M.A. in Geography
For the Master of Arts degree, students must meet the following departmental requirements, including 36 credit hours of graduate work:
- 15 of the 36 minimum hours must be taken at the 6000 level. 15 additional elective hours may be taken at the 5000 or 6000 level within the major. The following courses are mandatory:
This 15-hour requirement at the 6000 level may not include the following courses: GEPL 6700, GEPL 6910, GEPL 6940 and GEPL 6960.Course List Code Title Hours GEPL 6100 Philosophy & General Methodology 3 GEPL 6150 Seminar In Research Methods 3 GEPL 6920 Research Design 3 - 3 of the 36 minimum hours, approved by the adviser, must be taken in a related area outside the department. This may not include an independent study or research course.
- The selection of geography courses and related courses should comprise a unified program chosen in consultation with the graduate adviser.
- After completing 6150 and 9 hours of graduate coursework, the student may register for GEPL 6920. As part of this course, students complete a research literature review and prepare and defend a thesis proposal. A grade of B or better in 6100, 6150, 6920, and B average or better for graduate work entitles the student to become a formal candidate for the M.A. geography degree.
- The student should research and write an approved thesis under the direction of a thesis advisory committee composed of departmental faculty members.
- Upon completion of the thesis, an oral examination on the student’s thesis research, as it relates to general professional competence, will be required.
- A minimum enrollment to qualify for the master’s degree is 2 hours of thesis credits, but there may be as many as 6 hours within the 36 semester hours of graduate work.
Non-Thesis Option
For students who do not plan to seek additional graduate education beyond the MA degree, the department offers a non-thesis for the MA in Geography. This option includes a general exam and a major research paper completed in the context of GEPL 6890 during the Student’s final spring semester in the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum of 36 credit hours of graduate course work. | ||
| GEPL 6100 | Philosophy & General Methodology | 3 |
| GEPL 5110 | Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| GEPL 5530 | Principles Of Urban Planning | 3 |
| GEPL 6150 | Seminar In Research Methods | 3 |
| GEPL 5180 | Geographic Information Systems Applications | 3 |
| GEPL 6890 | Professional Development in Geography and Planning | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Geography of Earth Systems | ||
| Transportation Geography | ||
| Community Planning Workshop | ||
| 12 additional hours at the 5000 or 6000 level in Geography. | 12 | |
| Minimum of 3 credit hours of graduate level course taken in a related field out of the department | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |