information Systems, Marketing, or Public Administration.

    • Logistics
      • IDIS 6500: Collaborative Planning in the Supply Network (3)
      • IDIS 6515: Logistical Security and Safety Management (3)
      • IDIS 6525: Transportation Logistics Management (3)
      • IDIS 6535: Supply Chain Logistics Management (3)
      • IDIS 6545: Global Logistics Management (3)
    • Management Information Systems
      • MIS 6713: Delivering Business Value Through Information Systems (3)
      • MIS 6873: Data Management (3)
      • MIS 6883: Web Technologies for Business (3)
      • MIS 6903: Business Intelligence and Data Analytics (3)
    • Marketing
      • MKTG 6162: Marketing Management (3)
      • MKTG 6752: Integrated Marketing Communications (3)
      • MKTG 6762: Business-to-Business Marketing (3)
      • MKTG 6842: Consumer Behavior (3)
    • Public Administration
      • PADM 6100: Politics and Management in Public Agencies (3)
      • PADM 6101: Analysis for the Public Sector (3)
      • PADM 6160: Public Policy Formulation and Implementation (3)
      • PADM 6161: Applied Policy Analysis (3)
      • PADM 6170: Intergovernmental/Interagency Relations (3)
      • PADM 6220: Leadership and Ethics in the Public Sector (3)
      • PADM 6260: Management of Public Information Technology (3)

Thesis OR Nonthesis/Internship Option (3 – 6 s.h.)

  1. Geography Concentration: 3 – 6 s.h.
    • Thesis Option
      • GEOG 7000: Thesis (3 – 6 s.h.).
        Note: Students register with their advisor for thesis hours. Students must pass the thesis defense.
    • Nonthesis/Internship Option
      • GEOG 6801: Internship in Geography (1)
      • GEOG 6802: Internship in Geography (2)
      • GEOG 6803: Internship in Geography (3)
        Note: Students must complete internship for minimum of 3 s.h. or maximum of 6 s.h. Students register with their advisor for internship hours. Students must present professional report and pass report defense.
  2. Planning Concentration: 3 s.h.
    • Thesis Option: Not available
    • Nonthesis/Internship Option: Choose 3 s.h. from the following.
      • GEOG 6801: Internship in Geography (1)
      • GEOG 6802: Internship in Geography (2)
      • GEOG 6803: Internship in Geography (3)
        Note: Students register with their advisor for internship hours. Students must present professional report and pass report defense.
  3. Professional Science Master’s in Geographic Information Science Concentration: 3 s.h.
    • Thesis Option: Not available
    • Nonthesis/Internship Option: Choose 3 s.h. from the following.
      • GEOG 6801: Internship in Geography (1)
      • GEOG 6802: Internship in Geography (2)
      • GEOG 6803: Internship in Geography (3)
        Note: Students register with their advisor for internship hours. Students must present professional report and pass report defense.